Category Archives: Business News

Americade, the motorcycle touring rally and a Lake George tradition of nearly 40 years, will not take place this summer, Americade organizer Christian Dutcher announced.
The event was originally moved from June to July because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But it has now been canceled. Officials hope it will return next year.
“When we rescheduled Americade to July, I knew that it was a bit of a long shot. Attempting to create a safe event in the face of a global pandemic was a big challenge and would require numerous changes to ensure everyone’s wellbeing,” said Dutcher.
“The odds of it being financially worthwhile were near zero, but we wanted to give it a try for several reasons. We didn’t want to be yet another event that canceled in 2020 (there was already enough depressing news). We knew that all of our partners (vendors and the local community) needed every bit of help we could give them. And we didn’t want to interrupt the 37-year tradition of Americade,” he said.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer
Common Roots Brewing Co. is open at its new, expanded facility at 58 Saratoga Ave. in South Glens Falls.
The 15,000-square-foot facility is on the site of the company’s original brew house that was gutted by fire in March 2019. It is open seven days a week from noon to 8 p.m. for to-go sales only from the new taproom.
It will open with beer-to-go service and outdoor on-premise seating, as allowed by guidelines imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.
A gastro pub-style menu will be rolled out with food to go.
Phinney Design Group in Saratoga Springs designed the structure. V&H Construction of Fort Edward built it.
Christian Weber founded the company with his father, Burt Weber, in 2014.
“We understand it’s a destination spot for a lot of people,” said Weber. “The experience of coming to Common Roots has always been really important to us. Right now, the only thing more important than the experienced and the culture, is safety. Safety is our number-one priority so our staff and customers have a safe and comfortable experience.”

By Rachel Phillips

Slowly but surely, New York is beginning to emerge from the months-long shutdown that resulted from the outbreak of COVID-19.

In Saratoga Springs, in particular, the lack of tourists and probable dearth of fans in the city  for the Saratoga Race Course this summer pose yet another hurdle to overcome for small businesses. However, business owners and organizations are hopeful that people and entrepreneurs can work together to keep the area thriving.

Harness racing resumed on Thursday, June 18, at Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs,  but no spectators are allowed at the track due to state guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fans can wager remotely on the races through Saratoga Casino Hotel’s online wagering platform, SaratogaBets.com, or on any other New York State approved online waging platform.

The casino remains closed and is awaiting further guidance from the state regarding a reopen date for the entire property.

Following the directive outlined by the state Gaming Commission and the state Department of Health, Saratoga Casino Hotel developed new policies and procedures to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak and ensure the safety of employees, horsemen, and horses, officials said.

By Jill Nagy

Family Vision Care Center at 205 Lake Ave. in Saratoga Springs is celebrating its 100th anniversary,doing so with monthly events for the rest of the year.

Plans changed, both for the celebration and for the business itself, with the advent of the coronavirus lockdown. But the center is reopening and will continue marking the anniversary.

The business in March was restricted to emergency care only and the staff worked at home or not at all. April, usually the center’s business month, saw essentially no business at all, the owners said. The celebration went online, with monthly raffles and a “throwback” video every Thursday recounting some of the business’s history.