By R.J. DeLuke
Investors in The Center for Economic Growth approved in October the idea pursuing an affiliation with the Capital Region Chamber.
Under the affiliation, CEG would retain its identity and remain a legal entity whose sole member would be the Capital Region Chamber. CEG would have its own board of directors and representation on the Chamber board.
The changes will take place starting Jan. 1. Chamber members approved the idea in September.
The Capital Region Chamber and CEG informed their memberships in June that their boards had formed a Joint Task Force to consider potential affiliation.
Former Copperfield Inn In North Creek Purchased, Transformed Into Phoenix Inn
Courtesy Phoenix Inn
By Jennifer farnsworth
At the heart of the new Phoenix Inn in North Creek is owner Diana Espalza, who not only bought the former Copperfield Inn, but transformed the space into a successful resort—all during a pandemic.
Espalza, originally from Colombia, South America, said she dreamed of owning her own hotel her entire life. When she came upon the Copperfield Inn property, she knew it was the space she wanted.
“I love construction and I fell in love with this building at first sight,” said Espalza.
It was last December when Espalza purchased the inn and COVID-19 happened in March. She took time to learn more about the business and come up with a vision for what she wanted. She said the name “Phoenix” came to her after she went through what described as a rough experience.
“Like the Phoenix is reborn from the ashes, that is what I hope to do in my personal life. I am trying to make this building as successful and prosperous as it once was,” said Espalza.
She renovated the heating and air conditioning system and made structural improvements to the roof and several rooms. She added patio space.
Governmental Data Says Employment Is Slow In Nonresidential Construction Sector
Construction employment increased nationally by 26,000 jobs in September to a total of 7,245,000, but the gains were concentrated in housing, while employment in the infrastructure and nonresidential building construction sector remained little changed, according to an analysis by the Associated General Contractors of America of government data released Oct. 2.
Association officials said the pandemic was prompting strong demand for new housing as more Americans work from home, while undermining private-sector development of office, retail and other types of projects and forcing many local and state governments to cut construction budgets.
“Construction is becoming steadily more split between a robust residential component and generally stagnant private nonresidential and public construction activity,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist, noting that in the three months since June, residential construction employment has increased nearly 3 percent while nonresidential employment has slipped 0.2 percent. “As project cancellations mount, so too will job losses on the nonresidential side unless the federal government provides funding for infrastructure and relief for contractors.”
Saratoga Olive Oil Opens Store/Warehouse In Moreau, Eyes Popup Shop In New York City
©2020 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
The success of Saratoga Olive Oil has led to an expansion with a new store at 1341 Saratoga Road in Moreau.
The company opened a facility that has a 7,500-square-foot warehouse and 3,000 square feet of retail space.
Owner Clint Braidwood said they had been searching the last couple years for a warehouse facility. He came close to purchasing land and building a warehouse with Munter Enterprises in W.J. Grande. Industrial Park, however, John Munter, owner of Munter Enterprises, suggested that they look into the facility in Moreau.
“He thought it would be a great fit for us. It was indeed a perfect fit for Saratoga Olive Oil Company. We now have warehouse space, the ability to expand our warehouse and corporate offices, a front retail space and a photo room in our front building,” said Braidwood.
Adirondack Winery In Lake George Will Move Ahead With Expansion Despite Delays
Courtesy Adirondack Winery
Andrea Harwood Palmer
Adirondack Winery continues to move forward with expansion plans in Queensbury.
“The experience we’ve had throughout the pandemic has been surprising,” said owner Sasha Pardy.
“We’ve definitely been fortunate. People have enjoyed wine. So while we’ve experienced the 50 percent capacity limitations in our tasting room, we’ve been able to supplement that with our shipping and wholesale sales. We opened up tastings at our Queensbury location as well. We’ve been able to spread out our lines.”
The winery had started the expansion project in the spring. When COVID hit, owners Sasha and Mike Pardy weren’t sure what was going to happen. They were going through the approval process for an expansion in Queensbury. They had been thinking ahead to get approval for long-term plans so they would be prepared when they were ready to build.
The owners are not exactly sure when they will break ground.
