Developments at Saratoga Marketplace; Bazaar closes, Lucia expanding & new comfort food lunch spot in the works

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The seasons are changing and so are the shops on Broadway.

You might have noticed the covered windows at 454 Broadway, which used to hold bright displays of colorful carpets and ceramics, hand-woven scarves and other imported goods sold inside Saratoga Turkish Bazaar.

After five years in the street-side storefront of the Saratoga Marketplace (formerly Downstreet Marketplace), Saratoga Turkish Bazaar has closed those doors to focus on its second location, opened this spring, at 506 Broadway.

Once Bazaar Owner Levent Derdiyok finishes moving out of the Marketplace, the open space won't stay empty for long.

Lucia Boutique, a small specialty shop located inside the Marketplace, plans to move into the larger, more visible space by November.

Lucia Owner Lucy Straus said she was excited about the move and no one has been confirmed to move into her former space once they go into the new location.

In even more Marketplace news, Straus gave the Saratogian an insider tip about a new business her husband is opening in the former home of Bettie's Cakes on the Marketplace's lower level.


Straus said her husband's endeavor will be called Comfort Kitchen, which she described as a comfort food lunch destination that will also offer catering options.

Jude Connally packs its bags

SARATOGA SPRINGS — When Jude Zimmerman signed a three-month lease to open her Jude Connally clothing boutique in the 15,000-square-foot storefront at 438 Broadway (on the corner of Caroline Street), she knew it wasn't long term.

Still, the seasonal "pop-up" store was more than that according to an interview I had with Zimmerman early this summer. The owner had expressed hopes about staying in Saratoga long-term.

“It’s our first retail store, so it’s a test,” Zimmerman said back in May. “It’s what we’re calling a pop-up shop where we come into a vacant space and stay there through the season and hopefully, if we do well in Saratoga, we may end up staying there permanently.”

I haven't talked to Zimmerman since Jude Connally packed up and it's too early to speculate - who knows, Jude Connally might make its way back to Broadway sooner than we think. But, the fact remains the lease was up and the space on the corner of Caroline and Broadway next to Wheatfields Restaurant is once again empty.

We'll see what comes next.