Month: July 2016

Stewart’s Corp. completely renovated this shop on Church Avenue in Ballston Spa on the site of its original store opened 70 years ago. The new store supports its expanded food products.

By Maureen Werther

Stewart’s Corp. is commemorating the 70th anniversary of the original Stewart’s Shop opening on Church Avenue in the village of Ballston Spa. Day-long festivities are scheduled for July 9, including food and even Helicopter ride give-aways.

The company’s construction team completely renovated and expanded the shop, including an updated exterior that is a total departure from the familiar brown mansard shingles seen at locations throughout upstate New York and Vermont.

The interior space of the new store is more expansive, with additional counter and cooler space to accommodate the company’s growing food and beverage lines. There are additional gasoline pumps and parking in front.

This is only one of many anticipated renovations, expansions and construction of new shops in the works for the next several years, and is a strategic response to the ever-changing needs of consumers in the upstate region.

The corporate philosophy of responsiveness to the customer began with C.V. and Percy Dake as far back as 1917, when they took over the family dairy farm. It continues today under the guidance of Gary Dake, president of Stewart’s Corp., and Bill Dake, chairman of the board.

In 1945, C.V. and Percy Dake purchased the Stewart’s Dairy & Ice Cream Co. in Ballston Spa from Don Stewart. Because state licensing laws of the time limited which townships a dairy could sell their milk in, purchasing the Stewart’s company allowed the Dakes to expand their milk operations. At the time of the purchase, Don Stewart had a small ice cream manufacturing facility on Route 50, owned and operated by the Stewart family since 1918.

The ice cream part of the operation, which included a freezer and a hardening room, had been forced to close during World War I because of a sugar shortage. When C.V.’s son, Charlie, returned from the war later that year, he became very interested in re-opening the ice cream side of the business.

As a veteran, young Charlie had early access to sweetened condensed milk. This allowed him to produce ice cream during his summers off from Cornell, where he was attending school. It wasn’t long before the Dakes opened their first ice cream store on Church Avenue in Ballston Spa.

Arnoff Moving and Storage, a 92-year-old company that handles everything from semiconductor and laboratory equipment to fine art and antiques, is moving its headquarters to Albany.

Courtesy Arnoff Moving and Storage

By Molly Congdon

Arnoff Moving and Storage is moving from its Albany headquarters, marked by the historic statue of the Nipper dog, to a facility in Malta.

The company will inhabit Racemark International’s former floor mat manufacturing plant on Route 9, a 72,000-square-foot building not far from the GlobalFoundries computer chip manufacturing plant.

Company President Mike Arnoff said the company is ready to invest $11.6 million to construct a new global headquarters. All that is pending is town Planning Board approval.

“What makes Saratoga County the right location is quality of life for our employees,” he said. “Arnoff has a culture and we are very concerned with our employees. The property is a 40-acre site. It has a building on it that we can renovate and get moved into quickly.”

He said the company plans to create a campus-like setting that’s comfortable for employees and customers.

Peter Hammell, Adirondack Trust Co. archivist, opens a time capsule from 1916.

©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Debra Verni, Esq.

The Adirondack Trust Co. celebrated its 100 year anniversary at its main office on Broadway in Saratoga Springs on June 28 by opening a time capsule that had been placed inside a portion of the structure upon its construction.

It was placed there by state Sen. Edgar T. Brackett, the bank’s founder, in June 1916.

The event at 473 Broadway also featured the placing of a new time capsule by Charles V. Wait, chairman and CEO of the bank, to be opened in June 2116. A reception followed in the main office lobby.

“We are very excited to be able to share this day with our fellow community members who have supported ATC for over 100 years. Saratoga Springs has a rich history and we are proud to be a part of it as a community partner,” said Charles V. Wait Jr., executive vice president.

Bob McKenna and Scott Ringwood have opened Dunning Street Station.

©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Maureen Werther

Dunning Street Station Bar & Grill, located at 2853 Route 9 in Malta, celebrated its grand opening June 29th with a well-attended ribbon-cutting ceremony sponsored by the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County.

Owners Bob McKenna and Scott Ringwood, who is also the chef, hope to continue the tradition of great food and drink that people have long associated with the iconic silver and blue Fodoro dining car. Ringwood is also co-owner, with McKenna, of the Lake Ridge Restaurant in Round Lake.

“Over the years, Scott and I have always talked about fun places and food that we’ve enjoyed in a casual setting,” said McKenna.

Gradually, the conversations became more serious and the partners began formulating a plan for another restaurant that would offer quality food and service like Lake Ridge, but in a more relaxed setting and with a more casual menu.

They began searching for a location and started looking into the “silver magnet out there on Route 9, just waiting to be restored to its former glamor and cool,” said McKenna.

As they delved deeper into the history of the property, they discovered that Route 9 was originally known as “Dunning Street,” named after the founder of Malta, Michael Dunning. Just like that, McKenna and Ringwood had the name for the new restaurant.

The Station, as it is referred to by owners and staff, follows in the footsteps of some well-known eateries at this location. The first business opened there in the early 1950s, when Constantinos (Gus) Dardas bought the house that was situated on the property at the time. He turned it into the Malta Ridge Diner.

Caroline and Main is located at 438 Broadway in Saratoga Springs.

©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Liz Witbeck

Another clothing store has made its way to the shopping scene in the Spa City. Caroline and Main made its debut in May.

