Category Archives: Business News

The Adirondack Wine & Food Festival returns to Lake George on Saturday and Sunday, June 24 and 25 at the Charles R. Wood Festival Commons in Lake George Village.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The festival will feature more than 120 New York wineries, distilleries, breweries, cideries, artisan food producers, food trucks, crafters, and more. The family-friendly event has drawn draws visitors from 36 states, according to organizers. 

Now in its seventh year, the festival anticipates some 7,800 attendees this year. The 2022 Festival had over 6,800 guests, with 81 percent saying they planned a trip to the Lake George area specifically to attend the festival, officials said. 

The festival is expected to generate 12,000-plus overnight stays in the area and produce an economic impact of just under $5 million on the region.

This year, the festival is expanding into the adjacent Betty Little Boulevard, launching a “Food Truck Alley,” with 15 food trucks and several local artisans and festival sponsors. 

“Last year, we sold out on Saturday with over 4,000 attendees. With this expansion, attendees will enjoy more space on the festival grounds with access to more vendors than ever. We are also providing free public access to Food Truck Alley for our guests who just want a bite to eat but may not be able to or wish to enter the ticketed festival grounds,” said Sasha Pardy, Adirondack Festival owner.

Arrow Financial Corp.—the parent company of Saratoga National Bank and Glens Falls National Bank—announced that David S. DeMarco is the president and chief executive officer of the company.

DeMarco was chief banking officer and senior executive vice president at the company.

He replaces Thomas J. Murphy, who in May  terminated his employment as president and CEO with Arrow.

The changes were made May 12.

DeMarco, who has been with the company for 35 years, continues to serve as president and chief executive officer of Arrow subsidiary Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co.

DeMarco joined the company in 1987 as a commercial lender and since that time has served in positions of increasing responsibility with the organization. He was named president and CEO of Saratoga National Bank in 2012.

“We are very pleased that Dave has agreed to serve as president and CEO of Arrow and Glens Falls National Bank. Dave has dedicated his career to the company, understands community banking and he is well-known throughout our organization and the communities we serve,” said William L. Owens, chairman of the Arrow board.

“It is an honor to be asked to serve as president and CEO of Arrow,” DeMarco said. “I look forward to working closely with our team to continue to serve our customers and advance our strategic and financial goals.”

Patricia Hartle has been appointed economic development coordinator for EDC Warren County. 

“Tricia is a wonderful addition to our EDC team,” EDC President Jim Siplon said. 

“Her remarkable economic development experience and professional network add depth to our group and her vibrant, positive approach have already made us better,” the EDC president said.

Hartle has experience in both the state government and economic development sectors. 

“One of the greatest highlights of my career was being instrumental in the creation of the consolidated funding application in New York state, as well as creating several economic incentive programs over my years,” Hartle said.

“My goal in this role is to advance the mission that we have concerted and coordinated efforts county wide, as well as regionally, to effectively assist businesses in advancing their goals,” she said.

Through her extensive experience working at the State Capitol and the Empire State Development Corp.’s START-UP NY program, Hartle brings a wealth of intimate knowledge and skills surrounding economic growth and sustainability to the Warren County community and the region.

In her free time, Hartle enjoys quality family time on Long Lake in the Adirondacks with her children, grandchildren and extended family.

By Jill Nagy

After an 18-month hiatus, Tom and Gretchen Morganstern’s Adirondack Aromatherapy is back in business at a new location. They recently opened a boutique in Aviation Mall in Queensbury. 

The shop was previously in the Shirt Factory in Glens Falls. 

Like so many other businesses, they closed down during the pandemic and, except for a kiosk at the mall last holiday season, they did business online from their home until two months ago.

Adirondack Aromatherapy sells natural aromatic oils sourced from some 40 countries. Most aromatics are not native to the Adirondack region, Gretchen explained, and if they do grow there, they have a very short growing season. One exception is roses. She makes rosewater when the roses bloom in her garden.

The shop features an “aroma bar,” an array of bottles of essential oils. Customers can sniff and choose what they like or have Morganstern  mix an elixir for them. They can then diffuse the aroma in many ways: as spray, soap, roll-on, perfume, etc. 

She said she works exclusively with natural scents and claims that the right scent can heal the mind, body, and spirit. 

All Abilities Productions, an all-inclusive theatrical company, is a new business across from Peter Harris in Aviation Mall, Queensbury. 

All Abilities Productions works with other nonprofit organizations to provide educational programs, such as all-inclusive dance programs, playwriting classes, improv acting classes, art therapy and more. 

The company will also offer concerts and theatrical productions for people to showcase their talents.

Andy O’Rourke, owner of All Abilities Productions, said he started the company so that people like himself would have the opportunity to do something they enjoy without restrictions. O’Rourke had a stroke in-utero and was born with cerebral palsy. 

He found his passion for theater and the creative arts while in high school. As he pursued his passion after high school, he found that the theatrical arts in this area were not typically all-inclusive, he said. That propelled him to create All Abilities Productions in 2022. 

