The Saratoga Builders Association presented checks totaling $10,000 to two area charities, the result of money raised from this year’s Showcase of Homes event.
Funds went to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.
This year, the live 2020 Saratoga Showcase of Homes tour, where people buy tickets and physically visit the homes, was cancelled due to health and safety concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s edition of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes was a “re-imagined” event in the form of a one-hour TV show special hosted by CBS-6 News Anchor Liz Bishop.
Saratoga County Capital Resources Corp. Donates Funds To ‘Save Our Locals’ Project
The Saratoga County Capital Resources Corp. has donated $10,000 to the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Save Our Locals campaign.
The funds will be used to create a help line for use by businesses in Saratoga County during the pandemic, as well as to create boosted social media posts and videos to promote hundreds of local independently owned businesses, officials said.
The Save Our Locals campaign will also include a new take out promotion to support area restaurants and an online gift card promotion to support local shops, stores, salons and spas, florists and home goods, wineries, breweries, hotels and any other Saratoga County business that sells gift cards online.
“The Capital Resources Corp.’s board of directors voted unanimously to support this Save Our Locals campaign,” said Anita Daly, corporation chair. “We all realize just how important it is to help our local independently owned firms across all of Saratoga County as they face restrictions and limitations to stop the spread of COVID-19.
Locally Owned ‘Your CBD Store’ In Clifton Park Offers Products And Education
Your CBD Store celebrated the opening of its Clifton Park store on Oct. 8.
According to the company, in less than two years, Your CBD Stores has grown with over 600 locations in 40 states. Founded with an emphasis on education and community, Your CBD Store is a member of the Capital Region Chamber of Commerce.
The store is located at 22 Clifton Country Road, Suite 140 in Clifton Park. It is locally owned and is managed by Jennifer Modaffari.
She said she looks forward to helping the community of Clifton park and beyond by educating them on the benefits of using high quality CBD products.
“We are a comfortable, high-quality learning environment where customers can try our products and leave knowing exactly what is in our CBD products,” Modaffari said. “We just released a line of USDA-certified, organic CBD products and we are so excited to share them with everyone,.”
“We are not just another retail chain. We are a large family of store owners who truly care about educating and improving the quality of life in communities around the nation using high quality CBD ,” she added.
Witt Construction Seeks To Build Another Hotel, Apartments And More At Excelsior Park
By Christine Graf
Witt Construction of Saratoga Springs is seeking approval to build a mix of 63 townhouses, condos, and apartments as well as a 60-room hotel, spa, restaurant and commercial space at Excelsior Park.
Located near Northway Exit 15, Excelsior Park is an upscale luxury apartment community. It is already home to 105 apartments, 30 condos and a 100-suite Marriott Residence Inn.
Company president John Witt began working on the project 20 years ago.
“We put it under contract in 1999, and we went through a major process going through EIS (environmental impact statement),” he said. “We ended up with a special use permit which allowed a hotel, spa, mixed use townhomes, and condos. In 2006-2007, we had the hotel up and the first 30 condos built and sold.”
Just as Witt was about to begin construction on additional condos, the 2007 economic crisis occurred and Witt halted work.
‘Bride And Gown’ Moves To Saratoga Springs, Providing Gown And Necessary Accessories
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Eliza DeRocker has moved her Bride and Gown business, previously located in Glens Falls,to the upper level of Saratoga Closet, 38 Van Dam St., Saratoga Springs.
DeRocker also owns Saratoga Closet.
“Being in the same spot, I don’t feel so split between the two. I was going back and forth up to three times a day. I love just being in one location. It has really allowed me to enjoy the atmosphere at both places that I have tried to create, which is comfortable and relaxed,” said DeRocker.
She earned a fashion design degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.She designed for Wathne Limited for Chanel and was the stylist for Lilly Pulitzer, as well as having her own line of handbags and clothing, all before opening Bride and Gown in Glens Falls in 2013.