Located at 438 Broadway, the shop is named for the corners of Caroline Street and Broadway, where it is situated. Store owner Heidi Owen West also operates Lifestyles of Saratoga, which is located next door at 436 Broadway. That store has been in business for more than 20 years.

Lyndsey Lowe is personal assistant to Owen West.

“Heidi has always coveted that space across the street,” said Lowe. “It became available and she went for it. Broadway needed a refresher store.”

The 1,800-square-foot storefront was formerly home to Paper Dolls gift shop.

While Lifestyles of Saratoga appeals to an older demographic, Caroline and Main will have a unique style. The target demographic, Lowe said, is women between 25 and 50 years old. The clothing is casual and West Coast-inspired. The store offers women’s clothing such as blouses, jeans and T-shirts in a variety of prints, stripes and colors. Some of the brands offered are Eliza J and FRNCH.

“The clothing has a beachy vibe, West coast style,” said Lowe. “The colors are very fun, light, easy. [The typical shopper] doesn’t take herself so seriously.”

Party City, a retail party supply store, plans to move into the this OfficeMax location.

©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Party City, a company that operates specialty retail party supply stores in the U.S. and Canada, is planning to move into the old OfficeMax location in The Crossings development by Dec. 1.

J. Eric King, president of Equinox, the commercial property development and management firm involved in The Crossings shopping center, said he expected the 13,000-square-foot store to be very popular.

King said there are party equipment rental stores in Saratoga County, but nothing similar to Party City, which is more of a card and party supply store. They contract for the manufacturing and distribution of party goods, including paper and plastic tableware, metallic and latex balloons, Halloween and other costumes, accessories, novelties, gifts and stationery throughout the world.

“With the steady growth of families and residential development, we are very confident that the store will be well received as a nice addition to the other stores and shops at The Crossings,” said King.

American Natural Gas opened this dispensing facility in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park, 34 Cady Hill Boulevard, Saratoga Springs.

Courtesy American Natural Gas

American Natural Gas (ANG), a distributor of alternative motor fuels, announced that the first public compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station north of Albany is open.

The facility is in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park, 34 Cady Hill Boulevard, Saratoga Springs.

“CNG can transform the transportation industry. But it takes a network of infrastructure to make it possible, and that’s where we come in,” said Drew West, CEO of ANG. “Having a station in Saratoga Springs is an exciting opportunity for our regional fleets and neighbors interested in switching to a cleaner, more reliable fuel solution.”

According to Natural Gas Vehicles for America, a national organization dedicated to the development of a profitable, and sustainable market for vehicles powered by natural gas, natural gas is the cleanest burning commercially available alternative fuel today and its use as a transportation fuel is improving the air quality and the health of communities across the country. Overall costs to operate heavy-duty trucks on CNG are significantly less than running the same trucks on gasoline or diesel fuel.

“New, innovative infrastructure like this provides alternatives in how drivers fuel their day and makes it easier for us all to reduce our carbon footprint and play a larger role in our campaign to combat climate change,” said Rep. Paul D. Tonko. “With Saratoga Springs-based ANG, the Capital Region has expanded the leadership role we have taken in recent decades to expand the green-collar job market and show the nation what it means to think outside the barrel.”

Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital has just finished expanding this Saratoga Springs facility where it offers internal medicine, lab services, reproductive specialties, surgical services and more.

Courtesy Rood and Riddle

By Liz Witbeck

Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital has just finished the expansion of its Saratoga Springs facility at 63 Henning Road.

The veterinary practice was originally started in Lexington, Ky. In 1986, Dr. Rood and Dr. Riddle opened a hospital there.

“There was a need for an extra hospital to handle the horse population,” said Dr. Brett Woodie, a surgeon at the Kentucky branch.

In 2012, they began operations in the area offering ambulatory services. In 2013, they purchased Saratoga Equine Veterinary Service and opened the Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital.

Saratoga Equine Veterinary Service had been previously owned and operated by Bill and Diana Barnes.

“We needed to expand the existing facility in order to provide the horse population with the services we offer,” said Woodie.

The hospital offers ambulatory services, diagnostic imaging, internal medicine, laboratory services, podiatry services, regenerative medicine, reproductive specialties and surgical services.

Berkshire Mountain Bakery will open this month in space behind Kilwins..

©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Maureen Werther

Berkshire Mountain Bakery, a business that specializes in European-style baking, will open this month in the Washington building at 422 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs.

The bakery is directly behind Kilwins, the sweet shop in the building.

It is run by Richard Bourdon, a native of Quebec, who has been making and selling bread in the town of Housatonic, Mass., since 1986. This is a new location for the company.

In partnership with Jay Ollivierra, who is the owner of the Saratoga Springs location, Berkshire Mountain Bakery products will be shipped fresh daily from its main facility in Housatonic and will include a wide assortment of goods including breads and five different types of pizza doughs, focaccia and ciabatta.

What distinguishes Berkshire Mountain Bakery’s breads and doughs from others, according to ownership, is the pure ingredients and a natural fermentation process. All of their breads are sourdough – not because it is popular or a fad, according to their website – but, because it allows for flavorful and easily digestible food.

The fermentation process the bakery employs has been practiced for thousands of years and, “virtually all pre-industrialized peoples soaked or fermented their grains before making them into porridges, breads, cakes and casseroles.”