BY Molly Congdon
Lake Local, the restaurant located on Saratoga Lake just off Union Avenue, has spawned a marina and dock rental business on the property that expanded its space and rental offerings this year.
The marina’s name is 550 Marina and Board, the same address as Lake Local, and both are a part of the same property, said marina manager Matthew Rickard. “The core owners are John Boyle, Michael Phinney and Ray Bryan, with some silent partners.”
Lake Local, the bar/restaurant located at 550 Union Ave., Saratoga Springs, is known for its pub fare, catch-of-the-day and farm-to-table locally grown veggies.
This summer, the boat business expanded on the property, growing from last year’s 40 dock spaces to 110.
"Everything we offer enhances the business and especially lake access," Rickard said. "We offer dock slip rentals seasonally and daily, weekly or monthly dockage. Kayak, paddle-board and also pontoon rentals to help let more people enjoy their summer on the water. The docks bring in more customers as well as the other rentals."
"We offer premium Ipe decking, galvanized steel-framed, seasonal dock slips," he said. "We also rent pontoon boats, paddle boards and kayaks. We added these features because of the high demand for all three types of rentals and dock space on Saratoga Lake."
Ipe decking (pronounced EE-pay), originates from countries in Central and South America. Ipe decking has natural properties and has a dense and tight grain.
They also offer stand up paddle board (SUP) yoga classes on Saturdays and Sundays from 9-11 a.m. They have partnered with BOGA Boards, a California-based SUP board company that specializes in bamboo paddle boards.
More changes are planned in the future.
"Next year we are going to offer a two-hour brunch/dinner cruise with a captain who drives you around on our electric boat," Rikkard said.
Lake Local's website is www.lakelocalsaratoga.com. It can be reached at 886-1373. The website for 550 Marina and Board is www.550marina.com. The phone number is 886-1779.