The Broadway Market is gearing up for its first Easter season with customers back walking the aisles since COVID-19 forced the Buffalo staple to offer only curbside pickup last holiday.
Market Manager Kathleen Peterson said they’re trying to bring back a lot of the sights and sounds Market go-ers are used to.
“Our Easter vendors will be open tomorrow [March 13] from eight to 5pm, and then they return March 20 for the two week period leading up to Easter,” said Peterson. “Tomorrow we're having a St. Patrick's Day celebration, along with our Easter tradition. We have the Blarney Bunch performing from noon till 3pm, and the Rince na Tiarna Irish Dancers at 11:30. So it's a lot of fun at the markets.”
Some longtime seasonal vendors decided to skip the Broadway Market this year. New rules for the market mandate that vendors who are not permanent would not be allowed to sell products that compete with those made on-site, including things like sausage, pierogies, jam, and kettle corn.
“We didn't ban anyone, we didn't remove anyone from the market,” Peterson said. “It was sheerly to protect our year round permanent vendors who have been open throughout this [pandemic]. Vendors were welcome to bring in a different product. But it was just if it was produced, made inside the market, They could not sell it.”
The Broadway Market was founded in 1888, and is located at 999 Broadway Street in Buffalo. They are open Monday through Saturday 8am to 5pm. While customers are encouraged to go inside and visit merchants, the curbside pickup option created last year due to the emergence of COVID-19 will once again be offered this Easter season.