Tom Kerr has been executive director of Broadway Market for approximately six months. After a recent interview with him, I came away thinking the market is in very good hands. He struck me as a pragmatic man who is driven by one main question: How do you get people into the market? Throughout the interview, Tom repeated variations of the question, such as: How do you deliver customers? How do you get people coming back? My impression is that he's a workhorse who is on the lookout for good ideas. He does not intend to micromanage vendors at the market. Rather, he wants to attract people with good business ideas and give them a chance to succeed at the market. He seems open to any business or event that gets people through the doors. In Tom's words, how do you get the market to prosper?
As soon as we sat down to talk, he showed me a document entitled "Moving Forward" that outlines a short-term and long-term vision for the market. The vision encompasses market infrastructure, customer experience, tenant relations, marketing, event planning, and community partnerships. Short-term goals include repainting the market floor, increasing rentable space, and making the parking lot more comfortable and appealing (glass block has already been installed in the lot to reduce wind and noise). Some of the long-term goals are free wireless Internet access, electronic message boards throughout the market to promote upcoming events, and building partnerships with college and university business departments.
A theme that stands out in reviewing the plan is the emphasis on a diverse marketplace. One goal is to identify marketing outlets for local ethnic communities, including Arab, African, Vietnamese, German, Asian, and Caribbean. The market seeks to develop contacts with these communities and to involve immigrant groups to identify products and vendors. Tom noted the wide variety of music that was offered Easter weekend--Latin, jazz, rock, gospel, Polish--to emphasize the market's desire to appeal to diverse tastes. He also pointed out that the market hosted their first ever St. Patrick's Day celebration this year, featuring Irish music and dancers.
During our conversation, Tom was especially enthusiastic about plans for a roof garden. The market is looking to connect with families, individuals, and community groups to become "plot owners." The market will provide materials along with educational workshops on seeding, planting, fertilizers, pest management, pickling and canning. Owners will have the option to sell their harvest at the market. There is already a commitment to more than a dozen gardening plots. Amanda Beale, an AmeriCorps volunteer who serves as the market's Special Events Director, is managing the project. (Anyone who is interested in the roof garden can call the market office at 893-0705 or follow this link for information.) The market is exploring the possibility of an internet camera to provide a view of the garden. The view from the roof, by the way, is spectacular, with Central Terminal, City Hall, and HSBC tower all within sight. Tom mentioned some possible ideas for events on the roof, including a car show and live music.
It seems to me there are plans for all spaces in the market. Remember the section of the market that was occupied by Key Bank? It is now being used as a meeting space and community room. Community groups have already borrowed the space for meetings, and the plan is to improve the space for conferences and business meetings. In the future Tom pictures this space being used for children's birthday parties on Saturdays. Of late, people have used the market for all kinds of events, including someone on staff who held her wedding reception at the market.
A major effort at the market is to support small businesses, whether it's a new entrepreneur or an existing business expansion. For example, as Buffalo Rising readers already know, Niagara Popcorn and James Karagiannis (the Ice Cream Dude) have both joined the market. Palace of Dosas, an Indian Restaurant, is now open on Saturdays. Pierogi by Paula is a new vendor on the way. In addition, Chuckie's Texas Red Hots has set up permanent shop after successfully selling their packaged hot dog sauce as a temporary vendor last year.
In all, there are exciting things in store at the market. There are plans to use educational programs and demonstrations to provide interaction between food producers, vendors, chefs, and customers. This is what Tom sees as a typical Saturday at the market: a cooking demonstration in the morning accompanied by a talk about healthy eating, followed by live music, then more activities in the afternoon, such as art displays and dance performances. He mentioned that Gone with the Woodwinds, a quintet from Cheektowaga, have been playing regularly at the market.
There are also plans for the market to have a presence on Sundays. Beginning May 23rd and ending October 10th, there will be an outdoor farmer's market on Sundays from 9:00-2:00. Vendor spaces will be covered so the market will be open rain or shine. Check the market website for more information.
Here's a brief sketch of Tom's background: he was born in Buffalo, grew up in the Bailey-Kensington neighborhood, and has a degree in economics from Canisius College. He characterizes his professional experience as eclectic, having spent thirty-three years at the IRS, thirty of them as a manager. In his last few years at the IRS, he managed an effort to build community partnerships in support of low-income families and individuals, doing so in a way that linked free tax services with financial literacy and asset building programs. He also worked for the United Way, where he oversaw their participation in community coalitions and partnership opportunities in support of low-income families. Additionally, he has worked as a consultant for small businesses and non-profit organizations.
Tom is not a one-man show--he gets what he describes as tremendous support from the city, noting cooperation from Mayor Brown, Councilman Franczyk, and the Public Works department, including Steve Stepniak and Joe Schollard. He also gets support from volunteers and there are opportunities for people who want to volunteer their time and work. But I say a lot about Tom because I wanted to give a sense of the person in charge. Toward the end of our interview, he showed me a card that he keeps close at hand, one that he's had for over thirty years. It says: Observe like a visitor, Think like a customer, Act like an owner. His vision for the market, along with his creativity and enthusiasm, has me confident that the market is heading in the right direction.
