Food Shopping in Downtown Schenectady

When I first told a good friend that I planned to live in Schenectady without a car, one of the first questions she asked me is, "Where will you do your food shopping?" Before I could answer, she followed with a second question, "There aren't any grocery stores downtown, are there?" Well, after some time here, the answer to the second question is no -- and yes. I have found many answers to the first question, so if you're new to the area, or think that there just aren't any alternatives to the bigger stores, this article is for you. I might be able to answer another question that many people are asking as the city undergoes revitalization, and that is, "Do we really need a supermarket in downtown Schenectady?"

The idea of a grocery store that most people have in mind is the typical chain store, like a Price Chopper, Hannaford, or ShopRite, the ones plopped down in a suburban strip mall or other huge parking lot exhibiting nightmarish landscaping and dangerous walkways for pedestrians. In this case, there aren't any, but there is one that is close to downtown, and that is the Price Chopper store #1 at the corner of Eastern Parkway and McClellan. It is not a location to which I can easily walk, but it's a 10-minute ride on the CDTA bus, which stops a couple blocks away, and there a few different routes that serve it. If I am conscious of my time, I can get off the bus, do my shopping, and be back on the return bus one hour later. Besides groceries, they also sell bus passes, which can be convenient. At the same intersection is also a CVS, a Rite Aid, and a liquor store too. If I am running late I can stop around the corner at the Horse's Ass and have a beer until the next bus comes in a half hour. However, from a walker's viewpoint, it can be a little bit of a pain to hand carry your groceries to this particular bus stop from the store, and the parking lot is a little treacherous for pedestrians, so I had to find alternatives.

Other large supermarkets are also accessible by bus, but even further away from downtown Schenectady. There is a ShopRite at the intersection of Nott Street and Balltown Road, in what is probably Niskayuna proper. The advantage to this store is that the bus stops right at the store, so walking to and fro with groceries is not a big deal. There is also a liquor store next door and other retail. Even further away up in Scotia/Glenville is the Walmart. If that is your flavor, it is a Supercenter and has not only groceries, but all the goods that Walmart is famous for. Again, this is convenient because the bus stops right there in front of the store on a regular basis. Target is also up that way, and you can also reach some of the other Albany stores by CDTA bus, such as Whole Foods or Trader Joe's, if you are willing to travel that far. The advantage to these larger stores is, of course, that they carry pretty much anything you need for your house or apartment.

If you are more inclined to purchase your food and/or become a member, a close enough alternative to the larger supermarkets is the Niskayuna Food Co-op, just one bus stop before the Shop Rite on the opposite corner of the same intersection. I have not been to it yet, but plan to explore it someday soon. According to their web site they do have some things besides food, such as environmentally-friendly cleaning products. There is also a liquor store next to that, with a cool Art Deco storefront, so you can probably get all you need at this location. Again, while it is easily accessible by bus, it is not in downtown Schenectady. So, let me focus on what IS available in Schenectady for food shopping.

What many people forget about, and which, from the vantage point of the interior of a car are often passed by unnoticed and unpatronized, are the little "mom and pop" stores, or bodegas as they are often called in New York City. These stores can unfortunately suffer from racial stereotyping or a somewhat run-down facade, but for the most part, a bodega conveniently located in a walkable neighborhood can be a thriving concern, and will fill the needs of many area residents.

The Stockade Market & Deli is located in a wonderful old building with tin ceilings. (c)2015, Richard Vang.

The corner store I patronize the most is the Stockade Market & Deli, located at the corner of State and Church Streets, mainly because I can hit it on the way to and from the Liberty Park bus stop (the Greyhound bus terminal). This is a pretty large space, and they carry all the sundries and home necessities, including some fresh fruits and vegetables. They have a grill for breakfast sandwiches (VERY good) and subs, and also carry deli meats, cheeses and salads. Many of the canned or packaged foods bear the Goya brand, including lots of beans, so I consider this a true bodega. I once found everything I needed to make tacos, and they have rarely let me down on other items. It is always bustling with people and conversations and good smells.

