Welcome Perky’s Market
Welcome Perky’s Market
New Store in Cattaraugus, “Built on Tears, Beers, Sweat and Debt”
Chris and Tara Perkins grew up in Cattaraugus, were both in the last class to graduate from Cattaraugus before it merged with Little Valley (’99), and are locals who are on the cusp of helping the sleeping giant, Cattaraugus, re-awaken. In case you haven’t noticed, the village of Cattaraugus is THE place for new start-ups.
After Chris mustered out of the U.S. Navy where he served for seven years (thank you for your service, Chris!), Chris and Tara renewed their friendship and next thing they knew, they fell in love, had a family, various jobs (Tara managed Brooks Market for years and now works full time in the Investments and Audit Department of the Seneca Nation of Indians in Salamanca) and decided to give their own business a try. Chris and his employees (they have between 10-15 on payroll) are the daily face of the market, with Tara pulling her weight off hours before and after her “day job” in Salamanca, along with duties required of a mom of an eight-year-old son and an 18-year-old daughter.
With the closing of well-established Brooks Market, it was clear to them that another market in town was a logical choice for an enterprise, particularly with Tara’s business background. They even had a ready-made start-up team, with several of Brooks Market's previous employees ready to work for them. Dreams take time, but after a year or more of chasing grants and securing other funding, they were poised to open, and did so this past June.
A store at 16 Washington Street was available, so the couple took a deep breath and dove in. Parking is a bit limited, but there is plenty of parking on the main street and they are just a few storefronts down. We all need exercise, so in a way they are fulfilling the purpose of the gym that had been in that building back in the days when they were still in school. Like a lot of our small villages in Cattaraugus County, nothing is very far once you are on the main drag.
This latest addition is a much-needed business in the village. After all, what village doesn’t need a market? My granddaughter, a student at Catt-LV told me about the store because it has a bar for ice cream along with a couple of tables to eat at, if you prefer not to grab and go - which they are all set up for - from morning coffee, breakfast foods, hot foods, salads, subs, and veggie trays. Their meats are freshly cut on-site, and their full kitchen serves quesadillas, fries, pizza, wings, loaded fries, hot and cold subs, fresh homemade cookies, dessert breads and muffins. They have a baker/salad maker who makes their bakery items and many of their deli salads. Phone 716-229-2040 for orders and make sure to check their Facebook for daily specials.
Many of their supplies come from local vendors: fresh homemade breads from Stoll’s Family Farm in New Albion, North Otto Maple syrups and maple crumb topping, honey, and maple syrup from 353 Maple, Colleen’s Pizzas in Otto supplies them with premade pizzas in the freezer section AND their pizza crusts for their kitchen, locally made Freeze Dried Kreeze Candies, Buffalo’s famous GANCI’s BBQ Sauce and seasonal fresh produce from Randolph’s Peaches & Cream. They are open to carrying products from other local suppliers so stop in and see them if you are interested.
Instead of just driving through Cattaraugus on your way to Dayton, Gowanda or Little Valley and Ellicottville, you are invited to park and just do a walkabout on Main Street, then turn down Washington for a short walk and say hello to Chris and Tara and the Perky’s crew. Oh yes, and check out the message on their t-shirts!