35 / 87
April 2018
35
boatingonthehudson.com
T
o many boaters, meeting the
people who inhabit various ports is
part of the enjoyment of the journey,
especially on New York’s splendid
Canal System. Waterford’s Rich
Bronk is a home-grown upstate
entrepreneur who has developed
a successful business in an often-
challenging environment for small
retailers. Port of Call Consignments
(57 Broad Street, Waterford, NY
12188, (518) 874-1643) was one of
the first area stores to successfully
utilize the internet to dramatically
boost sales and showcase his
business to the traveling public.
Rich placed his store in Waterford
partly because it was close to his
home, but also because it was in a
prime location with high visibility, heavy street traffic, low
rent, and an additional client base among the traveling
boaters using the canals. “I chose the name Port Of Call
as it described a place where you stop for a short time when
you are on your journey,” says Rich. The store shelves are
stocked with a large number of antiques and collectibles
plus nautical items such as fishing poles, tackle, marine
décor, books, DVDs, and often boating supplies such as
fenders, lines, life jackets, etc.
The Waterford location presents a unique opportunity to
meet people from far and wide. Rich has met everyone
from boat owners, tour boat captains and tugboat crews
to those doing “the Loop”. “I’ve been invited on a few
occasions to join them on their voyages,” he says, “though
that was not possible for me with the business. I’ve even
loaned out tools and supplies to some boat crews that were
broken down at the Visitors Center.”
Rich is eager to see a robust, revitalized Canal Festival for
2018 and is happy to see new energy being pumped into
the event: “My hopes for the Festival are to bring an influx of
people who don’t normally frequent Waterford. I’m happy to
see people that are not normally in the store, even if they don’t
purchase something. They may come back another time, or
at least refer someone else to us.” Says Rich, “Word of
mouth is priceless!”
Rich is very proud of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga
County (CSSC) membership sticker in his window. Rich
says, “Prior to Pete taking over the CSSC, I had been open
approximately 2 years without any visits from anyone in the
chamber so that meant a lot to me.” He adds that “It truly
felt as though he wanted my business to succeed and grow
as much as I did, and the CSSC helps promote my business
in ways that I could not do alone.”
Rich is right that we do want him to succeed as much
as he does. But he is also way too modest – Port of Call
Consignments is an amazing store in its own right! One
never knows what they might find there, from neon bar
signs to ship models to statues and artifacts, used tools,
Lionel trains and parts and even vintage stereo equipment.
Make Port of Call your destination on your next Waterford
trip and tell Rich we sent you – you won’t be disappointed!
Waterford’s Real
“Port Of Call” Is A
Few Blocks Away
From The Dock!
by
Pete Bardunias
President/CEO, the Chamber
of Southern Saratoga County
The CSSC’s volunteer Ambassador crew has visited Rich
(2nd from right) multiple times in recent years, helping
increase exposure and potential customers
for the business.
Vintage fishing lures and equipment line the walls and
fill several racks of the store, alongside other interesting
collectibles like matchbox cars, etc.