Right in the heart of the Stockade neighborhood on Polachek Square (next to the statue of Lawrence) is Arthur's Market & Historic Coffee House, a market space that has been in pretty much continuous use since 1795. It has a small variety of home sundries and vegetables that you can get in a pinch. It is a cafe too, with regular meals and sandwiches, coffee, etc. Mainly, however, it is a true coffee house with open mics and live music when they are open, and a focal point for the neighborhood. Small neighborhood markets like these fill a need in livable places, and this one has for more than 200 years. It serves not only as a marketplace of commerce, but as a marketplace of ideas, community and conversation, and is the gathering place for neighborhood residents. It is a 5-minute walk for most residents of the neighborhood. The business has been struggling a bit lately, which is a shame. Try to patronize them if you can.

The interior of Arthur's Market is both bright and cozy. (c)2015, Richard Vang.

I have also found other bodegas and corner stores popping up across the downtown area, at Erie and State, Union and Yates, and on State Street and Jay. I have only explored one of these, but from the looks of it they all have much the same as the others, weighted heavily towards drinks, snacks and other packaged goods. A couple offer pizza slices, or the ethnic foods from the home countries of the shop owners. They usually have the basic home sundries and always some odd collection of retail items. There are more of these small shops scattered around the city in the various neighborhoods, each filling a niche. What I like about these is that they are locally-owned businesses, not giant corporations. When it comes to basic needs, a liveable neighborhood must have its small markets, and downtown Schenectady has plenty.

Also at the edge of the Stockade neighborhood is another little store that one could consider a corporate chain convenience store, but at least it is an Upstate business. I refer of course to one of the ubiquitous Stewart's Shops, located along Erie Boulevard and Green Street. Stewarts has a lot to offer in the way of foods, condiments, frozen items and sundries, and they also have some decent-looking basic fruits and vegetables. It is a 10-minute walk from my apartment, and it has usually provided what I need when I am in a hurry to get something. Similarly, even though it is a large corporate chain, the CVS Pharmacy on State Street has quite a lot of food items, canned goods and snacks, as well as all the households items one might need.

Vintage Ford truck in front of Stewart's on Erie Boulevard. (c)2015, Richard Vang.

But today is Sunday, and so I will patronize downtown Schenectady's best source for food: the Schenectady Green Market. This farmer's market has existed for several years now, and as an example of how good it is, we used to actually drive down from the Helderberg Hilltowns just to shop there, despite the fact the we lived next to the Patroon Land Farm run by the NE Regional Food Bank. The market is operated year-round, and during the winter months they move inside to Proctor's. It was definitely one of the factors in my decision to move to Schenectady. Besides all the great produce, there are a lot of other products available, such as eggs, meat, bread, beer, wine, honey, crackers, soaps, granola, cheese, herbs, and yummy stuff like pesto, kimchee and hummus. Most of these items, if not all, are free-range or organic, and all are produced somewhere locally. I won't belabor the vast array of vendors here, but instead you can just visit their web site through the link above.

The concept and operations of farmer's markets are about as old as civilization itself. Wherever larger settlements and cities sprang up, which was usually near rivers, streams, and fertile farm land, the farmers brought their produce and livestock to the center of town, and the city dwellers were able to thrive because of that. Drought, famine and pestilence could, and did, take a heavy toll on cities because of the symbiotic relationship between the rural and the urban societies. What I found really interesting one day last year was the presence of a puppet show, and it brought to mind the mummers and puppeteers that were common in many medieval markets. To drive that concept home, the first puppet to take stage was the character of a medieval king! There was live music at the market as well, so the picture of it was complete.

