Vendors setting up one week out from the New York State Fair

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — David Tadros has been in the New York State Fair game since 1989 when he and his brother started selling roasted corn. For this year’s Fair, he’s setting up nine different stands.

“Being a teacher, I have my summers off. The Fair allowed me to take July off and enjoy and vacation,” Tadros explained. “In August, we start preparing for the New York State Fair. It’s a lot of preparation work. This all doesn’t happen in the week prior to the Fair.”

Tadros says one of the most crucial keys to success running stands at the Fair is having enough employees.

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“Getting all the supplies ready, we can do that over the phone, but getting our people is the most difficult task.”

Plus, having nine different stands means having a lot of equipment that needs to be managed.

“I have to go through all of our equipment. Because we have nine different stands, there’s a lot of refrigeration equipment and make sure everything’s working and keeping temp. If I have to do any repairs, that’s when I get it done,” Tadros explains.

Tadros grew up in Syracuse, but now lives in New Jersey with his family. Tadros’ siblings, kids, nieces and nephews all help run the stands at the Fair.

“It’s a lot of time. A lot of later nights, early mornings and working in the sun,” Tadros said.

Tadros is one of many vendors setting up in anticipation of the Fair.

Staff from Santillo’s out of Naples, New York, have been setting up more than a week before the Fair begins.

“It’s an eight to 10-day process setting up, getting grills inside, getting fryers inside, getting everything ready and the kitchen ready,” Richard Clark, who works at Santillo’s, said.

It’s all hands-on deck for Santillo’s whose stand holds six grills.

“I do it all, from set up, to tear down, to cooking, to frying, to cleaning, to the whole nine. Most people here don’t have one position, one certain position. You’ve got to work the grill during the day and clean dishes at night. Everybody’s got to do their part,” Clark said.

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