All Abilities Productions was created to foster growth for people of all abilities on stage and off stage. The company’s motto states, “where inclusivity and creativity meet.” Its mission is to form a community that includes and accepts people from all walks of life regardless of disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, and age.

The Bowling Proprietors Association of America (BPAA) has named Doug Bohannon of Queensbury its 2023 National Proprietor of the Year.  

Bohannon, along with his wife Alison, own Kingpin’s Alley Family Fun Center in South Glens Falls along with Kingpin’s Alley in Latham.  

Bohannon is a native of Glens Falls and is a 1985 graduate of Glens Falls High School. He has been in the bowling business for the past 25 years.  

In 2013 Doug and Alison purchased their first bowling center in South Glens Falls. Over the past 10 years, the center has been transformed from a traditional bowling alley into a modern family fun center.

Bohannon credits his success primarily to his previous employer, Bowl New England, from which both of his centers were purchased.  

“Having worked for one of the industry leaders for 13 years prepared me for what owning my own center would be like”, Bohannon said.  “The knowledge and insight that I gained during my time with Bowl New England has been invaluable in growing a successful business.”

By Paul Post

 Bamboo plants take years to get established, but shoots that finally emerge can grow 35 inches per day until soaring to almost 50 feet high within two months’ time. Queensbury Hotel partners Zach Moore and Tyler Herrick do business the same way, by planting seeds of success whose results might take several years to fully realize.

 “It’s kind of like that analogy,” Moore said. “You bring people here, they experience America from our town, then they go back. It creates little seeds that grow.”

 Their hotel recently hosted a delegation of government, business and civic leaders from Saga City, Japan, as part of a 35-year “Sister City” relationship with the City of Glens Falls.

 It began in 1988, two years after local hot air balloonists traveled to Japan for the Saga International Balloon Fiesta. 

“An idea was proposed, a vision was seen, a relationship developed and a commitment was made to people, programs and ideas,” Glens Falls Mayor Bill Collins said. “Our cities have many things in common. Both cities have similar industries, like paper mills, and our economies have experienced growth. Both cities have an appreciation for history as well as education. Both cities host high school sports tournaments, and of course, both cities are involved with balloon festivals.”

 Connections between the two cities have produced long-lasting friendships, cultural awareness and educational opportunities. Such associations quite often lay the foundation for trade and creative new business ventures, also.

 “You never can tell,” said Tim Drawbridge, city communications director. “You know how economic development goes. You see something in a different part of the U.S. and that idea comes home with you. Maybe it’s a new kind of shopping mall design or different ideas with food; transcending ideas back and forth.”

FISH307.com celebrated in May the opening of its new location at 814 Goggins Road in Lake George.

“After 30 years of business and hard work, we are excited to announce our move to an expanded facility in our new location,” said owner Jeffrey Goldberg. “This newly renovated building houses our retail, office, and warehouse space: the FISH307 Fishing and Outdoor Superstore.” 

He said the new location is significant for FISH307.com as it allows the company  to serve a larger customer base and expand their offerings. They now have space for retail operations, warehouses, and the School of Fish classroom. The expansion provides opportunities for growth and enhanced services to their clientele.

FISH307.com was originally founded in 1992 by Goldberg as Peace Pipe Bait & Tackle in Bolton Landing. As the business evolved and focused more on fishing tackle, they changed their name to Peace Pipe Fishing Outfitters. 

In 1995, recognizing the potential of the internet, they entered the mail order business and rebranded as FISH307. They established their online presence with the domain FISH307.com. Over the years, FISH307.com has grown from a local business to one with a worldwide footprint.

The owner of Northeastern Fine Jewelry, a destination for fine jewelry for more than four decades, has purchased Olde Saratoga Coin  and upgraded his new stores.

Olde Saratoga Coin  has storefronts at 1593 Central Ave. in Colonie and 385 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

“Coins have always been one of my passions and how we got our start in business back in 1980,” said Ray Bleser, owner of Northeastern Fine Jewelry. “Our original store was Northeastern Coin Gallery in Schenectady. For me, returning to my roots is deeply nostalgic, intensely gratifying and truly exciting.”

In its heyday, Northeastern Coin Gallery carried an inventory of hard-to-find currency, jewelry and estate pieces. In 1985, the business was reincorporated as Northeastern Fine Jewelry, which has evolved into one of the Capital Region’s leading, independently owned jewelers, featuring an extensive selection of world-renowned brands, diamonds, engagement rings, wedding bands, watches and estate items.

Northeastern Fine Jewelry will continue to operate under its own banner with three locations in Albany, Schenectady and Glens Falls, according to Bleser.

Olde Saratoga Coin & Jewelry has been rebranded and updated to reflect the addition of a wide selection of estate pieces and jewelry to supplement its expansive inventory of coins, precious metals, sterling silver, paper money, pocket watches and fine Swiss watches at its two locations, Bleser said.

In 2022, Olde Saratoga Coin & Jewelry in Colonie underwent extensive upgrades and renovations while its sister store in Saratoga Springs was relocated from 219 Broadway to an all-new storefront at 385 Broadway in the heart of downtown Saratoga Springs.