By Jennifer Farnsworth
For people looking for authentic Mexican food, Jose Magdalena says to look no further than South Glens Falls.
Magdalena, owner of Mi Rancho, said his restaurant serves cuisine that is a taste of Mexico in upstate New York.
Located at 23 Main St., formerly Cirelli’s Osteria, Mi Rancho is a place that Magdalena thought the area was missing.
“We know how to make real Mexican food,” said Magdalena.
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Lifelong Queensbury resident Dr. Jeff Sawyer is passionate about being a chiropractor. Now with his own practice, Sawyer Family Chiropractic, Sawyer said he is excited to share that passion with the community.
The 123 Quaker Road office opened in January. Sawyer designed it to be a state-of-the-art facility with treatment rooms that allow for the natural treatment for discomforts and symptoms, including neck pain, pregnancy pain, central nervous system diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, auto-accident pain and general wellness regardless of age, said Sawyer.
“The practice strives to promote a family atmosphere that focuses on optimizing health for each and every patient. As a chiropractor, my primary goal is to help patients avoid more costly interventions, such as prescription medications and unnecessary surgeries,” said Sawyer.
Sawyer is a graduate of New York Chiropractic College. He serves as the team chiropractor for the local Adirondack Thunder ECHL hockey team. He regularly attends seminars and training to keep up-to-date with new techniques of care.
By Jill Nagy
It could be a modern novel. The hero, a successful professional, experiences a “big life change” and decides to wander the country, driving a truck and taking time out to ride the trails, hike, and do yoga. Then, an epiphany: He misses an essential part of his former life and returns to it, better than ever.
This happened to Seth Merrill, who returned to New York state last November to found Rebound Massage in Queensbury, part of the Adirondack Wellness Group at 310 Dixon Road.
He specializes in therapeutic massage, helping patients overcome pain and stiffness. He works with top athletes and also with “athletes just trying to get by day-to-day.”
By Greg Hitchcock
Slate Town Brewing Co. at 31 Main St. in Granville opened three months ago and things are going well, according to business partner Susan Knapp.
“We have nine beers on tap. Every week we have new ones coming out,” Knapp said.
Local and out-of-town customers flock to Slate Town Brewing Company to get a taste of a Not Your Average Main Street Blonde ale, Unfitting Red ale, or other craft beers at the brewery created by master craftsman Glenn Wetherell, also a partner.
Unfitting Red ale came from slate industry terms in honor of the region’s red slate industry having been a major benefactor in Granville’s economic development, she said.
“Red slate is only found in Granville in the whole world,” Knapp said.
After working nearly 16 years as a home brewer with his father David, working out of a hop shed, Wetherell decided to open a brewery after being convinced by Knapp that if he didn’t, he would regret that decision forever.
By Jill Nagy
Business is “exceeding our expectations” at a newly opened vegan restaurant in Queensbury, according to its owner, Tania Sharlow.
The restaurant, the Birch Bark Eatery, opened Oct. 1 at 989 Route 9.
The vegan menu avoids meat and other animal products like eggs and dairy. Sharlow said she relies heavily on vegetables, beans and “rare flowers” in her cooking.
However, she also offers “imitation comfort food,” such as the “impossible burger” and imitation meat products made of seitan, a gluten-rich wheat product that can be seasoned like meat and has a similar texture. The burger sizzles on the grill and sheds blood-like juices when bitten into.
Sharlow estimated that about a third of her clients are, like her, committed to a vegan diet. Another one-third or so, are vegetarian. The rest, she feels, are curious.
By Jill Nagy
After a month’s hiatus, Mikado Japanese Restaurant in Glens Falls is back, a block away and twice the size, at 197 Glen St.
There is a new bar, an expanded menu, some 10 additional staff people and, if all goes well, there will soon be new grills in the six hibachi tables.
Plans for an expanded restaurant had been in the works for some 18 months, according to co-owner Danny Chang. The restaurant, at its previous location, was closed a month ago. That building will be converted to mixed apartments and commercial use. The month in between was used to convert the former home of Adirondack Billiards into a 5,000-square-foot eatery.
A soft opening was held Oct. 5. A
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Cleverdale Country Store at 2660 Route 9L in Queensbury seems to be much more than its name.
Cleverdale is about homemade deli sandwiches and homemade baked goods, as well as breakfast, lunches or dinners. They serve beer and wine, carry seasonal organic fruits and veggies, and have locally themed gifts. They even have live music on Thursdays.
The owner recently purchased a neighboring space that is now serving as a lake store with cabin, boat and lake goods. Meghan Cesari said the business is strong and they continue to work with local business owners in an effort to keep things fresh, as well as support the community.
By Jill Nagy
Two Glens Falls women parlayed their love for canines into a thriving dog obedience training school in South Glens Falls.
In August, Paws4Obedience moved into new, larger quarters to accommodate a growing clientele.
The new facility, at 1638 Route 9—across the street from the former facility—was opened with an all-day celebration that collected four or five crates of food, toys, and other accessories for shelter dogs. It also raised more than $500 for the shelters and for Woofs for Warriors, a Glens Falls organization that helps veterans acquire service dogs and facilitated the adoption of several rescue dogs.
The two women, Lora Bacharach and Brianna Rabine, opened the business in December. They offer a series of obedience training classes and specialized programs such as therapy dog preparation, off-leash obedience training and competitive sports.
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Authentic Asian cuisine, served in a popular all-you-can-eat format, is a key to the early success at China Town, a new restaurant in Lake George.
Head chef Jo Sim said don’t be fooled into thinking they are your average buffet. The restaurant, that can seat up to 180 people, is much more than that.
“Our buffet is way beyond that. It is all-you-can-eat from the kitchen and the sushi bar, which is special,” said Sim. It specializes in Thai, Chinese and Japanese food.
By Maureen Werther
Kris and Heather March are working hard to meet a planned opening of Slickfin Brewing Co. in November.
The brewery and tap room will be located at 147 Broadway in Fort Edward.
Kris said he first became interested in brewing when he was in the U.S. Marines, stationed in the Middle East. In 2012, he began developing recipes in earnest, with the help of his friend. They began entering competitions and did well, prompting them to seriously consider opening a brewing company and tap room.
By 2016, the Marchs were out of the military and had a young daughter. Kris was working in the robotics field in Boston and making a weekly commute between Fort Edward and Boston. After a year, he decided to pursue his passion for craft brewing full-time. He quit his job in 2017 and began renovations at the Broadway location.