Did you know that there are two in-store bakeries at the Broadway Market? That fresh and sweet candy products are made on-site at the Broadway Market? The place is filled with sweet stuff all year round by family-owned businesses that make the real deal.
Melanie’s Sweets opened at the Broadway Market over 25 years ago. After time, Melanie I. Kryger-LaMastra’s bakery business blossomed and she moved out of The Market and into two other WNY locations. One at Theater Place in Downtown Buffalo (which is still in operation) and the other in Cheektowaga on Harlem Road.
One day she realized that she felt a need to return to the Broadway Market. So, for the past 2 years, she has created luscious treats for her customers at the place where her career began. Melanie has her ovens, mixers and decorating paraphernalia right at her fingertips. Ovens run all day long, producing made-from-scratch cakes, pastries and cookies. She works right in front of the customer which gives her the ability to talk with them and to be an ambassador of The Market. She greets each customer with a smile and a free sample.
Melanie always looks for opportunities to promote herself and the Broadway Market. She has very strong opinions and is not afraid to state them. “I wish we could have a free trolley or NFTA should provide a free bus from downtown to The Market once a week or on Fridays and Saturdays to bring more customers in. The City is in a renaissance and the city officials should step-up and do more for the market,” said Melanie.
Check out her hand decorated cakes; the chicken cake is made from an antique mold she has had for years. You can always find her selling her prize-winning cannoli (which are never pre-filled so they do not get soggy), beautiful cakes and cookies at various events throughout the City. She will be at the Dyngus Day Party at the Central Terminal on Monday, March 24. Her work is beautiful, tasty and priced right.
EM Chrusciki is the other business with a baking facility in The Market. This place is known for their placek (coffee cake with luscious crumb topping), poppyseed roll, paczki (doughnuts), cookies and New York-style cheesecake. During Easter they also produce challah and rye breads. Then, of course, there is their amazing cruschiki – light, whimsical pieces of twisted fried dough decorated with a dusting of powdered sugar. Hmmm good!
Hannah Robienek and her husband Ted came from Poland 23 years ago. Hannah got a job with EM Crusciki’s former owner, Elizabeth P. Though Hannah could speak little English, “Mrs P,” saw that Hannah had good business sense and taught her the ropes of the bakery business. A few years later the Robieneks bought the business, and have since turned it into a well-run wholesale and retail establishment. This time of the year, the bakery runs around the clock producing their specialties for Market customers and their wholesale outlets.
White Eagle Bakery is another veteran of The Market; for 27 years they have had a presence there. They are recognized for the breads and pastries they sell. I often feature their breads in the cooking demonstrations I have performed as part of the Savor the Flavor of the Broadway Market program.
Rye bread is the hands down favorite. White Eagle is a branch of the D&L Bakery on Penora Street in Depew and goods are brought in fresh each day. Vienna, white, Italian and salt bread is available. All sizes and styles of hard and soft rolls are ready to pick up for sandwiches and dinners. They also have a great selection of pastries including pastry hearts, danish and cookies. Hot cross buns are also a staple item this time of the year. These popular buns were among the earliest Easter treats, made by European monks and given to the poor during Lent. White Eagle’s buns are the best.
Since Easter is the second most important candy-eating occasion of the year, with Americans spending nearly $1.9 billion on Easter candy, I’m happy to tell you about a place where you can spend the cash you have earmarked for Easter treats. Molded chocolate and hand dipped fruits can be found at The Market on a year round basis at Strawberry Island. The Dawidowicz Family has created a niche with their hand-dipped strawberries, pineapple, bananas and cherries and yes, Peeps. They even dip Twinkies, Oreos, Pringles, pretzel rods, Nutter Butters and Rice Krispy Treats. Chocolate covered popcorn is another specialty item.
Strawberry Island also sells nostalgic treats that Western New Yorkers long for. Crystal Beach suckers and sugar waffles, sponge candy, Loganberry syrup and the ever-famous chunks of Charlie Chaplin. This signature candy is made from the original Grandison’s Chocolate recipe, a former Broadway Market tenant. Your choice of milk, dark or orange chocolate is wrapped around marshmallows, nuts and coconut. Sugar free products are also available for those with dietary restrictions.
As you can see, The Broadway Market is a sweet spot to visit all year round. Special orders can be called in to any one of these fine hometown businesses. You can find the Broadway Market’s Easter hours by following this link.
EM Chrusciki
999 Broadway, Buffalo 14212
716.893.1464
White Eagle
999 Broadway, Buffalo 14212
716.896.3949
Melanie's Sweets
622 Main Street, Buffalo 14202
716.854.6700
or
999 Broadway, Buffalo 14212
716.895.1959
Strawberry Island
999 Broadway, Buffalo 14212
716.895.3279
***In the weeks leading up to Easter, the Broadway Market has over 300,000 visitors who come home to the market to renew old friendships, relive family memories and traditions and buy some of the foods that will grace family tables during this special springtime holiday season.
Next week (and for the past three, as well), Buffalo Rising contributor and Slow Food Buffalo founding member, Sandra Starks, will be highlighting some of the vendors and the specialty products they offer each Friday on YUM. Each business is unique, but they all have some things in common-–a passion for the tradition of the market, a strong work ethic and pride in the products they produce and sell.
Other Broadway Market features from this series:
Broadway Seafood
Peter Lupas Meats
Broadway Market's Fresh Produce Stands