Category Archives: Business News

By Christine Graf

Less than six months after selling his Ballston Spa Citgo station, longtime village resident Matt Akari opened Havana Cigar Lounge in the former Stewart’s building on Route 50 and Northline Road. 

Before establishing his own lounge, Akari visited cigar lounges throughout the United States.

“I’ve been visiting cigar lounges all over the country for the past 18 years,” he said. “I was invited by vendors because I was selling tobacco products at the gas station.”

Akari found the cigar lounge experience to be so relaxing and enjoyable that he resolved to one day open a lounge of his own. After selling his Citgo station in May, he realized that day had come. He purchased the former Stewarts building that same month and got to work remodeling it.

“It’s a good location and a good-sized space, and it has plenty of parking,” he said. “There was nothing in there. It was wall-to-wall empty. We built some walls and redid the whole insulation and all of the electrical and ventilation.”

By Jill Nagy

One could easily get lost browsing in the Dark Gem Shoppe, jewelry designer Jessica Boshek’s new shop at 30 Beekman St. in Saratoga Springs. 

There is jewelry everywhere, much of it designed and made by Boshek, and trays of jewelry-making supplies including pearls, precious stones, silver and gold.

Elsewhere, there are crystals, candles, incense holders, and enough skeletons and moons for year-round Halloween celebrations. 

She describes the decor as “dark academia” mixed with “steam punk.” There are pillows, a bird cage, paintings and other wall hangings, beauty products and shelves of odds and ends. On the whole, more jumble shop than Harry Potter.

Boshek makes custom jewelry and also offer classes for the do-it-yourself crowd. She plans “design and wine” and “design and dine” classes, probably beginning in January. 

By Christine Graf

After eight years of being located in downtown Ballston Spa, real estate attorney Kimberly Salerno has relocated Salerno Law PC to 16 Round Lake Road in Ballston Lake.

She has been practicing law for 20 years and specializes in residential and commercial real estate. Salerno also owns a title company that operates out of her law office.

It was after outgrowing her leased space in Ballston Spa that Salerno began looking for a larger office. Although she initially planned to remain in the village, finding a space with adequate parking proved impossible.

“For closings, sometimes we have 10 people coming,” she said. “I needed a parking lot.”

Salerno lives less than a mile from her new office which is conveniently located just off Northway Exit 11. Before purchasing the building—a former Stewart’s shop—she drove by it every day on her way to work. It sat empty for many years.

While driving by one day she realized the empty building could function as a law office. She purchased the property in April and embarked on a major renovation project. Prime Construction is the contractor and Jenna Burger is the interior designer.

Spoken Boutique, located at 27 Church St., Saratoga Springs,is under new ownership.

 Pam Worth created the business in 2010. With over 40 years of experience as a buyer and merchandiser, she made it her goal to provide an extraordinary customer experience for patrons of the boutique.

The new owner is Tina Powell.

“I am excited to announce that I am taking a step-back to start a new chapter in my life,” said Worth. “I have decided to transfer the continuation of my vision to someone I feel completely comfortable handing the reins over to—Tina Powell.”

Worth will work with Powell in the store as buyer, merchandiser and sales associate. She plans on spending extra time with her husband and family, with opportunities to travel.

“I feel privileged that Pam trusts me to carry on her legacy,” said Powell.  “I have been working as a full-time employee at Spoken for the past year. During that time, I have grown to love our staff, our customers, our vendors, and of course the fabulous clothing. I am excited to have Pam by my side as I continue to build relationships and grow.”

Worth’s decision to launch her business in an off-Broadway location was facilitated by the incubator program offered by the Adirondack Trust Co. The program was initiated by the bank, to place first-time business owners in their  storefront on Church Street at a fair price.

The Saratoga Builders Association presented proceeds totaling $48,000 from its annual Saratoga Showcase of Homes to the local nonprofit groups Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties. 

The Saratoga Builders Association has been able to contribute nearly $1.5 million to local charities from the event.

The 2022 edition of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes had only five homes on the tour due to labor and material shortages in the industry, officials said. Belmonte Builders, DSG Construction & Remodeling, Kodiak Construction, Trojanski Builders and Witt Construction participated. 

This annual community event is made possible only with the generous support of over 75 corporate and media sponsors. 

This year’s awards were announced at the a presentation and celebration event held on Oct. 19.

Awards were given in the basic categories, Executive Home Awards, People’s Choice Award and Realtor’s Choice Award .

By Paul Post

Local officials welcomed Ice Castles with open arms last year, hoping it would help fulfill the long sought-after goal of making Lake George a year-round tourist destination

It did that and more, by generating enough occupancy tax to bring four brand new attractions to Charles R. Wood Park’s Festival Commons in 2023, exponentially increasing Ice Castles’ economic impact by drawing even more people to the village, according to local officials.

