Category Archives: Business News

Story edited for a correction. August 23, 2024

By Jill Nagy

Tired feet have a new place to seek relief: the  Adirondack Foot Sanctuary at 6 Phila Street in Saratoga Springs. The spa, owned by Christina Frazier, offers foot soaks and massages, accompanied by essential oils, as well as scrubs, warm wax treatments and head, neck and shoulder massages.

Frazier has a similar facility in Lake Placid as well as a business in Bend, Oregon. She expanded into Saratoga Springs, she said, because it is a larger town and business is less seasonal than in Lake Placid. She operated the Lake Placid center for six years. She opened in Saratoga Springs at the beginning of 2024. 

“I love being an entrepreneur,” she said. She also loves what she does. “My first love is hands-on.”  

Frazier describes her method as “heart-centered,” kind and loving. It is therapeutic touch and massage, concentrating on feet and lower legs. But, she emphasized, she does not try to diagnose problems. 

The award-winning Leadership Saratoga program recently completed four impactful projects for area non-profits and is currently seeking project ideas for the upcoming Class of 2024-25. 

Sponsored by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, the program is dedicated to the development of leaders who will serve their communities today and in the future. As part of the program, the class assists up to four area non-profit organizations to help enhance or re-envision programs, operations and strategies key to their future success.

The Class of 2024, which recently graduated, completed the following projects: 

Saratoga Pride: 

Saratoga Pride is an affiliate of the Pride Center of the Capital Region, a 501(c)3 organization. An all-volunteer organization, Saratoga Pride has served the LGBTQ+ community and allies for more than 15 years. Leadership Saratoga class members helped to create a strategy to expand County-wide programs and opportunities for effective partnerships with businesses and non-profit organizations aligned with the mission of Saratoga Pride. Additionally, Leadership Saratoga helped Saratoga Pride expand its public library partnership program in Saratoga County, helping to serve local LGBTQ+ communities and allies.

Muroff Hospitality Group announced the sale of The Mohican Resort of Lake George and the 8000 square foot Boats by George Storage Building, located at 1545 State Route 9, Lake George, New York. Both properties were owned by Chad Nims (1545 State Route 9 LLC). The entire property is 4.69 Acres and was recently subdivided to sell the motel property (3.75 acres) to Amit & Payal Kumar and the Boat Storage Building (.94 acre)) to George Pensel (Five Star Marina Properties, LLC).

This well-established, long-time family-owned resort boasts 44 units, ranging in size from traditional guest rooms to 2-bedroom suites, condo-like units, townhouses and a newly renovated 4-bedroom home. Additional amenities include sparkling outdoor and heated indoor swimming pools, game room, business center, basketball court, BBQ grills, fitness center, park like setting, gazebo, guest laundry, children’s playground, housekeeping, and more. The Mohican Resort is only minutes to Great Escape, the Lake George Outlets, Millionaires Beach, Cruise Ships, Village of Lake George, Ft. William Henry, restaurants, shopping, bars and local attractions.

By Paul Post

A $30 million makeover of the former Longfellow’s is scheduled for completion by year’s end with a new name, Brookmere, featuring an upscale 90-room hotel, spa, restaurant and banquet facility for 200 guests.

Bonacio Construction owners Sonny and Julie Bonacio, of Saratoga Springs, and investment partner Mark Howarth purchased the popular site at 500 Union Avenue early last year from business partners Steve Sullivan and Dave Powers for $4.9 million.

“We’re currently working on finishes on one building and the main center building is heavily under framing construction for the new addition,” Project Manager Amber Mathias said.

The 90-room hotel almost doubles the capacity of Longfellow’s, which had 50 rooms. To accommodate the increase, one of the old Longfellow’s buildings, which housed the restaurant and bar, was demolished to make room the new hotel portion of Brookmere.

“Everything else, the original inn building and the newer inn at the rear of the property, was saved,” said Larry Novik, Bonacio Development president.

By Paul Post

Buoyed by momentum from the first-ever Belmont Stakes at Saratoga, the regular summer racing meet began July 11, ushering in what could be the best season in the historic track’s long, colorful history.

