Arthur's Market a Stockade fixture for decades has closed again! The operator has returned to Yemen. This is the 4th time in 10 years that Arthur's Market has been shuttered. Established in 1795 this was the oldest continually operated market in the nation. Before the "renaissance". Before the "amazing turnaround" led by Mayor Stratton/McCarthy. Another indication of the horrible business climate in the City caused by record DEM taxes and stagnate disposable incomes.

Quoted Text

SCHENECTADY
Latest incarnation of Arthur’s Market closes for good
BY KATHLEEN MOORE Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Kathleen Moore at 395-3120 or moore@dailygazette.com.

    Arthur’s Market has closed yet again.
    This is the fourth time in nine years that the once-popular corner store in the Stockade Historic District has closed down. In this case, the Yemeni owner went back to Yemen, and his family members decided to stop running the store, named The Stockade Market in its latest incarnation, though neighbors still refer to it as Arthur’s.
    The building is still owned by Artur and Joyce Wachala, who leased it to Maein Nagi last fall.
    He stocked the market with groceries and fresh food, began serving Yemeni lunches and advertised regularly through the neighborhood’s email mailing list. But this spring, Nagi went back to Yemen. The market’s hours became irregular, with the store closing more and more often. Then family members told customers they were closing for good. A sign was posted to that effect Friday, though some merchandise remains on the shelves. ....................>>>>..................>>>>..................................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01203&AppName=1

Working together works! Possible site for a DPW substation. Keep the socialism coming and get it permanently off the shrinking City tax rolls.

So, DV, this is the renaissance?

Well?


.

it goes on

or in this case, it doesn't.

lol

The key factors in this failure are clearly stated in the article --
a)  store hours were not consistent or predictable
b) serving Yemeni food for lunch .. not too big a market for that cuisine .. even in cities much larger than Schenectady

Hopefully the next owners will have a better business plan and will devote the hours to actually running the business.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The key factors in this failure are clearly stated in the article --
a)  store hours were not consistent or predictable
b) serving Yemeni food for lunch .. not too big a market for that cuisine .. even in cities much larger than Schenectady

Hopefully the next owners will have a better business plan and will devote the hours to actually running the business.

c)  These small corner stores rely on people with limited access to convenient transportation.  Those living in the stockade have some wealth, and do not have those limitations.  When it was the original Arthur's, it was a hub for the community I think - and people shopped there because they wanted to, not because they had to.  When it closed down, they started doing more of their shopping elsewhere.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The key factors in this failure are clearly stated in the article --
a)  store hours were not consistent or predictable
b) serving Yemeni food for lunch .. not too big a market for that cuisine .. even in cities much larger than Sch

Hopefully the next owners will have a better business plan and will devote the hours to actually running the business.

Again, you offer proof that SOME people shouldn't be on planning commissions

When the Wachala's owned and operated this market, they had a fully stocked market, deli and coffee shop ... but the economy couldn't support it.  They were making food there that the customers wanted, fresh sandwiches, fish, brand name coffee and groceries - and Artur and Joyce were working that store as many hours as they could be awake, every day.

They didn't / couldn't survive because of the economy.  Everyone wants the better prices - especially in a depressed economy.

I can't believe they're asking you to help plan the future of a town.  It really just blows my mind.

Quoted from JackBauer

c)  These small corner stores rely on people with limited access to convenient transportation.  Those living in the stockade have some wealth, and do not have those limitations.  When it was the original Arthur's, it was a hub for the community I think - and people shopped there because they wanted to, not because they had to.  When it closed down, they started doing more of their shopping elsewhere.

I generally agree with your point -- but would point out that the Stockade seems to be "more diverse" socio-economically than it was in years past.    

And it is precisely because the point that you made --- "people shopped there because they want to, not because they had to"  --- that anyone who intends or hopes to be successful in that location has to  have  consistent, reliable hours of operation  AND a mix of products and services that the neighborhood wants.

On the point of the Yemeni food, I personally like to try all kinds of ethnic cuisines -- so I hope no one thinks i was slighting Yemeni food.  But the fact is that Yemeni food has an extremely narrow market in America in general and probably an almost imperceptible market in Schenectady.  

The Stockade suffers from the same problems as the rest of the City-high taxes/low disposable income. An arts district with few artists and fewer art patrons. Higher income folks like Mr. Morris have fled to the suburbs. Constant flooding, vandalism, no parking. no neighborhods school and poor streets don't help. It was not just Yemeni food but halal food which has a limited audience. The neighbors hardly embraced the new business. 4th closure in ten years. If the Wachala's couldn't make a go of it no one will. Since 1795 and now closed for good under the DEM moron renaissance.

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The key factors in this failure are clearly stated in the article --
a)  store hours were not consistent or predictable
b) serving Yemeni food for lunch .. not too big a market for that cuisine .. even in cities much larger than Schenectady

Hopefully the next owners will have a better business plan and will devote the hours to actually running the business.

And that's your excuse????    Then tell us why the other places FAILED too???????

NO ONE wants to be in the city!!!!!!!!!

why are YOU coming into the city, DV??????    Just sit in your basement playing on the computer all day, never go into the city, put more pounds on the butt, tell others to polish city hall but YOU REFUSE to do it, expect the taxpayers to "volunteer" to do the things they pay taxes to have one, and then YOU REFUSE to get off your duff to help!!!!!!!!!!!

.

Quoted from benny salami

The Stockade suffers from the same problems as the rest of the City-high taxes/low disposable income. An arts district with few artists and fewer art patrons. Higher income folks like Mr. Morris have fled to the suburbs. Constant flooding, vandalism, no parking. no neighborhods school and poor streets don't help. It was not just Yemeni food but halal food which has a limited audience. The neighbors hardly embraced the new business. 4th closure in ten years. If the Wachala's couldn't make a go of it no one will. Since 1795 and now closed for good under the DEM moron renaissance.

I'm not sure 'starving artist' is a career? or is it?

Quoted from DemocraticVoiceOfReason

The key factors in this failure are clearly stated in the article --
a)  store hours were not consistent or predictable
b) serving Yemeni food for lunch .. not too big a market for that cuisine .. even in cities much larger than Schenectady

You forgot to mention the massive influx of crackheads and heroin addicts that now inhabit the stockade.

Don't they know that the last cocaine and heroin addicts were kicked out of the stockade for being slave owners.

Many years ago, Arthur's market sold top quality corn brooms that were manufactured at the broom factory down the street. These were the best brooms that you could buy before plastics and synthetics appeared. The original factory burned down and was owned by Otis Smith. The new factory was built in 1862 and was named the Whitmyre Broom Factory. Now known as the Whitmyre Broom Factory Condominiums.