Category Archives: Business News

The Wesley Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Wesley Community, will host its annual gala at the Lodge at Saratoga Casino Hotel, 1 Nelson Ave., Saratoga Springs, on Saturday, May 14, from 6-10 p.m. 

This year’s event, part of a year-long series to commemorate 50 years of service, will mark the first in-person gala for The Wesley Community since 2019.

Presented by The Adirondack Trust Co. this year’s theme is “Golden Gala,” a tribute to Wesley’s 50th year as a vital nonprofit organization supporting seniors in the community. Founded in 1972, The Wesley Community was established as a long-term senior care community and has steadily grown into a continuum-of-care campus featuring independent and assisted living apartments, compassionate skilled nursing and memory care services.

“The Wesley Community has been providing exceptional senior care and services for five decades and we are excited to celebrate our rich history with the return of our annual gala,” said community CEO J. Brian Nealon. “This exciting  event will provide valuable funding to support  Wesley Health Care Center and allow us to continue to evolve to bring high-quality care to our families and friends for generations to come.”

The former Mount McGregor State Correctional Facility’s four-acre exercise yard has been transferred to Grant Cottage State Historic Site, 

The newly transferred land will accommodate new site amenities, including an outdoor pavilion for programs and events, accessible parking and historical interpretation of the original Hotel Balmoral, the first development on Mount McGregor. 

The cottage, on the hotel grounds, was offered as a residence to President Ulysses S. Grant to complete his memoirs at the end of his life. Before his death in July 1885, Grant spent the last five weeks of his life at the cottage, writing his memoirs while battling cancer. The cottage, which has since been linked to the 18th president, became a historic site in 1890 and remains essentially the same as during his stay.

In April, to celebrate Grant’s 200th birthday and promote the opening of the 2022 season, State Parks and the Friends of Grant Cottage unveiled a National Historic Landmark plaque, which is inset into a boulder at the base of the flagpole in front of the cottage. 

The site was named a National Historic Landmark by the National Park Service in January 2021, making it one of only 275 properties to receive the designation in New York state. National Historic Landmarks are historic properties that illustrate the heritage of the United States. 

Saratoga Casino Holdings LLC, owner of both Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs, and Saratoga Casino Black Hawk in Black Hawk, Colo., has entered into a definitive agreement with Casino Holding Investment Partners LLC to acquire Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel in Natchez, Miss., subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions.

 “We are proud to add Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel to our portfolio of gaming assets and further diversify our business,” said Sam Gerrity, Saratoga Casino Holdings CEO. “We are committed to operating first class gaming facilities, and we do that by creating lasting relationships with our guests, team members and the communities that we serve. We look forward to welcoming Magnolia Bluffs guests and team to the Saratoga family.”

Located on the Mississippi River, Magnolia Bluffs Casino Hotel opened in 2012 and features over 450 slot machines, 14 table games, restaurant and bar, sportsbook and a 141-room hotel located off-site in the heart of the city.

“While this was an extremely tough decision for our partnership, it will truly leave our team and valued customers in the best hands possible,” said Kevin Preston, Partner and president of Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel. “Due to the long history we have here in Natchez, it was important for us to ensure we found the right company that has the same values and passion we do for the community and our team members here at Magnolia Bluffs Casino & Hotel. 

By Christine Graf

Husband and wife Brandon and Keely Whalen of Wilton recently opened Wind-Chill Factory, a seasonal ice cream, food, and miniature golf business at 3 Trieble Ave. in Ballston Spa.  

The flagship location of Wind-Chill Factory was opened in Ticonderoga in 1996 by Brandon’s father, Bobby Porter. Brandon grew up working at Wind-Chill Factory. He met his future wife while they were classmates in high school. Keely’s parents, John and Roberta Cooper, own Frenchy’s, a roadside food and ice cream business in Crown Point in Essex County. 

“They purchased it when I was two years old, so I literally was born and raised in the industry,” said Keely Whalen of Frenchy’s. “Brandon was also raised in the exact same kind of business. He worked there all through high school and up until he joined the Navy.”

The couple married in 2015 and lived for several years in Connecticut while Brandon was stationed there They relocated to the Capital Region in 2019 after he was reassigned to the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Ballston Spa where he serves as an instructor.

The Whalen’s have always dreamed of opening their own Wind-Chill Factory location. 

“We’ve always said that we wanted to do that,” said Whalen. “Brandon’s getting out (of the Navy) in a year-and-a half, and we saw the place in Ballston Spa and decided to ask if the owner was open to selling.”

The business, Mr. Bill’s, was not for sale at the time. The owner made the decision to sell after being approached by the Whalens.

Before opening Wind-Chill Factory on April 7, they restored the miniature golf course with 18 new greens. They also purchased some new equipment and reconfigured the interior.

The Saratoga Chowder Fest ‘N Tour in March involved 74 vendors, including 12 first-time participants, who sold 83,931 bowls of chowder, according to Discover Saratoga which organized the event.

Over 30,000 people attended the event, officials said.

It was held Saturday, March 19, through Saturday, March 26. Chowder lovers had the opportunity to dine-in or purchase pints and quarts of chowder to-go at participating locations throughout the week. 

The 24th annual Chowderfest celebration took place on Saturday, March 26, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Event-goers sampled a variety of chowder from participating vendors for $2 each and voted for their favorite. 

Winners were chosen in eight different categories. The Chowder Fest ‘N Tour winners are:

• People’s Choice 500 bowls or less: The Mill on Round Lake, Bubba Gump Chowder.

• People’s Choice 501-750 bowls: Dizzy Chicken Wood Fired Rotisserie, Brazilian Smoked Seafood Chowder.

• People’s Choice 751-1,000 bowls: Ribbon Cafe, Southwest Shrimp Corn Chowder Topped Tequila Lime Bacon and a Wonton Popper.

• People’s Choice 1,001-1,500 bowls: Wheatfields Restaurant & Bar, Crawfish Cajun Corn Chowder.

By Christine Graf

Finnigan’s on the Lake is a new tavern and grill located on Ballston Lake. 

The space at 175 Lake Road was previously occupied by Villago Pizzeria, which operated there for seven years before closing in July of last year.

Before opening Finnigan’s on the Lake, owners Matt and Stephanie Finnigan operated Ballston Lake’s Carney’s Tavern from 2013 until 2021. 

The couple made the decision to close Carney’s after an inspection of the building revealed structural problems that would be too costly to repair. They began looking for a location to establish a new eatery in either Clifton Park or Latham. 

“We had looked at this location (175 Lake Road) a year prior. It had been for sale for a while, but it just wasn’t turnkey enough for the price they were asking at the time,” said Matt Finnigan. “As luck would have it, the stars just kind of aligned and somebody else bought the property and we ended up coming up with the lease option on the building where we have first option to buy. We had just begun looking at spaces, and it was inside of three weeks that this just kind of landed in our laps.”

The Finnigan’s do not own or operate the boat launch that is across the street from the eatery. In prior years, boaters were able to pay at the restaurant to use the launch, but that is no longer the case.