My friends Tom and Kristin Pullyblank out in Fly Creek, New York, have a small farm and raise much of their own food and meat. They have a large garden and Kristin does a lot of canning, and for meat they do a sort of "time share" with their farmer neighbors, where each of them raises a specific breed of animal for meat, and then at butchering time they trade meat with their neighbors who have raised other animals. I believe they estimated one year that more than 90% of their food came from within a mile of their farm. Unfortunately, in my apartment I do not have the facilities to grow my own food on the scale I would need to feed myself, but, many homes in the Stockade do supplement their food with gardens in their backyards. The Stockade was THE original settlement of Schenectady, and in their incredible capacity for efficiency, the Dutch laid out their properties with larger plots for growing food. Perhaps one day I can at least grow some potted herbs or vegetables on my fire escapes, but we'll see. In the meantime, I can patronize the farmer's market.

A good haul from the Schenectady Green Market. I often get extra berries and veggies so I can cut them up and freeze them so I have them all winter. (c)2014, Richard Vang.

The vendors are all extremely friendly and knowledgeable, and always take time to explain the products and their varieties. One day the mushroom vendor and I had a discussion about which of his mushrooms would go best in pasta. Since he considered two varieties to be best, he made for me a "combo" pack of each type at the same price as a pack of a single variety. Another patron joined the conversation and we ended up talking about making pasta dishes and what other vegetables would be good with the mushrooms. I had no idea who she was or what her name is, and I will probably never see this person again. But it was a conversation based on the concept that we were both members of the same community, and we shared ideas with joyful respect for the food that we had before us.

In comparison to what I can purchase at one of the bigger chain stores, many of these items are definitely more expensive, but from the point of view of this life experiment, it is well worth the price. My dollars have now gone not to large corporations, but rather to local, family-owned businesses in Upstate New York. As a small business owner myself, I can truly appreciate the hard work that goes into making these products or growing the produce, and I am happy to support them and pay a little extra. The organic vegetables, by the way, are usually cheaper at a farmer's market than in a chain grocery store, so my guess is that they somewhat offset the cost of the more expensive items. And I'm not spending money on gas. The market is a 10-minute walk, and I bring a large reusable shopping bag and a soft, insulated pack for cold or frozen items. If I don't feel like walking back with my load of groceries, I can just hop the bus for the few blocks back to the Stockade, especially in winter. If you haven't done so before, look around your area for a farmer's market and try it out. I know there are good ones in many places across Upstate New York, such as Troy, Penn Yan, and Cooperstown. Or, if you don't have that, look for a CSA farm and join that. CSA farms are a healthy and local way to get fresh produce for your family. Some will even deliver your weekly allotment.

Speaking of deliveries, the final piece to the downtown Schenectady food-shopping puzzle takes me back to the larger chain supermarkets. Many people forget that both ShopRite and Price Chopper have home delivery services. When my schedule is busy, or I'm out of town on a Sunday and can't get to the farmer's market, or it's winter and their selection is limited to winter and root vegetables, I get online and order home delivery from one of these two stores. It requires an account setup, and the interfaces are a little quirky to figure out at first, but overall it is very convenient. Items are organized in categories, and sale items are marked prominently. Scheduling a delivery is easy, but not fast; you should plan to get it the next day when it fits your schedule. There is a fee for delivery under a certain total amount, but tipping is not required, you can pay with credit or debit card. A little while before your delivery they call you if they are out of something, and suggest substitutions. The service from both stores has been excellent, but I do hate that I end up with so many bags. Between the two, I have decided to stick with Price Chopper. Not because they are necessarily better, but because they are a big part of Schenectady, and it would be a tremendous blow to the community if they were to go out of business. They are a large corporation, yes, but they are OUR corporation.

So, I hope that I have provided some answers to the questions posed at the beginning of this post. I have presented a wide variety of food shopping venues available to Schenectady residents -- and I didn't even mention the little specialty shops and bakeries like Garofalo's and Perecca's (more about them in a future post.) As for the final question of whether or not we need a large supermarket in downtown Schenectady, I say no. Absolutely not. One can make do with all that the city has to offer, all you have to do is look for them and open the door.

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(c)2015, Richard Vang, All Rights Reserved. No text, images or other content may be copied, reproduced or otherwise used without the expressed written permission of the author.