BY JOHN CROPLEY, The Daily Gazette

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. — The Upper Union Street shopping district has been adding new merchants in a period of great challenge for storefront retailers.

A grand opening Thursday marked the arrival of the newest, a home furnishings store with an embedded coffee bar, but since May, a fish fry, hairdresser and smoothie/shake shop also have opened their doors.

A sushi restaurant has moved within the district and opened in new quarters last month, while a Korean-Cajun restaurant is nearing completion.

There is always some churn and some closures in the compact shopping strip, but it remains one of the busier storefront retail districts in the region, and one of the more diverse, with everything from hemp extracts (Upstate CBD) to overstuffed sandwiches (Gershon’s Deli), from engagement rings (Sondra’s Fine Jewelry) to wedding gowns (Ferri Formals and Bridals).

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