The Broadway Market Trick or Treats at the Market

Six-year-old Jordan Chulojdak, dressed in a green dinosaur costume, stands with mother Tracey Chulojdak, anxiously awaiting his turn for candy at the Broadway Market Saturday at the annual “Trick or Treat at the Market.”

Mother and son, from the Buffalo area, are loyal to their Polish heritage. They make it a point to travel to the market whenever they can.

“We are 100 percent Polish, so it is amazing to come out here and support the market,” said Tracey Chulojdak. “Jordan gets to come and trick or treat as well, so I think that is pretty great.”

The Broadway Market, at 999 Broadway on the East Side, has been around for 126 years and is famously known for its Easter fare. The market, however, features a variety of events throughout the year, “Trick or Treat at the Market,” is held the last Saturday before Halloween. 

The event allows children ages 12 and under to trick or treat from the 28 different vendors at the Market. Dozens of excited children sprinkle every corner of the market dressed in cowboy, princess and scary monster costumes, followed by parents who hold all of the candy their kids have received. The event also features a costume parade and costume contest. 

“We had 60 kids participate in this year’s event, which is larger than it was last year,” said Nancy Stone, one of the directors of events at the Broadway Market. “Having everyone come in and have a nice time while supporting the market, it was an awesome thing to see.”

Trick or Treat at the Market is one of the various events the market hosted in the month of October. The goal of two or three events is one that the market tries to hit each month. A marketing strategy employed by the market in order to get more business from both customers and vendors.

“By doing these events it is our goal to not only attract more people, but attract more local businesses to the market,” said Stone. “Right now at 28 we are sitting at about 50 percent  capacity in terms of vendors. We would love to get that raised before the holidays.”

While the Easter celebrations of the market get feedback from those in and out of the community, it is the goal of these events to communicate to the public that contrary to popular belief the Broadway Market is open year round. The hope is that more people are encouraged to come when they learn of the events happening.

“We advertised the trick or treat event through Facebook and by word of mouth.” said Stone. “It’s  my hope that we can get the word out that we aren’t open just on Easter, the more people that come to visit, the better.”

With the holiday  season right around the corner, this is the time when the Broadway market starts to become busier. The market will host a Tthanksgiving week celebration as well as multiple Christmas events well into December. The event Chris Kindlement, which will begin Dec. 19 and will run through Christmas, will feature an arts and crafts fair with live music and food for sale. Santa himself will also be in attendance. 

“Our Christmas events I think will bring in a ton of people,” said Stone. “This is a market funded by the city for the city and it is always great when our events have great turnouts.”

Tim Hortons opens at the Harbor Center

Sam Colao walks into the Tim Horton’s café and bake shop at Main and Scott streets right beside the First Niagara Center to grab a cup of coffee and a bite to eat before he heads to a Buffalo Sabres home game.

Colao, 19, who hails from Grand Island, has a special appreciation for the brand new Tim Horton’s that has opened in the new Harbor Center right across from the stadium.

Patrons of the local Tim Hortons at the HarborCenter downtown
look at the exhibit of the ex-sabres player Tim Horton.

“I have been coming to Sabres games since I was a little kid, so I have seen this area look pretty rough,” said Colao, “I can honestly say the area around the stadium has improved so much, this Tim Horton’s looks great.”

Unlike the dozens of Tim Horton’s around the Buffalo area, this one is constructed like no other. The layout features a store-sized timeline of the city of Buffalo as well as a display of ex-Sabres, including the inspiration behind the name of Buffalos favorite coffee shop, Tim Horton.

With a new state architectural building design the new Tim Horton’s is not only catches your eye but it keeps your attention. A timeline of the city of Buffalo starting in the 1800s circles the walls, only to end with an almost holographic looking feature of the professional Hockey player that inspired a city.

“The new Tim Horton’s location is great for the locals of the city of Buffalo,” said store manager Patrick O’Connor. “The last week has been busy for us; the amount of support we have been getting is great to see.”

Opening only a short week ago, this Tim Horton’s has seen hundreds of guests, some of the guests being famous names around the city of Buffalo. One such name was the wife of the new owner of the Bills and current owner of the Sabres Terry Pegula, Kim Pegula. She took to the sales floor and served customers during the grand opening of the store.

“We have had a multiple people of notoriety come around the store,” said O’Connor. “When the Pegula’s came, it was packed in here the public loved it.”

The opening of this Tim Horton’s is just the first step in the opening of the new HarborCenter. This 172 million project has been underway for about a year and a half, with more construction on the way.

The HarborCenter upon completion will be home to not only Tim Horton’s, but will be home to various ice rinks that service players all around the city of Buffalo, for all ages, from Pee-Wee league to college hockey. The center also currently includes an indoor parking ramp, training center and a food and sports restaurant called “716.”

The HarborCenter has also opened its doors to college hockey teams Canisus and Erie Community College, as well as the Buffalo Junior Sabres. Over 20 amateur and youth hockey teams all new to the region will call the rink their home as well.

“I think watching this all happen is so good for the city of Buffalo,” Colao said. “This complex is so good for our city and it makes me proud to say that I am from Buffalo, that’s for sure.”