If you ever want to check out a real Electric City centric mom & pop store, make it a point to visit the Schenectady Trading Company on Union Street. It was started in 2019 by Caroline Bardwell as she set to start her own business and break free of the corporate world. The store features everything from clothes to candles to collectibles, much of which curated by local producers. 

In September, Bardwell posted on Facebook that her store would close for good in order to focus on her family and personal life. 

Enter a young Schenectady County couple Tom and Ali Bland, owners of Anything But Bland Designs. They will officially take over the business after a 'crash course' from Caroline - which means the Schenectady Trading Company will indeed be open for the Holidays and beyond. The Blands said in a Facebook post: 

We're grateful for the opportunity to take over a business that has ben such a staple in our community. It was an easy decision for us to make and we're excited to see what's next for the Schenectady Trading Company. 

For more on what the Schenectady Trading Company offers, check out the video below.