Category Archives: Business News

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.”

BST & Co. CPAs, LLP, an accounting and management consulting firm, has merged with O’Connor & O’Connor CPAs, an Albany-based accounting firm that has served clients in the Capital Region and beyond for more than half a century.

O’Connor & O’Connor CPAs offers a variety of professional accounting, financial and tax services to businesses and nonprofit organizations. The team, comprised of four CPAs and administrative staff, counts small businesses, professional service firms, professional athletes, medical practices, real estate agencies, and individuals among its clients. 

As the business has grown, its needs have evolved, prompting leadership to seek a like-minded business partner poised for exceptional future growth.

“BST is thrilled to join forces with O’Connor & O’Connor CPAs, whose culture, clients and reputation are second to none. John and I have known each other professionally and socially for 35 years and we are excited for our firms to come together at this time,” said Ron Guzior, BST & Co. managing partner. “We are confident that the many years of expertise the veteran tax specialists from O’Connor & O’Connor bring to our team will benefit our existing clients and enable us to cultivate deeper relationships through expanded solutions for O’Connor & O’Connor clients.”

O’Connor & O’Connor CPAs was originally established more than five decades ago as a part-time practice under the sole leadership of John V. O’Connor Sr., a full-time professor of accounting and taxation at UAlbany and Siena College. After earning his degree from St. Bonaventure University and getting licensed as a Certified Public Accountant, his son John V. O’Connor Jr. joined the firm in 1981. 

By Jill Nagy

Breanna Chiarello calls herself a “jewelry concierge.”  

She is in the business of helping people turn their jewelry ideas into reality at Her Rock Jewelry, recently opened at 10 Lake Ave. in Saratoga Springs.  

Chiarello interviews prospective customers about their preferences and price range and then meets with them in person. At the meeting, she presents some stones and sample settings that meet the customer’s specifications. After the customer chooses the desired combination, the jewelry is made to order and delivered in three to four weeks. 

The shop sells about 30 rings monthly, Chiarello estimates.

She tries to provide a quiet intimate setting for the meetings. Her suite of offices includes a conference room, a showroom, and her office.

Her Rock specializes in diamond engagement rings, most of them sporting “lab diamonds,” which are manufactured in New York City, not dug out of the ground. 

By Jill Nagy

Memories of teenage skin problems were part of the motivation for Andrew Kelly to become an aesthetician specializing in skin care. He recognized the need to de-stress and take time for self-care and the importance of diet in treating skin problems. 

Today, he is the proprietor of Skin by Ask, a new medical spa at 29 Church St. in Saratoga Springs.

Kelly has been in business as an aesthetician for six years. He has clients in the Saratoga area and in New York City. He has also continued offering virtual treatments, something he developed during the COVID lockdown but has continued for clients who prefer to do their own care under his guidance.

He terms his business a combination of a day spa and a medical spa. He offers facials, nonsurgical facelifts, laser treatment, skin tightening, microneedling, and other treatments. In microneedling, a matrix of tiny pulsating needles are intended to stimulate the production of collagen. 

Two common problems Kelly deals with are hyper pigmentation, a skin discoloration, often following pregnancy, and rosacea, a condition that causes the skin to redden, especially on the nose.

Zobel & Co. Kitchens, a custom kitchen design firm, received the Best Kitchen Design $80,000-$119,000 and Best Kitchen Design $120,000-plus awards from the Capital Region Builders and Remodelers Association (CRBRA) .

The awards were presented at the annual Best of Building awards night in November at the Canfield Casino, Saratoga Springs.

The first project recognized was a Malta kitchen that features rich walnut cabinetry, Calacatta Arno Quartz slab back splash and counter tops, and a stunning Vermont Verde Antique countertop on the island. The new kitchen features generous amounts of light, storage and organization, floating shelves, and a closet converted into a pantry.

The second project awarded to Zobel & Co. Kitchens is a Saratoga kitchen that combines the working side of a kitchen with a large six-person dine-in island and completed with a large wet bar area featuring wine storage and a beverage refrigerator. White cabinetry defines the cooking and eating area, while smokey grey cabinets showcases the bar. The design incorporates the family’s desire to entertain comfortably while having ample room for food prep and cooking.

By Christine Graf

When longtime friends and business partners Michael Dubb and Larry Roth began redevelopment of the historic Rip Van Dam in downtown Saratoga Springs, they planned for the 200,000-square-foot building to include 84 apartments. 

They are now considering marketing the units as condominiums. 

“Nothing about the building is changing,” said Michael Dubb who is also the owner of Beechwood Homes on Long Island. “The only question is whether it will be rental or sale on the apartment side of it.”

As part of the redevelopment project, The Adelphi and the former Rip Van Dam will be connected and operate as one entity. The building that housed the Rip Van Dam is being expanded and renovated, and the exterior façade has already been updated. In addition to the 84 apartment or condominiums, the building will feature 31 hotel rooms, underground parking, a spa, a state-of-the art gym, meeting rooms, and a business center.