Glens Falls Business Journal
By Carol Ann Conover
Tim Ortiz spent four years, a small fortune in rent and a detour through the state Legislature before he finally made his first sale at Glens Falls Liquor, the downtown storefront he had long envisioned filling a conspicuous gap in the city’s retail landscape.
Ortiz, a musician and longtime resident of downtown Glens Falls, opened the shop on Glen Street in early March 2026 after signing a lease in July 2024 and paying full rent every month through a protracted licensing process. The store occupies a small, carefully curated space, where Ortiz said he deliberately chose not to expand into a larger adjacent unit.
“I wanted to open a business in Glens Falls since I live downtown, and I started thinking about what the area didn’t have yet,” Ortiz said. “What it didn’t have was a place to buy a bottle of wine or liquor downtown.”
The idea came to him after late nights playing gigs. The nearest option, he said, was a drive to another local store just outside town.
“Literally one night well, a few nights, I wanted to get a bottle of something after a gig, but everything around was closed,” he said. “So I thought, there should be a liquor store here. Why don’t we have a small liquor store?”
He filed for the DBA “Glens Falls Liquor” four years ago. What he did not anticipate was that the licensing process would require an act of the state Legislature.
After the State Liquor Authority initially denied his application over a proximity issue with a nearby church, Ortiz sought help from elected officials. The mayor at the time had already provided a strong letter of recommendation supporting the application, citing the city’s interest in more retail downtown, and the city board had approved the project.
With the SLA denial in hand, Ortiz turned to the governor’s office, which directed him to pursue a legislative remedy. State Sen. Dan Stec’s office stepped in and worked with Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner on a bipartisan bill to address the situation.
“Dan Stec’s office proposed a bill with Carrie Woerner — our Assemblywoman — and they led a bipartisan effort to push it through. It passed the Senate and Assembly and was signed into law,” Ortiz said.
The process moved faster than Ortiz and his attorney had expected.
“That took a while, but not as long as I thought — maybe six months from beginning to end,” he said. “The elected officials’ offices were so helpful. They were calling me all the time: ‘Hey, what can we do? We’re doing this, we’re doing that.’ They were talking to the SLA. They really went above and beyond.”
Ortiz said he had previously seen Gov. Kathy Hochul grant exemptions to other stores in similar circumstances, including a recent case in Hudson Falls, which gave him confidence the path was viable.
“It’s great when your representatives show up when there’s a need like that,” he said. “They worked together and joined forces to support the community, which I think is great.”
Even after the bill was signed, the SLA retained final discretion. Ortiz said the moment the approval email arrived was a relief.
“When I finally got the license, that email was a huge, surprising moment,” he said. “There was a lot of uncertainty and definitely a financial strain.”
Just a few weeks in, Ortiz said the reception has centered on locals who can now walk to the store from nearby homes and apartments. The shop is open until 10 p.m. on weeknights and 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
“A lot of the people who come in live right nearby,” he said. “They’re like, ‘Wow, a place we can just walk to and get something.’”
The store carries a mid- to high-tier selection, intentionally limited in scope. Ortiz said buying fewer SKUs in larger quantities allows him to keep prices competitive.
“I don’t want people to come in and think, ‘Oh, it’s a smaller store, so we’re going to pay more,’” he said. “It’s not going to be the cheapest price on everything, but I don’t believe in overcharging.”
Organic and lower-additive options have resonated with younger customers, he said.
“People still want to drink, but they like having options with fewer preservatives or fewer additives they’re concerned about,” Ortiz said.
The store is dog-friendly — a deliberate choice for a neighborhood full of dog walkers — and the shop’s mascot, a dog named Rigby, anchors a weekly Instagram feature called “Rigby’s Treat of the Week.” The store can be found on Instagram at @glensfallsliquor.
“Part of the idea is to let people walking their dogs come in and grab something without being deterred,” he said.
“I picked this spot — I had the option to take a much bigger space next door — but I wanted something smaller that could be run efficiently,” he said. “With less overhead, I can be more competitive on price and pay my employees more.”
Ortiz continues to perform music regularly, including a standing Saturday night engagement at The Garrison and periodic Fridays at The Score. He said the business and the performances fit the life he has built in downtown Glens Falls.
“I’m also trying to provide an experience,” he said. “The store looks great, with artwork on the walls, and it’s not cluttered. Everything is neat and clean — details a lot of liquor stores overlook. We’re looking forward to a busy summer as people discover how convenient we are for both locals and visitors looking for a good bottle at a fair price.”
Glens Falls Liquor is located at 280 Glen St. in downtown Glens Falls.