Category Archives: Business News

The Adirondack Thunder entered into a one-year affiliation agreement with the New Jersey Devils and Binghamton Devils to become the team’s new NHL and AHL affiliate for the 2017-18 season.

The Thunder also named Brad Tapper as the team’s head coach. The announcements were made Aug. 8 at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls.

The Devils will be the Thunder’s second NHL affiliate, following the Calgary Flames, which owned and operated the team from 2015-2017. The Thunder had an “informal working agreement” with the New Jersey Devils and Albany Devils over the past two seasons, which saw several players play for both the Thunder and the Devils over that span, team officials said.

Tapper becomes the second head coach in franchise history, following Cail MacLean, who left after accepting a position with the Stockton Heat of the AHL.

Tapper, 39, has eight years of coaching experience at the AHL, ECHL and junior levels. He previously spent time as an assistant coach with the Rochester Americans, Chicago Wolves, Orlando Solar Bears and Florida Everblades, as well as head coach of the North York Rangers of the CCHL.

The Scarborough, Ontario, native qualified for post season play in five of his seven seasons in the professional ranks and was a part of the Kelly Cup Championship Florida Everblades in 2012 as the team’s top assistant.

The Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce (ARCC) will hold its annual Business Expo on Thursday, Sept. 21, at the Queensbury Hotel, 88 Ridge St., Glens Falls.

“This has truly become the annual business expo of the Adirondack foothills region. The introductions, re-acquainting and catching up on what is happening now, in the many pockets of our region, are second to none,” said Tori Riley, ARCC president and CEO.

“Whether a business wants to showcase, promote, offer their ‘specialty’ sampling, or just plans to send their team as guests, this is the place to be between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Sept. 21.”

Three hours include opportunities for dynamic networking, information gathering and making connections with more than 80 exhibitors, and  hundreds of fellow ARCC supporters as well as  regional community and business leaders.

There will be complimentary food samples as people network and socialize with their peers. “Door prizes and drink specials will round out your ARCC EXPOnential experience,” said Riley.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

After more than two years of perseverance and patience, developer Bhavik Jariwala of Aviation Hospitality LLC has secured 2.5 acres off Northway Exit 19, near the Aviation Mall, to build a high-end hotel.

The Queensbury location will be home to Home2 Suites, part of the by Hilton National chain. Jariwala is hopeful that the 92-room, all-suite hotel will draw in many patrons with its long list of amenities.

It has been process with unplanned delays for Jariwala. He said he just recently was able to finalize details and get to this stage of the project. 

The town Planning Board recently gave Jariwala approval to begin the project, and he hopes to begin construction as soon as possible.

The board previously granted approved for a hotel that Jariwala planned to build off Exit 18, but that plan fell through after Jariwala could not come to an agreement over a connector road with Pyramid Co. Jariwala said  negotiations first started with Pyramid  Co. to buy the property in 2014, but Pyramid insisted he pay to construct the connector road.

“In the end it worked out. We are very happy and excited about the Exit 19 location. It is slightly closer to Lake George and is at a corridor that is perfect for commercial development,” said Jariwala.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

The owner of the popular Warrensburg Gulf Tire House and Gas Station will be overseeing construction  of a truck stop and gas station in the Queensbury area.

Appropriately named the Queensbury Truck Stop, owner Tabassum “Toby” Sheikh said the full-service station will also offer Dunkin’ Donuts, and a small restaurant service.

The location of the truck stop and gas station will be on the corner of Route 149 and Ridge Road.

Sheikh said the spot, which he previously operated, was a  Getty Gas Station that did well, receiving a lot of traffic. He made the decision to tear it down last fall in order to build the new 6,500-square-foot space.

“We are working on details now, but planning for a November opening,” said Sheikh.

Hudson Headwaters Health Network, based in Queensbury, has hired Dominick Bizzaro as president and chief administrative officer.

One of his initial duties will be developing a new “population health division,” which will use data analysis to guide case management and track overall quality of care, officials said.

He will begin Aug. 1.

Bizzaro will work in collaboration with Dr. Tucker Slingerland, a current Hudson Headwaters executive who takes over as chief executive officer on July 1.

Founder and longtime CEO Dr. John Rugge begins a new role on July 1 as executive chairman, as part of the transition to his eventual retirement.

Bizzaro has more than 35 years of experience in health care, currently as executive vice president for business development and informatics at MVP Health Care, a Schenectady-based health insurance company.

The group also announced that Dr. John Sawyer was named chief medical officer and Chris Tournier was named executive vice president of finance and chief financial officer. These appointments are in concert with the Network’s recent strategic planning initiatives.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Daren Potter opened his Fat Kid Foods business earlier this year in Glens Falls and is already expanding the service.

Potter has expended to Saratoga Springs and is hoping to be able to tap into the Spa City’s college student population, as well the rest of its demographic.

His food-delivery service brings dishes from participating area restaurant’s to a customer’s front door,.

“Between Glens Falls, Lake George, and Saratoga, we are really hoping to tap into the tourist economy, “ said Potter.

Potter said it has been a slow start since he opened his first location, but he is building a solid customer base of people who love the convenience of the service.

Potter works with restaurants that do not have delivery service. His customers are able to go online and follow a four-step process that allows them to choose a meal from a variety of participating restaurants.  In Saratoga, Potter is working with places like Smashburger, Peabody’s, the Parting Glass and the Barrelhouse.

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.