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Old And New Businesses - Troy Pork Store & Mary Elizabeth By Patricia Pumas Troy Pork Store TROY PORK STORE on the corner of Ferry and Fourth Streets is a familiar site in downtown Troy. Two smiling porcelain pigs dressed in people clothes sit in the front window. The store's extensive stock of sausage varieties and other meats is listed on the building's facade. Inside, proprietor Walter Pohlmann serves his quality products to customers from throughout the Capital District and from neighboring states. Mr. Pohlmann is carrying on a business that dates back to 1920. In those post World War I days, the pork store was operated by Charlie Komertz. In 1945, the proprietors were John Hartman and Otto Richter. Mr. Pohlmann worked in their store for seven years and in 1964, after the partners retired, he became the owner. Working at his craft, Mr. Pohlmann is carrying on a family tradition. His father held the title of Master Craftsman in the butchering and sausage- making business, a title bestowed on him under the Guild competency system in Germany, his native country. The family emigrated to the United States in 1953. They resided in the Catskills near relatives. Young Walter joined the Marine Corps and his father found a job working as a butcher in a shop in Cairo. Walter served in the Marines until 1957 and then learned the sausage making craft from his father who then was working in Troy, in Fritz Helmbolt's store. Although his studies in Germany were focused on language arts with a view toward entering a profession, Mr. Pohlmann is contented with the turn of events that changed his career plans. He points out that "education stays with one long after the specifics of learning have been forgotten." TROY PORK STORE obtains its meat from western packers and some local suppliers, and manufactures all kinds of sausages, a term which Mr. Pohlmann defines as "any meat you season and stuff in a casing." The store's small hot dogs have remained its most popular item over the years. They are served in three well-known area eating places-- Hot Dog Charlie's, Goals Hot Dogs, and Famous Lunch. They also are on the menu at Walt's Wayside in Wynantskill, a restaurant owned by Mr. Pohlmann and managed by his wife, Krista. The Pohlmanns reside in Troy and are the parents of two sons and have two grandchildren. Their son, Bryan, is a tool designer in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Son Verner is a tax auditor for New York City. Besides their line of pork meats, TROY PORK STORE carries meat seasonings and sauces, packaged soups, and similar products. There also is a deli on the premises, serving submarine sandwiches. Three employees, Eddie Leibert, Gloria Lanzillo, and Jerry Tiseth help staff the store. Mr. Pohlmann likes doing business in Troy although he recalls busier times when Troy had a population of more than 70,000 compared to today's 50,000 population. He is looking into extending the business by computerizing it. In the near future, he says, TROY PORK STORE probably will have a Web site. Mary Elizabeth "It's nice to be appreciated", notes Gary Kiddner, summing up local response to MARY ELIZABETH, the specialty shop he owns on the corner of Broadway and Third street. Mr. Kiddner and his business partner, Steven Fox, relocated their store from Colonic Center Mall- seven months ago. They came to Troy primarily because they liked the looks of downtown and thought that their business was more suited to a city setting than to a shopping mall. Their experience here, so far, Mr. Kiddner says, has confirmed that first impression. According to Mr. Kiddner, the city administration and Economic Development Authority have been very supportive in coordinating the move to Troy, and customers enjoy shopping in the store, which is named after Mr. Kiddner's grandmother. The forerunner of MARY ELIZABETH was a shop specializing in Christmas season items which the two business partners operated in Fonda, in the midst of the economically depressed Mohawk Valley. With the approach of the Christmas shopping season MARY ELIZABETH now has a section comprised of seasonal Christmas decorations and gift items. Later this month, the MARY ELIZABETH owners will open an adjoining store, specializing in candles and related items. The principle specialty line the store carries is the CASWELL MASSEY stock of fine fragrances and bathing accessories. That nerchandise line dates back to 1752 when its originators sold to the carriage trade in Newport, Rhode Island. A posted card in the Troy store lists the names of the rich and famous patrons of the CASWELL MASSEY products. Besides that name brand product, the store carries many other cosmetic soaps, bathing supplies, jewelry, lamps, mirrors, and unusual gift items. The candle shop will feature products made by Colonial Candle of Cape Cod and will carry the largest spectrum of candle colors in the company's northeast marketing area. Both Mr. Kiddner and Mr. Fox have had career experience outside merchandising. Mr. Kiddner studied mortuary science and Mr. Fox is an educator. Currently, he is a special education teacher in the New Covenant Charter School - in Albany. He assists in the store after school hours. There also are five part-time employees. The two proprietors have faith in the revitalization of Troy's downtown. Mr. Kiddner points out that recently a number of state employees who work in the city returned with their families and friends to shop in Troy during the weekend. That, he remarks, is a very good sign. In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
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