The New York State Fair is coming back this summer, but for the first time in 41 years, there won’t be a Gianelli Sausage stand on the fairgrounds.
It means the iconic Gianelli Sausage stand run in partnership with Dinosaur Bar-B-Que at the far end of Chevy Court won’t be at this year’s Fair. That stand has drawn huge crowds, and bathed the Chevy Court area in smoky barbecue aromas, for the last 21 years.
Gianelli will also not have its standalone stand closer to the Midway this year.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced this week that the 2021 Fair would return for an 18-day run at a full capacity, but with some restrictions still place. It is scheduled for Aug. 20 to Sept. 6.
Gianelli announced its decision through a message on its company web site.
“For the past 41 years, Gianelli Sausage has had the privilege of serving countless Fairgoers during the annual New York State Fair and for 21 of those amazing years, Gianelli featuring the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que was proud to anchor Chevy Court,” Gianelli posted on its company web site. “It is with sincere sadness that we share with you the difficult decision to end our participation in the Great New York State Fair.”
“As it has been for everyone, the past year has been challenging for us,” the post continued. “Both Gianelli Sausage and Dinosaur Bar-B-Que have been dedicated to serving the diverse needs of our customers while navigating the increasing and changing demands of the times we are living in. We believe our focus and attention must remain with our core businesses.”
In a phone interview today, Gianelli president Stephen Davis reiterated the point about the difficulties in emerging from the pandemic, citing nationwide staffing and supply issues facing the meat indusry.
“I just don’t see things changing with labor and the other issues all of a sudden,” Davis said. “We need to staff two factories, to keep the food chain going, that’s the main focus. It’s just never been more challenging to bring in additional help.”
The decision to close the Gianelli stands will likely not affect the supply of the company’s products to other Fair vendors. That means it’s possible you will be able to “put some Gianelli in your belly” somewhere on the fairgrounds.
Dinosaur owner John Stage, who has had a long business partnership with Davis and Gianelli, agreed that the need to rebound from the Covid pandemic, and the ongoing difficulties in finding employees, are the big factors in the decision.
“Frankly I wouldn’t have the people to run a stand at the Fair for 18 days,” Stage said today. “We have enough people to run our restaurants, but not enough to do something else, especially something this big.”
Davis and Stage said it’s too early to look ahead to a possible return for Dinosaur and Gianelli in future years.
North Syracuse-based Gianelli, officially called the G&L Davis Meat Co. was founded in 1946 and is still run by the Davis family..
Sausage, especially Italian sausage sandwiches, are one of the signature foods at the Fair. Other vendors include Basilio’s and Santillo’s.
“We would like to express our sincere and heartfelt thanks to the New York State Fair staff and the various New York State agencies that come together to make the Fair happen each year,” the Gianelli message continued. “We are proud and grateful that our two brands are part of the Central New York experience. The Fairgoer always made our time at the Fair special. We made it our goal to leave each person with a positive impression of us and of their experience at the Fair. We truly hope we met the mark.
“We hang up our aprons with heavy hearts but also with many, many fond memories and most importantly a tremendous sense of gratitude to all the people who supported us over the years. It has indeed been a wonderful run. Very sincerely, Your Friends at Gianelli Sausage.”
More on the 2021 NY State Fair:
2021 NYS Fair is back, but will still look different than what you’ve known; here’s how
New York State Fair attendees won’t need proof of vaccination to go maskless
Don Cazentre write for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook.