Category Archives: Business News

by ann donnelly

This summer, husband and wife Doug Dockendorf and Shelly Walker expanded their shop and cafe in Malta by offering gourmet chocolates and fudge and further enhancing the adjacent outside area, Collamer Park.

In 2020, the couple purchased the Wiggins-Collamer House, which was built in 1835 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. After renovations, the building became the new location of Finishing Touches, where Walker, an interior designer, runs her business and sells furnishings, home decor, gifts, and accessories.

Within the first year, they added two new businesses at the location. They started with a small selection of ice cream, which proved popular, so they expanded as Cookies & Cream and Finishing Touches, with a full range of soft serve and hard ice cream in cones, dishes, sundaes, shakes and more.

Then they opened The Coffee Bar with coffee, lattes, espressos, cappuccino, and locally made baked goods from The Sugar Fairy Bakes.

By Christine Graf

After investing approximately $1.4 million in upgrades and renovations, the owners of the Best Western Plus in Saratoga Springs have rebranded the 3292 Route 9 property as The Hotel Saratoga. 

The hotel is owned by Pinecone Holdings, a Missouri-based real estate investment and management firm. Pinecone CEO Thane Kifer and managing director Drew Kifer own several other hotels throughout the country. 

Woodbury-based WNW Hospitality manages day-to-day operations at The Hotel Saratoga. The company was hired to oversee operations of the Best Western Plus after the property was purchased by Pinecone Holdings in August 2019.

According to WNW president and co-owner Robert Jaeger, rebranding discussions began just a few months later.

“The Best Western Plus is a nice mid-level brand, but at the beginning of 2020, we thought it was a good idea to bring the hotel into more of an upscale lifestyle brand. Those plans were put on hold due to the pandemic,” he said.

By Christine Graf 

Greenfield residents Steve and Katie Kissinger have opened 30 Minute Hit, a women’s only kickboxing fitness studio at 3 Hampstead Place, Suite 104A, in Saratoga Springs. 

Founded in 2004, 30 Minute Hit has approximately 100 locations throughout Canada and the United States. The couple made the decision to become franchisees after working with a business coach. 

“She introduced us to several difference businesses, and I spent the better part of six months going through the discovery process on each,” said Steve Kissinger. “This was the one we landed on for many different reasons. We saw a gap in the market in Saratoga and the Capital Region in general for something like this.”

In addition to owning the fitness studio, Katie works as a nurse practitioner and Steve works in the energy sector. He is also a certified trainer at 30 Minute Hit. 

According to Kissinger, “30 Minute Hit is a kickboxing, self-defense-inspired, circuit workout. It’s a high-intensity interval workout that only takes 30 minutes. Each station has a different type of boxing or self-defense exercise.”

Visitors to Saratoga Race Course this season may have noticed a new statue in front of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame on Union Avenue.

Churchill Downs Inc. donated “Against All Odds,” an inspiring bronze statue by Edwin Bogucki, as part of the museum’s permanent collection. 

“Against All Odds” depicts the photo finish victory of Hall of Fame horse John Henry with Hall of Fame jockey William Shoemaker in the irons as they ran down The Bart in the shadow of the wire in the running of the inaugural Arlington Million on Aug. 30, 1981, the first thoroughbred race to boast a purse of $1 million. 

Under the guidance of Hall of Fame trainer Ron McAnally, John Henry captured a second Arlington Million as a 9-year-old in 1984 and was ultimately selected as Horse of the Year following both victories. The statue was originally unveiled in 1989 at Arlington International Racecourse in Arlington Heights, Illinois. 

“It is a great honor to make this gift to the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in memory of the late Richard Duchossois, where it will be prominently displayed and enjoyed by racing fans for many years to come,” said Bill Carstanjen, CEO of CDI. “Much like Mr. Duchossois, ‘Against All Odds’ represents perseverance. May it serve as an inspiration to horses and humans alike that with courage and determination, what seems impossible can be achieved.” 

By Paul Post

 Brandan Greczkowski said he hears strong reactions from customers almost every day to Purdy’s Discount Wine & Liquor’s sheer size and the new specialty cabinet it installed, stocked with vintage wines and rare bourbons. 

