Fish Nor Fowl

There’s something fishy about the withdrawal of four major food vendors from the 2021 New York State Fair. News broke on Channel 9 Wednesday that Gianelli, Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Haddock’s Paddock and Baker’s Chicken Coop will not open this year.

The only explanation so far is that Gianelli wants to concentrate on its core business–making sausage, while Dino sticks to running restaurants and selling bottled sauces.

But it would seem that there’s something we don’t yet know. Four of the most famous, popular and presumably profitable eating spots on the grounds have all decided to forgo this year a business venture they haven’t missed for many years, in some cases for decades. For Baker this would have been its 71st year at the Fair.

If one or two had pulled out, maybe they could shrug off questions with the vague answers given. But four such major players in one year? Come on–what’s up?

It’s possible that the extension of the Fair to 18 days this year, up from their previous high-water mark of 13 days in 2019, was too much for some vendors. Syracuse.com reported that some business owners cited the strain the Fair would put on limited staff. But the Hound is guessing there’s more to it.

It could be contractual or regulatory changes, higher fees to open or other cost-related issues. We’ve seen New York State interfere with business in the past, the worst example being the mandating of sources and prices on bottled water.

Whatever is happening, it’s just tough to buy the exit of four favorite vendors in one year unless there’s more to this shocking news. The Hound would like to know more. And on behalf of devoted Fair foodies, something should be done to retain such popular businesses.