The Broadway Market
999 Broadway
Buffalo, NY 14212
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Photos by Michele Wade
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As soon as we sat down to talk, he showed me a document entitled "Moving Forward" that outlines a short-term and long-term vision for the market. The vision encompasses market infrastructure, customer experience, tenant relations, marketing, event planning, and community partnerships. Short-term goals include repainting the market floor, increasing rentable space, and making the parking lot more comfortable and appealing (glass block has already been installed in the lot to reduce wind and noise). Some of the long-term goals are free wireless Internet access, electronic message boards throughout the market to promote upcoming events, and building partnerships with college and university business departments.
A theme that stands out in reviewing the plan is the emphasis on a diverse marketplace. One goal is to identify marketing outlets for local ethnic communities, including Arab, African, Vietnamese, German, Asian, and Caribbean. The market seeks to develop contacts with these communities and to involve immigrant groups to identify products and vendors. Tom noted the wide variety of music that was offered Easter weekend--Latin, jazz, rock, gospel, Polish--to emphasize the market's desire to appeal to diverse tastes. He also pointed out that the market hosted their first ever St. Patrick's Day celebration this year, featuring Irish music and dancers.
During our conversation, Tom was especially enthusiastic about plans for a roof garden. The market is looking to connect with families, individuals, and community groups to become "plot owners." The market will provide materials along with educational workshops on seeding, planting, fertilizers, pest management, pickling and canning. Owners will have the option to sell their harvest at the market. There is already a commitment to more than a dozen gardening plots. Amanda Beale, an AmeriCorps volunteer who serves as the market's Special Events Director, is managing the project. (Anyone who is interested in the roof garden can call the market office at 893-0705 or follow this link for information.) The market is exploring the possibility of an internet camera to provide a view of the garden. The view from the roof, by the way, is spectacular, with Central Terminal, City Hall, and HSBC tower all within sight. Tom mentioned some possible ideas for events on the roof, including a car show and live music.
It seems to me there are plans for all spaces in the market. Remember the section of the market that was occupied by Key Bank? It is now being used as a meeting space and community room. Community groups have already borrowed the space for meetings, and the plan is to improve the space for conferences and business meetings. In the future Tom pictures this space being used for children's birthday parties on Saturdays. Of late, people have used the market for all kinds of events, including someone on staff who held her wedding reception at the market.
A major effort at the market is to support small businesses, whether it's a new entrepreneur or an existing business expansion. For example, as Buffalo Rising readers already know, Niagara Popcorn and James Karagiannis (the Ice Cream Dude) have both joined the market. Palace of Dosas, an Indian Restaurant, is now open on Saturdays. Pierogi by Paula is a new vendor on the way. In addition, Chuckie's Texas Red Hots has set up permanent shop after successfully selling their packaged hot dog sauce as a temporary vendor last year.
In all, there are exciting things in store at the market. There are plans to use educational programs and demonstrations to provide interaction between food producers, vendors, chefs, and customers. This is what Tom sees as a typical Saturday at the market: a cooking demonstration in the morning accompanied by a talk about healthy eating, followed by live music, then more activities in the afternoon, such as art displays and dance performances. He mentioned that Gone with the Woodwinds, a quintet from Cheektowaga, have been playing regularly at the market.
There are also plans for the market to have a presence on Sundays. Beginning May 23rd and ending October 10th, there will be an outdoor farmer's market on Sundays from 9:00-2:00. Vendor spaces will be covered so the market will be open rain or shine. Check the market website for more information.
Here's a brief sketch of Tom's background: he was born in Buffalo, grew up in the Bailey-Kensington neighborhood, and has a degree in economics from Canisius College. He characterizes his professional experience as eclectic, having spent thirty-three years at the IRS, thirty of them as a manager. In his last few years at the IRS, he managed an effort to build community partnerships in support of low-income families and individuals, doing so in a way that linked free tax services with financial literacy and asset building programs. He also worked for the United Way, where he oversaw their participation in community coalitions and partnership opportunities in support of low-income families. Additionally, he has worked as a consultant for small businesses and non-profit organizations.
Tom is not a one-man show--he gets what he describes as tremendous support from the city, noting cooperation from Mayor Brown, Councilman Franczyk, and the Public Works department, including Steve Stepniak and Joe Schollard. He also gets support from volunteers and there are opportunities for people who want to volunteer their time and work. But I say a lot about Tom because I wanted to give a sense of the person in charge. Toward the end of our interview, he showed me a card that he keeps close at hand, one that he's had for over thirty years. It says: Observe like a visitor, Think like a customer, Act like an owner. His vision for the market, along with his creativity and enthusiasm, has me confident that the market is heading in the right direction.
The Broadway Market
999 Broadway
Buffalo, NY 14212
-----
Photos by Michele Wade
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How about tanking BERC they pay your salary!