Glens Falls Business Journal

Adirondack Studios In Argyle Is Fully Involved With Creation Of National Comedy Center

August 10, 2017

This is a rendering of the National Comedy Center that is being built in Jamestown in the southern tier of New York, assisted in design by Adirondack Studios in Argyle.
Courtesy National Comedy Center

The National Comedy Center (NCC) has awarded a $2.9 million contract to an Argyle company.

Adirondack Studios will fabricate and install the scenic components of the center and its exhibits.

The project involves renovation and restoration of the historic Jamestown Gateway train station. Jamestown is in the southern tier, in Chautauqua County.

Adirondack Studios creates the scenic and themed environments experienced in venues that range from theme parks to casinos, museums, live shows, retail and public art. With this contract, the project continues to make progress toward its targeted summer 2018 opening, according to state officials.

The center will celebrate the history of comedy, the craft and its artists.

“The National Comedy Center, once completed, will boost the local economy and spur job creation for Western New York, while creating a world-class cultural hub for visitors and residents alike,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said. “This contract with Adirondack Studios brings us one step closer to completing this project, which will add further momentum to this region’s renaissance.”

Adirondack Thunder Will Be An Affiliate Of New Jersey Devils; New Coach Is Announced

August 10, 2017

The Adirondack Thunder’s new coach Brad Tapper speaks at an Aug. 8 press conference.

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.

Queensbury Hotel Will Be The Site Of This Year’s Business Expo, Hosted By The ARCC

August 10, 2017

Attendees at last year’s Business Expo browse the various booths.
Courtesy ARCC

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.

Personnel Briefs: August 2017

August 10, 2017

The Adirondack Thunder hired Nathan Gosline to join their front office in advance of the 2017-18 season as the director of corporate sales.

Gosline, a Queensbury native, has over a decade of sales and marketing experience in the sports industry. He joins the Thunder from the Tampa Bay Rays organization, where he served as director of sales for both Rays spring training and the Charlotte Stone Crabs of the Florida State League. Gosline worked within the Rays organization for two seasons and oversaw all sponsorship sales for both entities.

Gosline served as the vice president of corporate partnerships with the Mississippi River Kings of the Central Hockey League from 2008-13. With the River Kings, he was responsible for managing the franchise’s corporate partnerships and expanding the team’s reach in the business community.

Gosline also worked in the ECHL from 2002 -08 with the Florida Everblades, beginning as group sales manager before he was promoted to director of sales in 2005. Under his direction, the Everblades won the ticket sales department of the year at the 2006 ECHL League Meetings.

He is a graduate of both Queensbury High School and SUNY Adirondack.

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Cameron’s Deli On Dix Avenue In Queensbury Offers To-Go Food Daily, Around The Clock

August 10, 2017

Jeremy Ward, back, rear, manager of Cameron’s Deli in Queensbury poses with staff in the new store. The deli features to-go dishes available any time of day or night.

By Liz Witbeck

Cameron’s Deli opened its third location in Queensbury.

Cameron’s Deli is a franchise. The business was founded in 1996, with the original location in Cross River, a town in Westchester County. The deli expanded to a second location in Brewster, N.Y.

The restaurant in Queensbury opened at 446 Dix Ave. in June.

Kurt Jaeger and Jay Salmon are co-owners of the restaurant. Jaeger is a founding member of Jaeger & Flynn, a financial services firm in the Glens Falls area. Salmon is an investment advisor. The two are friends and when they heard about the opportunity to own a business, they seized the chance.

Cameron’s Deli is open around the clock, seven days a week. There is no indoor seating, although there are picnic tables outside for people who want to sit. The deli is intended to be a place for people to come, order food, and take it to go.

“We never close our doors,” said Jaeger.

There are many food items on the menu. The deli is especially well known for its chicken sandwiches. One that is popular is the Cluck’n Russian:, a chicken cutlet topped with melted Muenster cheese, several slices of bacon, and Russian dressing, all on a toasted hard roll.

