Monday marks your final chance to take in the sights, sounds and tastes of the Great New York State Fair. This year’s event was 18 days for the first time ever, but this extra week of fun wasn’t always fun for the vendors.
From low turnout to revenue loss and long hours, an 18-day stretch at the New York State Fair has been a challenge.
“It’s been rather difficult for all of us,” Joe Todisco, owner of JJ’s, said. “I mean employees, retention has been difficult. Filling in all the gaps has been difficult. I mean not only at our place here on restaurant row but for all of the vendors.”
Back in June, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the fair would be extended to 18 days, after it was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
“When he first said it, we were excited for the 18 days,” Gary Digeorge, owner of Basilio Italian Sausage, said. “But I think with the COVID you know, it was too long with the COVID.”
“We have to cover a 12-13 hour window being open also,” Todisco added. “So we’re kind of hopeful that we go back to at least, at minimum 13 but hopefully 14 days would even be acceptable.”
“We start working two or three weeks before the fair, seven days a week, twelve hours a day,” Troy Waffner: director of the NYS Fair, said. “We have to keep that up through the fair then after the fair, everybody wonders if we go on vacation. We actually have to pay the bills, reconcile everything, put everything away and get ready for non-fair shows that are coming.”
Waffner says he would like to go back to the 13 day stretch but it will be up to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
Spectrum News 1 has reached out to Hochul’s office about whether they plan to change the fair duration next year, but has yet to hear back.
