Category Archives: Business News

By Maureen Werther and R.J. DeLuke

With the Adelphi Hotel on Broadway in Saratoga Springs open, Richbell Capital, which owns the hotel, is turning its attention to another project, just around the corner at 19 Washington St.

The Washington Street Hotel & Spa will be a six-story hotel, operated separately from the Adelphi. According to plans filed with the city Planning Department, the proposal calls for  50 rooms, a spa, indoor pool and outdoor patio. The former stone rectory ton the property will be converted into a guest suite and connected to the main building by a one-story corridor.

Simon Mildé, Richbell CEO, said the project has been well-received so far and he is anticipating work to begin in October 2018.

The project will be constructed in a single phase. The opening of the hotel and spa is planned for the summer of 2019, the plans state.

The project will result in approximately 16 new permanent jobs. Six new employees will be required to support the spa. Ten new hotel employees will be added to support the hotel: four front desk staff, four cleaning staff and two valet attendants.

According to the plans, the project includes 99 feet of frontage along Washington Street. An existing stone wall currently runs at the back of the sidewalk along this frontage, with openings for the walkway to the front door of the stone house and the existing driveway. The wall will be dismantled from the driveway opening to the eastern property corner, which will provide space for a one-way U-shaped driveway for guest drop-off.

By Jill Nagy

The Henry Street Taproom at 86 Henry St. in Saratoga Springs has expanded its dining area into space next door formerly occupied by Pizza Works.

They have also expanded their kitchen and added a patio dining area and two fireplaces. The resulting establishment is about twice the size of the previous space.

Ryan McFadden, proprietor of the taproom, said that things are “going really well,” a few weeks after opening the new space. The expansion allows them to host private parties, he said, and to expand their food menu.

“It’s a more comfortable space,” he said.

Chef Matthew Weeks will have a new menu ready in early November. McFadden did not yet have the details, but he does expect double-patty burgers to be a feature in it.

By Liz Witbeck

Feigenbaum Cleaners has moved to a new location. Its downtown Saratoga Springs store is now at 18 Congress St., on the corner of Congress and Hamilton Streets.

Previously they were located on Railroad Place, in between Price Chopper and Bowtie Cinemas. This proved to be a challenging site for the store, because there was little parking available, according to ownership.

“Convenience is the number one thing for our customers,” said Todd Feigenbaum, president of the company.

The new location will offer much more parking for customers.

“There is plenty of parking,” he said. “People can park right at the door and come in. This is much easier for people who have their hands full of clothes.”

It is located near businesses such as the Colwell Computers LLC, the Saratoga Visitors Center, Wendy’s, FedEx and CVS.

A grand opening ceremony was held in early October.

The company believes that this relocation will be helpful for their customers, and allow them to create a more pleasurable, customer service friendly experience.

By Susan E. Campbell

Rod and Amy Sutton have purchased the two-story, 34,000-square-foot Blackmer Building at 28 Clinton Ave. In Saratoga Springs.

Sale price was $2.54 million, according to a deed recorded Oct. 6 in the Saratoga County Clerk’s office.

Tenants include the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce and Clements Insurance Brokers Inc.

Sutton is president of Sutton and Tarantino Insurance Agency Inc., which was sold a month ago to Adirondack Trust Co. under a succession plan that would assure the continuation of jobs for the firm’s employees.

As a native Saratogian, Sutton said he believes in the economic welfare of the community.

“I have seen and helped this community to grow, so we are reinvesting in it,“ he said.

Saratoga National Bank and Trust Co. recently opened its 10th location,  a new office in the city of Schenectady.

The branch, which is situated in a newly remodeled suite at 251 State St., offers a full range of financial services that are easily accessible with off-street parking available. It is also the only financial institution on State Street downtown with both a drive-up teller and ATM, bank officials said.

This marks the fourth time in five years that Saratoga National Bank has opened a new location, and it is the bank’s first office in Schenectady County.

Schenectady Mayor Gary McCarthy helped commemorate the opening by attending the ribbon cutting ceremony and state Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara presented the bank with a Certificate of Merit.

The International Motorcoach Group (IMG) named Brown Coach of Amsterdam as its 2017 Operator of the Year at the Strategic Alliance and Marketing Meeting’s awards banquet sponsored by Prevost and held at its Nashville, Tenn., service center.

Brown Coach is thee parent company of Upstate Transit of Saratoga LLC.

In December 2005, Upstate Transit of Saratoga was purchased and became part of the Brown family of transportation. Upstate Transit of Saratoga LLC, with over 20 years of tour planning experience, offers chartered bus service, tours and line service in the Capital/Saratoga region.

The award was accepted by Stephen Brown, vice president of Brown Coach, on behalf of his brother Robert, their families, and the team at Brown Coach.

Each year, IMG recognizes one of its own for the honor.  The award is based on a criteria of operational excellence, safety performance, best practices, community and motorcoach industry involvement and engagement within IMG.

“Over 17 years ago, we were invited to become a shareholder company of IMG,” said Brown. “Our involvement in the IMG organization has helped Brown Coach achieve many milestones, raise the bar in service excellence, and grow to where we are today.  I am truly honored to receive this award.”