Saratoga Business Journal photo
By Jill Nagy
Four years ago, after some years as an itinerant leather worker with his shop in the back of his van, Blaine Vossler parked the van and opened a shop in Skaneateles. Last December, his second shop, The Local Branch, opened in Saratoga Springs.
Vossler works in leather and canvas, making clothing and accessories by hand. Marissa Panzera, who happened to be in Saratoga and looking for a job when he arrived, manages the Saratoga shop with two assistants. Her husband is stationed nearby with the Air Force and, she said, “I stopped here for the winter.” She was there from the beginning, helping unload furniture from a U-Haul truck.
All the goods sold at The Local Branch are made by hand by Vossler, still living and working in Skaneateles. Recently, he brought on an assistant. He chose Saratoga as his second location, Panzera said, because he has some friends and family in the area.
Sales, so far, have been up and down, she reports. “Christmas was really great…we are looking forward to horse season,” including the bonus season for the Belmont Stakes festivities.
The shop is located at 447 Broadway, the former Coffee Traders site. The telephone number is (680) 241-0737. Their website is thelocalbranch.com. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., seven days a week.