Category Archives: Business News

Glens Falls and Queensbury are among the  municipalities that grew in population from 2015 to 2016, according to a Center for Economic Growth analysis of U.S. Census Bureau estimates.

Also growing were municipalities in Saratoga County, according to the data.

CEG officials said that between July 1, 2015 and July 1, 2016, populations increased in 22 and decreased in 96 Capital Region towns and cities. Only three of the region’s 10 cities—Cohoes, Glens Falls and Saratoga Springs—saw their populations grow in 2016.

However, five cities experienced annual losses below 1 percent. They were Albany (-0.2 percent), Rensselaer (-0.3 percent), Troy (-0.3 percent), Watervliet (-0.7 percent) and Schenectady (-0.7 percent).

Out of the region’s growing towns and cities, two were in Warren County, CEG said.

Saratoga Hospital announced the acquisition of the former Carl R’s restaurant property on Main Street in Queensbury at Northway Exit 18 of the Northway.

“Our multi-specialty group practice, Saratoga Hospital Medical Group, continues to see growth in our patient population north of the hospital’s main campus,” said Angelo Calbone, president and CEO of Saratoga Hospital.

“When the property became available, we decided the convenient location at exit 18 made this an excellent site to explore how we can best provide the medical specialty programs and services to meet these expanding needs.”

With the transaction complete for the one-acre parcel, the hospital is now assessing what specialty practices will be considered for the location.

“The hospital often looks at a prospective location without having a specific plan until the transaction is finalized,” said Calbone. No decisions will be made until a comprehensive evaluation has been completed. Timing for the proposed use is to be determined. Saratoga Hospital is the sole owner of the property.

Adirondack Winery LLC has opened a second tasting room, at 4971 Lake Shore Drive, Suite 2, in Bolton Landing.

The tasting room has been in “soft opening” phase since June 9, said owners Michael and Sasha Pardy. A grand opening was held July 26.

The new tasting room is across the street from Tops Market, between Palazzo’s Pizzeria and Bob’s Ice Cream. The building is owned by Robert and Dawn O’Keefe, owners of the Huddle Kitchen restaurant and bar on Lake Shore Drive.

Headquartered in Queensbury, the company’s other tasting room is on Canada Street in Lake George.

“We were intrigued immediately when we saw this space for rent on Lake Shore Drive last fall,” said Pardy. “We had been looking for space in Bolton Landing since late 2015 and when we saw this spot, the perfect size for us, located right in the heart of Bolton Landing and so close to the base of the Sagamore Resort entrance. I knew this spot had a lot of potential.”

“They’re an attraction that draws visitors and have a great reputation and wine, so we’re happy to have them,” said O’Keefe.

Pardy said Adirondack Winery has grown year after year, from a 1,000 case micro-winery in 2008 to a 13,000-case winery now with over 500 club members, shipping to 35 states and selling wines at nearly 400 liquor stores and restaurants across upstate New York.

By Maureen Werther

The Wood Carte Amish-style furniture store in Queensbury recently expanded into a second building.

Owner Chris Carte had been wanting to buy the vacant building located next door to the Wood Carte, 1063 Route 9, for quite a while, said Nicole Blanchard, digital design specialist for the business.

The Wood Carte’s new showroom, which was formerly occupied by Marek’s Carpeting and Flooring, is approximately 6,000 square feet and will accommodate the growing inventory of outdoor furniture that Carte has been adding, as well as clearance items, she said.

Combined, the two showrooms have approximately 30,000 square feet of space, which will allow Carte to expand their product lines.

Located just off the Adirondack Northway Exit 20 on Route 9, the Wood Carte is also celebrating 35 years in business. Chris and Kelly Carte, along with son Jeremy, run the family-owned business. Two older brothers, who started the store with their youngest brother 35 years ago, are now retired.

The store boasts it has the largest selection of real-wood Amish-made furniture and accessories in New York state. The term, “Amish-made” refers to both the methods and the materials used to build furniture.

By R.J. DeLuke

The relatively new president and CEO of AngioDynamics, the medical device manufacturer with operations in Glens Falls and Queensbury, said when he took the reins for the company last year, he saw there was a need for some changes to be made if the company was to continue to compete in the hyper-competitive field it operates in.

But Jim Clemmer did recognize the company has strong core values and a great knowledge base within the company, he told the audience gathered at the annual luncheon of EDC Warren County on June 27 the at Great Escape Lodge.

“I’m proud of the quality of the people in our plant,” he said. But he is challenging his work force to be more innovative and efficient.

He said when the federal Affordable Care Act came into being “it woke up the industry” because it brought many more patients into the health care system.

The medical device industry “had gotten a little slow. People lost their edge and efficiency. ACA was “a wake-up call.”

The Adirondack Civic Center Coalition announced on July 12 that it has entered into a five-year agreement with Cool Insuring Agency to rebrand the Glens Falls Civic Center as Cool Insuring Arena, effective immediately.

“We’re proud to partner with a great member of our community in Cool Insuring Agency as we are able to name our building for the first time in its 38-year history,” Adirondack Civic Center Coalition President Dan Burke said. “We are almost 60 percent of the way to our overall Keep Hockey Here fundraising goal and are excited to move forward as the Cool Insuring Arena.”