Highlighted by the 155th renewal of the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on August 24 and the Grade 1, $1 million Whitney on August 3, the 40-day meet features 19 Grade 1 races as part of 71 stakes worth $20.75 million in total purses.

The four-day Belmont Stakes Racing Festival (June 6-9) had an estimated $50 million economic impact on the surrounding area, and a recent study prepared for Saratoga Economic Development Corporation says the summer meet’s impact has increased 57 percent to $371 million since 2014. Saratoga Race Course alone is directly responsible for generating almost 3,000 jobs, not counting the thousands of other hospitality industry positions it supports throughout the Capital Region.

“The area hosted lots of first-time visitors during the four-day Belmont Stakes Festival and we encouraged them to check out our local restaurants, retail shops, entertainment venues and cultural destinations,” said Todd Shimkus, Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce president.

The Prevention Council of Saratoga County has announced the appointment of Amy McBride as its new executive director. 

With an extensive background in health and human services, McBride is set to lead the organization’s efforts in enhancing community well-being through substance abuse prevention and recovery support.

Previously serving as the assistant director of Prevention & Special Programs at The New York Council on Problem Gambling, McBride oversaw significant prevention initiatives, program development, and strategic collaborations across New York state. Her return to The Prevention Council comes after an initial tenure as Director of Community Outreach and Coalition Development from 2017-2018, during which time she led crucial programs aimed at reducing youth substance abuse.

In her new role, McBride will be responsible for spearheading the council’s mission to educate, inform, and provide vital referral services concerning alcohol, tobacco, and drug prevention. She will also focus on expanding the organization’s recovery center offerings, ensuring those affected by addiction receive the necessary resources and support.

Alison Gorton, board president of The Prevention Council, said, “Amy’s profound commitment to public health and her remarkable leadership skills make her the perfect candidate to guide our organization forward. Her previous successes and innovative approach to prevention programs have already made a significant impact, and we are excited to see her bring her vision and expertise to this role.”

By Jill Nagy

“This is my third career and I’m loving it,” said Kathleen Stell, owner of the newly opened Storybook Cottage on the Hudson bed and breakfast in Stillwater. 

At the age of 80 she is not ready to retire. She and her husband, Jack, “fell in love” with the house, and when they learned that a previous owner operated a bed and breakfast in it, “a light bulb went on” and they bought the house.

Storybook Cottage is the architectural style and the house is roughly modeled on houses built as sets for Disney movies. It is a five-bedroom house built in 1932. It has a steep slate roof, a fireplace with a 12-foot-wide chimney, screened porch, a large deck and, according to Stell, is perfectly laid out for use as a bed and breakfast. 

Her husband, a licensed marriage and family counselor as well as a licensed mental health counselor, took over a first floor bedroom for his office. Three bedrooms, each with a bathroom, on the second floor are rented out, mostly on weekends. However, one of their first guests stayed five days. During the Fourth of July holiday week, the rooms were booked every night. 

By Susan Elise Campbell

Broadway Title Agency has new owners. The company that Stephen Heidorn founded 20 years ago to research property deeds and facilitate unencumbered real estate transactions was sold to equal partners Ralph Scunziano and Douglas Zins in a deal that closed on May 31.

The three are working together closely as they transition vendors, turn over expenses, and complete all housekeeping, Scunziano said.

The new partners are both attorneys. Scunziano said he is a real estate investor and Zins, who has a practice in Watervliet focusing on real estate, has represented him on many transactions. According to Scunziano, Zins knew Heidorn “from the other side of the closing table.” 

“Through my conversations with Stephen, I said there was a great opportunity to take over when he retired,” said Zins. 

“Coming through the 2022-2023 market boom there is a lot of potential in real estate, although it is a little lax because of higher interest rates,” Zins said.

Interest rates have stayed the same but inventory has been  up. The new partners are “hoping interest rates come down a little in the near future,” but as Zins said, “people still need to and want to buy and sell houses or refinance their homes.” That demand fuels the need for title searches.