Juicin’ Jar Thrives Through Coronavirus Pandemic In Glens Falls Exchange St. Shop
Lisa Balschunat
By Lisa Balschunat
Six years ago, Cristina Hanchett took a chance on a small South Street storefront to open her business, the Juicin’ Jar.
The menu was packed with healthy blender and juice drinks, wraps, salad and what has become the establishment’s famous waffles.
“When we opened in Glens Falls we also had a place in Lake George,” Hanchett said. “Things were happening downtown and we wanted to be a part of it.”
In 2016, the Juicin’ Jar moved into the small café space within Milk and Honey, 16 Exchange St., and most recently absorbed the inventory and first floor of the previous gift shop that closed.
“We will continue to offer some items that Milk and Honey carried, like the local honey, teas, bath soaps, lotions and greeting cards,” she said.
Lake George Native Goes From Cake Decorator To Owner Of Her Own Bakery
By Christine Graf
Lake George native Leah Stein worked in the area as a park ranger and environmental educator. She then shifted gears and worked at a bakery in the area. In 2013, she decided to go out on her own.
“I grew up in a tourist town with tons of entrepreneurs around me,” she said. “A lot of people had their own businesses, and it was always something that was in the back of mind as an attainable goal.”
She opened Leah’s Cakery, located in the historic West Side General Store building at 3 Curry Street in Round Lake, in 2013.
When Stein made the decision to change professions, she enrolled in the culinary program at Schenectady County Community College (SCCC). She comes from what she describes as a “culinary inspired” family, and she fell in love with baking as a young girl. It was while making custom cakes as a side job while working in environmental science that she decided to pursue baking full time.
While still in culinary school, Stein worked part-time making custom cakes at the former Queen of Tarts bakery in Guilderland. After graduating from SCCC 2008, she taught baking courses at the college for six years.
Marj DeVit Finds Challenges In Running Glens Falls Based Thermal Associates
Courtesy Thermal Associates
By Christine Graf
It’s been more than 40 years since Marj DeVit and her husband, Marty, opened their heating and air conditioning business. The Glens Falls company, Thermal Associates, was a pioneer in air source heat pump technology during the energy crisis in the 1970s and 1980s.
During the 1980s, Thermal Associates was one of the first companies to introduce geothermal heat pump technology to the region.
Geothermal heat pumps can heat, cool, and supply hot water to a home by transferring heat to or from the ground. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the use of geothermal technology can reduce energy bills by up to 65 percent compared to traditional HVAC units. Because geothermal heat pumps require no fossil fuels to operate, they emit significantly less CO2 than traditional units. Approximately 40 percent of U.S. CO2 emissions result from the demand for heating, cooling, and hot water.
In the early years of the business, DeVit worked from home handling phone calls, scheduling service calls, and performing accounting tasks.
Sweet Beet Bistro, Closed This Year In Greenwich, Plans To Re-Open In Glens Falls
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Sweet Beet Bistro, which closed its business in Greenwich, plans to re-open at a spot in Glens Falls in the spring.
According to bistro owner Johanna von Geldern, they are looking to re-open by Mother’s Day at the latest.
Von Geldern has found a way to create a bistro that values farm-to-table food and the community where it is grown. It’s a concept that she says she learned on the job . She is excited to bring it to her new location next year.
When COVID-19 hit in March, von Geldern said they closed their doors in Greenwich. With capacity limited to 50 percent and without outdoor seating, she said the business could not have survived. She then decided it was time to relocate in order to keep the business going.
In Glens Falls, she said, the new space will be slightly larger with its own bar area, a separate dining room and extensive patio space.
Integrated Staffing Moves New Headquarters To 463 Maple Avenue In Saratoga Springs
By Jill Nagy
Like many businesses during the corona virus pandemic, Integrated Staffing is having “a weird year,” according to co-owner Dhianna Yezzi. In the midst of it, the company moved from Glens Falls into new, larger space at 463 Maple Ave. in Saratoga Springs.
Integrated Staffing is a locally owned and operated temporary, temporary-to-permanent, and permanent staffing agency.
The new headquarters was once a house. An addition to the front of the building provides office space for five people in an open space off the former front foyer. Construction began before the pandemic but was halted because of it.