Cool Insuring Agency, based in Queensbury, becomes the first sponsor of the downtown arena since its inception in 1979. The five-year agreement keeps the agency as the official sponsor of the arena through 2022. The naming rights deal marks the next step as the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition and Adirondack Thunder hockey team approach the 2017-18 season.

“From day one in 1979, we have been a season ticket holder and dasher board advertiser at the Civic Center,” Cool Insuring Agency Vice President Jack Bieniek said. “We are acutely aware of the benefits of what a viable and catalytic entertainment venue means to our hometown community and its local businesses.

“The employees, management and owners of Cool Insuring Agency are honored to support the Adirondack Civic Center Coalition today and into the future.”

The third annual Adirondack Wine & Food Festival held in June at Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in Lake George was the best attended thus far, organizers said.

Officials said nearly 6,000 tickets were purchased.

Adirondack Festivals owner Sasha Pardy said, “We sold nearly 6,000 tickets to the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival and had more than 5,700 people in attendance at the event over the two days. We also broke all past attendance records at the Festival Commons.”

In 2016, the festival sold about 5,200 tickets and 5,000 people attended, she said.

“We are particularly proud of this achievement, as our 2016 Festival was designated as an official Taste New York Event and we received a $65,000 grant from Gov. Cuomo’s New York Craft Beverage Initiative, on top of some local funding, to help promote the festival,” Pardy said.

“We were concerned that although we were granted $35,000 in funding from Lake George village, town and Warren County this year, that without the state funding, we might not be able to reach the 6,000 tickets goal we had set out for this year. Thankfully, we could reach our goals on a much tighter marketing budget. I think it shows the impact positive attendee feedback and word of mouth can have and that we made the right marketing choices with our budget this year.”

The vendor list included 24 wineries, four breweries, eight distilleries, three cideries, 26 artisan food vendors, nine food trucks, one local restaurant, six specialty vendors, some sponsor booths, and a weekend full of culinary demonstrations provided by the SUNY Adirondack culinary students.

The Hyde Collection Board of Trustees announced  that Erin B. Coe will leave the position of museum director this summer to accept a position as director of the Palmer Museum of Art at Penn State University.

A national search will be conducted for a new director, said Karl Seitz, chairman of the Hyde board of trustees. Coe will leave the Hyde in late July.

The board also announced that Anne Saile, an accomplished nonprofit CEO and founder of the Saile Group LLC, a business development and leadership consulting firm, has been named interim director.

Saile is the former president of Bellevue Woman’s Center in Schenectady. She has served on numerous boards and blue ribbon panels, is founding chair of the Women@Work Executive Advisory Board for Hearst, immediate past president of the board of directors of the Center for Women in Government and Civil Society and founding member of the Forum for Executive Women.

“This is a bittersweet moment for The Hyde,” Seitz said. “We are delighted to see Erin take the next big step in what is already a brilliant career. Her leadership of the Hyde, particularly the establishment of the new Feibes & Schmitt Gallery for Modern and Contemporary art, has been extraordinary.

“Erin has created a platform for future growth and opportunity for The Hyde. As her colleagues and friends, we will miss our daily contact with a vibrant, optimistic, visionary spirit and we wish her only the best.”

Coe helped the Hyde secure one of the largest gifts in its history, $11 million in modern art and cash from Schenectady architect Werner Feibes and his late partner, James Schmitt. She then led a successful campaign to raise $500,000 more in private contributions and foundation support to expand the museum and build a new gallery to showcase modern art, the first new exhibition space at the Hyde in more than 28 years.

Two area small businesses were recognized during National Small Business Week at the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 19th annual Small Business Excellence Awards luncheon in Albany in May.

Small businesses are selected for the Excellence Awards based on their company’s longevity, innovation, sales growth, increased employment, ability to overcome adversity or community contributions.

Glens Falls National Bank & Trust Co. honored the Bullpen Tavern based in Glens Falls with a the Small Business Excellence Award. The tavern, a downtown Glens Falls sports bar and restaurant, was started by four high school friends, Paul Bricoccoli, Jr., Scott Endieveri, David Krogmann, Jr., and Jason Krogmann.

In 2013, a fire in an upstairs apartment burned the interior. The partners undertook a complete renovation and re-opened nine months later with a new look. The new Bullpen Tavern also has a second-floor banquet space for 100 guests and two third-floor apartments.

Glens Falls Hospital announced that Dr. Benjamin Katz of Saratoga Springs was named vice president of medical affairs and chief medical officer.

The hospital also announced that Patti Hammond of Ray Brook was named vice president of physician practice management.

Katz succeeded retiring CMO Dr. Robert Pringle effective July 3.  Katz was previously the associate CMO. Pringle will remain at the hospital as an internal physician consultant through Dec. 1.

“We are incredibly fortunate to have Ben on our team and have witnessed his outstanding dedication and passion for his work.  His vision and commitment to high quality patient-centered care will be a tremendous asset to Glens Falls Hospital as we continue to grow and expand our services,” said Dianne Shugrue, president and CEO of Glens Falls Hospital.

In addition to his role as associate chief medical officer, Katz also served as associate medical director of the Emergency Department at the hospital.

Previously, he worked in the Emergency Department at Albany Medical Center as associate residency director and director of quality assurance.