Mixed Results for Vendors at Polish Town Fair

About 325 vendors selling everything from jewelry to fresh food to handmade art packed into Polish Town this weekend for the annual Polish Town Fair. But while many vendors claimed the event was a success, others said the poor economy took a substantial bite out of their profits.

Ed Jacobian, co-owner of the Pickle People stand based out of West Hempstead, spent the weekend selling his nine varieties of pickles including "pickle pops," a pickle on a stick. Jacobian and his mother, Leeann, have been coming to the fair for the past five years.

"It's a bit of a hike for us, but we do pretty well," he said.

Tom Taravella, a 71-year-old retired iron worker, stand-up comedian, real-estate agent and aluminum-can artist, said he's spent the past 15 years at the fair selling his can creations. Taravella sat behind his booth all day on Saturday, meticulously building replicas of cars, motorcycles, pirate ships and airplanes out of old soda cans. 

"I enjoy the people. It's a fun festival," he said. "And, also, I make money. That's a good reason to keep coming back."

Vendors came from across the Tri-State Area, and even farther, to sell their wares. Saul Zelaznog and his girlfriend Kristin Waldman, who run a hair extension and nail painting store called KZ&Co., came from Reno, Nevada to set up their booth at the fair.

Waldman said the couple were in town for a friend's wedding and decided to spend the summer on Long Island working at local fairs. The Polish Town Fair was a sort of homecoming for Waldman, who grew up in Mattituck and could remember visiting the fair when she was younger.

"I miss not being able to walk around, but I don't miss the crowds," Waldman said. "To be honest, I'm happy being a vendor."

Other vendors tapped into the international flair of the festival. PatriaPet, a dog accessory shop which features dog collars and leashes decorated with national flags from around the world, had a booth set up at the fair's entrance. Mary Moscarello and her husband, Jorge Gutiérrez, drove from Clifton, N.J., to sell Polish flag collars to patriotic Poles at the fair.

"Polish people love their heritage and their flag," Moscarello said. "We came last year, and it rained on Sunday, and we still did phenomenal."

Moscarello added the economy hasn't affected their sales so far.

"It's never been a losing proposition," she said. "It was worth the two-hour drive."

Yet some vendors were feeling the effects of uncertain economic times.

Janice, a Riverhead native who declined to give her last name, shook her head at her stand's turnout. 

"A lot of looking and not a lot of buying," she said. 

Janice said she has sold jewelry and Native American-style art for 16 years at the festival, off and on. She said the fierce competition between vendors means customers are more careful with their purchases. 

"When there's a lot of vendors here, there's less money to go around," she said.

Mary Ann Rivera, of Queens and owner of Mary Ann's Pina Coladas, has been coming to the Polish Town Fair for 10 years. She praised the event for embracing Polish culture, but said she's seen her profits shrink in the past few years.

"It's a down economy so people aren't spending their money," Rivera said. "But what can you do?"