“The business is just fun,” said the 46-year-old Greczkowski. “Customer service is huge. Customer service, keeping things in stock and store appearance are the three things I tell everybody to focus on. It’s quite easy. If you can base yourself on those three key points it’s a successful business.”

The same drive and energy he brings to his business helped Greczkowski reach the 2000 Summer Olympics in judo, in addition to being a three-time U.S. national champion in the sport.

 He co-owns the store, located in Congress Plaza in Saratoga Springs, with his wife, Kristen, a former U.S. National Team speedskater. Greczkowski been running it since Kristen’s mother and former long-time owner, Gail Brophy, died in 2020.

 “She was my mentor. She knew it all. She taught me how to buy and save a penny when buying,” Greczkowski said. 

The store also has a new website, offering online sales and delivery that’s expanded the firm’s reach beyond Saratoga Springs. The service was initiated in April 2022 and has reached new heights almost every month since then.

 “We haven’t even chipped the top of the iceberg with online sales,” Greczkowski said.

 This part of the business is overseen by marketing and operations director Jaclyn Shyptycki, who came on board 18 months ago.

Saratoga Arts has received a $766,000 grant from the state Council on the Arts to help support a revitalization project. 

The grant is part of a record total of capital project funds being disbursed by NYSCA, which totals over $42 million to 144 projects across New York state.

The Arts Center is planning a $2 million renovation whose scope is to stabilize and upgrade the entire building with an eye toward energy conservation and efficiency. It will replace old ineffective systems, install energy-efficient windows, address numerous drainage and roofing issues, upgrade power and reconfigure classroom spaces of the art center to provide indoor/outdoor access.

Officials said the project will upgrade the theater enabling a flexible space for film, music, exhibitions, artist talks and lectures and more, all geared to expand accessibility and collaborative work.

“Strengthening our creative sector increases tourism, boosts our economy, and enhances the rich heritage and cultural life of New York state,” Gov. Hochul said of the state grants. “These record grants will support a wide range of diverse and innovative projects at our arts and cultural organizations across the state, helping ensure all who visit will continue to have wonderful experiences for years to come.” 

NYSCA Chair Katherine Nicholls said the capital project grants are an investment “from the people of New York to the people of New York and will have positive impact on our communities for many years to come. On behalf of the council and staff, I congratulate Saratoga Arts and look forward to seeing all that will flourish from this project.”

By Ann Donnelly

Saratoga County’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant opened on July 20 in Clifton Park Center, with long lines going out the door. 

Before this, fans could only get the iconic chicken sandwich if they were flying out of Albany Airport or traveling to Massachusetts or other parts of New York state.

Chick-fil-A, Inc. selected Scott Payne as the independent franchised owner/operator of Chick-fil-A Clifton Park Center, 304 Clifton Park Center Road. 

“After serving in the Marine Corps for nearly two decades, I was looking to continue serving in a purpose-driven role,” said Payne. “So I pursued the path of becoming a Chick-fil-A operator. From 2015 to 2022, I had the honor of serving as the operator of Chick-fil-A Purcellville in Loudoun County, Va. During this time, I learned the ins-and-outs of the business from a great group of seasoned operators while also discovering the many ways in which Chick-fil-A supports its local community.”

Payne is looking forward to living and doing business in the area. 

By Jill nagy

Dr. Danushan Sooriabalan—known as Dr. Dan to many of his patients—expects his new “direct primary care” practice to give him more time with patients and less with paperwork. 

Patients will pay a fixed monthly fee, the amount depending upon their age, for unlimited access to his care.

The doctor, an internist, has been in practice since 2007. He did his internal medicine residency at Albany Medical Center, including a year as head resident, was a hospitalist at Glens Falls Hospital for 10 years, and was part of the Hudson Headwaters practice group. 

In May, he set out on his own with an office at 2452 Route 9 in Malta. 

He said after his first six weeks, he had 87 patients. He aims for a maximum of 300. 

Most of his new patients are from Malta, Clifton Park, Saratoga and other nearby communities. He made no attempt to bring patients from his prior practice “out of respect for my previous employers,” he said.

While he expects to hire a nurse in the near future and uses a third-party company for billing, everything else is “do it myself.”