Adirondack Salt Cave, Halo Therapy And Wellness Center To Open In Union Square

August 10, 2017

Massage therapist Dana Russell and her husband, Greg Russell, will open Adirondack Salt Cave LLC, Halotherapy and Wellness Center in the Union Square building at 11 Broad St. in Glens Falls.
Courtesy Adirondack Salt Cave LLC

By Maureen Werther

A popular holistic therapy is coming to Glens Falls.

Over the last decade, more and more spas, massage therapy and wellness centers have added Himalayan salt caves to their treatment environments. Massage therapist Dana Russell and her husband, Greg Russell, will open Adirondack Salt Cave LLC, Halotherapy and Wellness Center in the Union Square building at 11 Broad St. in Glens Falls. They said they expect to be busy right out of the gate.

Halotherapy is the inhalation of micronized dry salt particles inside a chamber that mimics a natural salt cave environment. While this treatment is a relatively new phenomenon in the United States, it has been practiced for centuries by the indigenous people of the Himalayas. Europeans have also used halotherapy to treat respiratory ailments since the 1840s. Others have used it to improve symptoms of allergies and skin conditions such as eczema.

Salt is said to be a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, and contains nearly 90 different trace minerals. Inhalation of micro-particles released into the room—or cave—by way of a halogenerator. The benefits of this treatment are reputed to include improvement of respiratory problems such as allergies, COPD and asthma.

Bennington Furniture Expands, Opens A Store In The Fresh Market Plaza In Saratoga Springs

August 10, 2017

Bennington Furniture, which has outlets in six other cities, including Queensbury, has opened Bennington Mattress in the Fresh Market Plaza in Saratoga Springs.
©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Margaret MacDonald

Bennington Furniture, Inc., which has a store in Queensbury, recently expanded, launching a new storefront in Saratoga Springs.

The new space is located in the Fresh Market Plaza, situated between Smashburger and Charles Schwab, off Marian Avenue.

Founded in Bennington, Vt., the 25-year-old company has grown rapidly—from two to eight stores—the closest being in Queensbury. There are four in Vermont—Rutland, West Dover, Manchester and Bennington—and one in Pittsfield, Mass.

A full-service furniture, mattress, and interior design store, the company boasts “the best customer service in the industry,” highlighted by interior designer staff committed to helping customers find the most satisfactory deal.

“The Saratoga market is more progressive,” said Daniel Sardina, advertising and marketing person with the company. “We love the community,” and feel the city can provide clientele for a personalized and cutting-edge service.

He said most home improvement stores are rather vanilla by comparison.

Business Report: Loyalty Hurts You!

August 10, 2017

Michael Cruz, president of Lighthouse Advisors LLC in Queensbury.
Courtesy Lighthouse Advisors LLC

I once hired a project leader who was a mis-hire. She was technically very competent. She had come highly recommended by another member of our senior leadership team. Her recommender had worked with her at a previous company, in the same role we were hiring for. We were all very excited and had high hopes that this department was going to be competently led.

But she irritated her staff and her clients. I spent a year coaching my bad hire. Finally, I had to let her go. She had just lost a new client of ours. They did not like working with her. They worried that she embodied the attitudes of the rest of the company. When I challenged her about what was going on with the client, she declared that the client was stupid. Our company had built its reputation on customer delight. Yet, though she knew how to manage a project, she did not know how to delight our customers.

After letting her go, I went to inform her staff. I clearly remember a conversation with one staff member. His reaction was “Well, I always figured you were pretty smart. I hoped that you would figure it out eventually.” Ouch! Her staff figured out she was a bad hire long before I did!

Developer Plans New 92-Room Home2 Suites Hotel Off Of Exit 19, Next To Aviation Mall

August 10, 2017

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.

New Truck Stop Coming To Queensbury; Will Offer Coffee / Dining; Opens Later This Year

August 10, 2017

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.