“When Ice Castles was open, the streets had as many people on them as we’d see normally and all the accommodations I’m aware of that were open were full on weekends,” Mayor Robert Blais said. “So many people stayed at Fort William Henry Hotel, Holiday Inn, Quality Inn and the Marriott Courtyard that our occupancy tax collection for that period was up 40 percent. That will go toward increasing the number of special events the village can support and expanding the special events we have here presently.”

Warren County Tourism expected last year’s inaugural Ice Castles to give the local economy a $4 million boost. That figure should be much larger in 2023, both directly and indirectly, thanks to more attractions throughout the year, officials said.

Saratoga Botanicals Organic Spa & Store, formerly located on Henry Street in downtown Saratoga Springs, has rebranded and moved to 130 Excelsior Ave., Suite 106, in Saratoga Springs.

The spa’s new name is Botanicals Spa.

“One of the major reasons for our move was to have a setting closer to nature as well as better parking,” said Franesa Pyle, owner of Botanicals Spa. “Our new location is set on the Spring Run Nature trail, and we have designated parking now just for our business.”

The new location is designed as a “concept spa”, a place where customers can enter the spa and feel like they’re stepping into nature, she said.

“Our new spa build is modern, but also keeps with a theme of nature-inspired décor, such as tree installations, living walls and water features,” said Pyle.

 Botanicals Spa will continue to offer the same services in its 2,600-square-foot space. That includes facials, massage, waxing, body treatments, lash and brow services, and energy healing, reiki, chakra balancing and guided meditation.

All of the products used at Botanicals Spa are plant-based and non-synthetic.

By Paul Post

In 1999, a Rochester-based company passed up an opportunity to build a hotel in Saratoga Springs, just when the Spa City was arguably becoming the hottest year-round resort destination in upstate New York.

But that company, DelMonte Hotel Group (DHG), never lost interest in the market, which it entered last year by acquiring the downtown Hampton Inn & Suites at 25 Lake Ave. Now the group has strengthened its local presence by purchasing the 113-room Homewood Suites by Hilton on South Broadway, in partnership with XSS Hotels of Hooksett, N.H.

Alex DelMonte, DHG president and chief executive officer, said plans call for a light renovation of the Homewood Suites, but a major overall of the Hampton Inn beginning next fall. “The scope of the renovation will touch all areas of the hotel allowing the Hampton to remain the premier downtown hotel for those traveling to Saratoga,” he said. “DHG is excited to be the owner and manager of the two premier properties in Saratoga.”

DHG now owns or co-owns six Capital District hotel properties, with three more in Albany and one in Troy, joining a portfolio that stretches to Pittsburgh and Cleveland as well.

“There’s a significant increase in the awareness of the rich history and cultural hotspots the Capital District has to offer,” said DelMonte. “This has driven demand for quality hotels that are in close proximity to these attractions for visitors.”

By Paul Post

A Florida firm is creating more opportunities for affordable vacations in the pricey Saratoga market by almost doubling the size of a local recreational vehicle park.

Saratoga RV Park, on Route 50 just south of Gansevoort, is growing from 154 to 297 sites to keep up with fast-paced demand for both long-term seasonal and shorter, transient-type stays.

“It’s a substantial undertaking,” said Richard O’Brien, CEO and founder of Orlando-based Athena Real Estate, the park’s owner. “RV ownership has greatly increased, some of it driven by demand during the pandemic, folks looking to have leisure activity close to nature. 

“This provides an affordable vacation for the wonderful summer activities that Saratoga Springs offers. Part of it is the track and track season. In addition there’s a beautiful downtown with tremendous restaurants We also have the (Saratoga Spa) state park with its springs and concert series.”

Work is already under way and some sites should be ready by April, when the park opens, with the rest scheduled for completion in 2024. 

“It essentially means putting in roads, sites, gravel for each site, utilities, bathhouses and we plan to expand our swimming pool,” O’Brien said. “We have a strong cadre of local contractors.”

By Susan Elise Campbell

Life Made Simple Boutique, a retail gift shop that opened in Burnt Hills two years ago, now has a second shop in the Wilton Mall on Route 50. 

Owner Nicole Wilson said that despite “a scary economy,” she opened a second store in the mall, where there is “a diversity of stores and services, including Saratoga Hospital, to attract customers.”

Wilson is also hoping to benefit from increased traffic if and when the proposal to construct apartment buildings behind the mall, now under review, is approved.

“I decided in July that despite slow sales earlier in the year, I was motivated to open a second store,” said Wilson. A month later the second boutique had taken up residency at the mall.

“I love retail, shopping for retail, stocking funny and sarcastic items, and hearing customers laugh,” she said. “People are feeling stressed out these days and we have items that cheer them up.”