Arthur's Public Market

The Wachala Family. Artur, Artur Jr., Joyce, Krystyna, and Wlado. Opening day 10/25/2007	Arthur's Public Market was once a successful grocery store located in the Historic area of the Stockade in Schenectady, NY. For over 60 years Arthur's Public Market served the grocery, coffee, and lunch/dinner needs for the local Stockade Residents, the daily commuter, the Sunday Parishioner, and the many visitors to the area. It is recognized by historians to be the oldest, continous food market in the United States, operating since 1795. Since the retirement of the original owners in 2004, other busnesses tried to occupy the space, but their efforts were unsuccessful. With the new owners, Artur and Joyce Wachala, Arthur's Public Market will once again thrive in it's most classic and profitable capacity, and maintaining the historic charm of as well as be content in the knowledge of it's uniqueness.
The immediate financial outlook for Arthur's Public Market is a promising one! Our goal is to have Arthur's Public Market become the social gathering and main grocery store of the Stockade as it was years ago. Many of the annual events in the Stockade take place between June - September, therefore Arthur's Public Market can have substantial gross sales each of these days. After the first year of business, Arthur's Public Market plans to expand into a full-service deli, preparing both hot entrees' and deli sandwiches, additional employees and inventory will be needed at that time, but with the increase in prepared food sales, Arthur's Public Market is expected to double it's gross margin. Arthur's Public Market had a 60 year old slogan; "If we don't have it, you don't need it.", not only will we bring back this historical sign, but ultimately, it will be our goal as store owners.	Artur Wachala and former owner Pete Polachek (You can still see Pete once in a while behind the counter.)
From "Walls Have Ears" by Giles Yates van der Bogart, pub. 1966
*Illustration by Werner L. Feibes*	The Market Place Since time immemorial the Market Place has been loved by Men, or should I say Women, for it is here that News - Good, bad, or just plain gossip - is disseminated. This is true of Bombay, Calcutta, and Peking. It is true of Athens and of Rome. It is true of Rouen, Cologne, Rheims, and the Isle de la Cite. It is true of London and New York. And it is true of the Stockade! For here at Arthur's the News - Good, bad, or just plain gossip - is disseminated, not on the scale of the Roman Forum or of the Eastern Bazaar, not on the scale of the Great City, but on just the right scale to be in complete continuity with our little Village within the City. Need an apartment? Ask at Arthur's. And while you're asking or better yet, for Arthur's sake, while you're shopping, bend your ear and I'll guarantee you'll hear - "Do tell!" "Not really?" "She didn't? I'm amazed!" "Now let ME tell YOU!" Yes, you'll hear it all at Arthur's. What really intrigues me is that this has been going on in this same building, under different management, for over one hundred and sixty years with virtually no interruption. Back in 1795, when the building was built, it was owned and operated by the Town of Rotterdam as a public Market and although the dress has changed -
the men, not the women, wore the knee breeches then - the conversation was undoubtedly the same. I think it is safe for me to assume this, because the conversation of the Market Place does not vary in context. It varies only in detail. Had you been there you would have heard the News of the Time - good, bad, or just plain gossip. A few years later, in 1799, a new attraction was added. On the same property, next to the Market, Walter Swits opened a blacksmith shop. I don't know how many of your remember the "Smithy." He was sort of like the barber. While his anvil rang and the sparks flew, he brought you up to date on the News. What a Scoop in Town Planning! Two major news centers side by side - one for the men and one for the women! Well, Swits moved or retired, without the benefit of Social Security, because, in 1811, he leased his shop to Wemple and Spaulding who manufactured nails. Then, in 1821, the Town of Rotterdam sold the land and buildings to Christopher C. Peek, who subsequently sold to Adrian Van Slyck in 1835. At this time it was a grocery store. At the turn of the century, Christian F. Brandhorst, Dealer in Beef, Pork, Lamb and Mutton, Ham, Lard, Sausage, and Poultry, was proprietor of the place. Just when the lovely greying couple, the Garands, took over, I don't know. Many of you remember them. They sold to Arthur and retired. Many of you also remember the interval when the place was vacant while Arthur lived out his lease across the street. It was then that the artists met in the empty store each week to relax around the potbellied stove and paint. Here the Art Show was conceived and instituted. Where else could we show our own paintings except in our own show? These were only brief interruptions in a continuing career of service to our Community. I think we can take pride in the fact that we are privileged to buy our victuals at the same spot as many of our forefathers did, while hearing the News - good, bad, or just plain gossip. I doubt if many other cities, if any, in this Great Country can boast of this! *- Giles Yates van der Bogart*
*Artur and best friend Ken W.*