Adelphi Hotel In Downtown Saratoga Springs Unveils Its ‘Morrissey’s Bistro Dining Room’
The Adelphi Hotel has re-opened the dining area as Morrissey’s Bistro Dining Room in the Adelphi Conservatory.
Morrissey’s Lounge, as it existed since October 2017, was met with immediate success, hotel officials aid. It was achieved “by the consistent combination of providing its guests with a welcoming, casual, authentic environment along with an extraordinary food and beverage experience. And just when our loyal followers near and far thought it could not get any better, here comes the Morrissey’s Bistro,” a company news release said.
Culinary director, and chef David Burke has created an all-day menu with added features to include cheese fondues with truffles, short rib croquets, an array of specialty paninis, wood-fired flatbreads, pastas and more.
Ravenous Restaurant, A Fixture On Phila St. In Saratoga Springs, Will Close On Nov. 30
Ravenous Restaurant will be serving their final sweet and savory crepes and pommes frites at 21 Phila St. in downtown Saratoga Springs at the end of November.
After 21 years, owner David Zuka made the announcement On Nov. 2 that he will close the creperie on Nov. 30.
“It is with heavy heart that I’ve made this decision to close Ravenous and move on to my next chapter,” said Zuka. “I am indebted to this community, moreover, to the outstanding efforts of the staff who have helped me build upon the reputation of Ravenous since I purchased it in 2014. It certainly has been an enjoyable ride.”
Zuka purchased Ravenous in 2014 in a partnership. He became the sole owner in 2018.
Zark’s Angels Hair Salon In Schuylerville Moves Into Larger Space In Same Mini-Mall
By Jennifer Farnsworth
McCarthy’s Zark’s Angels Hair Salon owner Shelly Squires is feeling good about her new space and her working partner—her daughter.
With a recent move to new space within the same building, she said she feels positive about where her business is going.
The business is located at 118 Broad St., Schuylerville.
“Honestly, we feel like we are in heaven right now. We are content and happy with the changes that we made with the move, and of course I have my rock star daughter, Erica, to work with,” said Squires.
The Schuylerville salon had to close in March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. She said she and Erica had to split shifts when they tried to reopen in order to operate safely. It was difficult for them to work apart in the old space.
City Center Parking Garage To Open Soon And Event Scheduling Is Strong For 2021
By Susan Elise Campbell
After a long wait, the Saratoga City Center’s 610-space downtown parking lot between Maple Avenue and High Rock is set to open.
Ryan McMahon, City Center executive director, recently took a drive through the entire garage, top to bottom, the first non-construction person to do so.
“It feels good to get this going,” he said.
At one time the convention and events venue was going to build a 750-space garage on its own, but after some years of negotiations and design changes, construction started in September 2019 in partnership with the City of Saratoga Springs.
“We have great partners in the city,” McMahon said. “All five commissioners voted unanimously before the last election. We could not do this without a strong community partnership.”
The grand opening was will take place at the end of October.
Merger of Center For Economic Growth With Capital Region Chamber Gets Approval
By R.J. DeLuke
Investors in The Center for Economic Growth approved in October the idea pursuing an affiliation with the Capital Region Chamber.
Under the affiliation, CEG would retain its identity and remain a legal entity whose sole member would be the Capital Region Chamber. CEG would have its own board of directors and representation on the Chamber board.
The changer will take place starting Jan. 1. Chamber members approved the idea in September.
The Capital Region Chamber and CEG informed their memberships in June that their boards had formed a Joint Task Force to consider potential affiliation.
“After conducting a comprehensive due diligence review, we are pleased to report that both boards have concluded that it would be in the best interest of the shared missions of each organization for CEG and the Capital Region Chamber to align under one organizational structure with a unified vision and coordinated strategy,” a letter to membership, over the signature of Mark N. Eagan, CCE, president and CEO of the Capital Region Chamber, and Paul Milton, Chamber board chair, said.
Eagan will continue to lead CEG as CEO and president. He plans to hire a senior economic development executive to oversee CEG’s portfolio of work.