Category Archives: New Businesses

The Saratoga Stadium held a ribbon cutting on April 4. The establishment on Broadway in Saratoga Springs has new owners and went through some renovation work before re-opening.

Courtesy Saratoga Stadium

By Liz Witbeck

The Saratoga Stadium, formerly known as Stadium Café, on Broadway in Saratoga Springs is under new ownership.

Dave Harmon, who has owned and operated the restaurant for the past 14 years, recently sold the restaurant to Saratoga Hospitality LLC, which owns two other establishments in downtown Saratoga Springs: Max London’s Restaurant and Mrs. London’s Bakery and Café.

The restaurant at 389 Broadway reopened as Saratoga Stadium on March 17.

The establishment celebrated its grand re-opening on April with a ribbon cutting attended by local elected officials and former NBA star John Starks.

Zach Cutler, corporate executive chef, and one of the owners, moved to Saratoga Springs in 2014. He is also corporate executive chef at Max London’s and at Mrs. London’s.

Saratoga Stadium will feature an American tavern-style menu in a sports bar-themed atmosphere.

By Jill Nagy

A new restaurant called Seven opened in January at the Park Manor Hotel, formerly the Comfort Suites, near Northway Exit 10 in Clifton Park.

The hotel address is 7 Northside Drive, hence the name. Described as an American bistro, Seven serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a space with a bistro-influenced decor. It replaces what had been a small breakfast area, now expanded and re-decorated.

It is open to the public, not just hotel patrons.

Frank Ciacco, manager of the restaurant, said everything is made from scratch from fresh ingredients. Everything is made in-house, including marinades, roasts and smoked meats, he added.

The menu is “ever-changing, ever-evolving,” he said, noting it has been revamped six times since January as chef Tyler Mullins tries out new recipes and seeks feedback from the clientele.

Ciacco described Mullins style as “classical,” paying a great attention to details and creating “great plates.”

By Liz Witbeck

People looking for places to buy fresh fish may be excited to know about the opening of Harvest Moon Market in Clifton Park.

Harvest Moon Market opened at 1512 Route 9 in the Save More Beverages Plaza.

Owner Jim Laiacona has been involved in the fresh produce industry his entire life. He previously worked with his father at Michael Laiacona Produce, and was also the owner of Harvest Cut Produce. He sold the business two years ago, which now operates as Capital City Produce.

Laiacona said he decided to partner with friends and family to create a fish market. Doug Freeman is the fish specialist at the store. Laiacona’s wife, Jeanne, and their son, Jesse, help with the cooking of many products at the store.

Harvest Moon Market receives deliveries five days a week from Boston, the owner said. All of the fish is thoroughly inspected for quality and arrives fresh each day.

Some of the fish at the market includes cod, haddock, monk fish, Chilean sea bass, scallops, shrimp, lobsters, and more.

“If it swims, we own it,” said Laiacona. “Our salmon we’re featuring right now is a Norwegian salmon. It’s delicious.”

For those who have never been to a specialty fish market for their purchases, Laiacona said customers will see a significant increase in the quality of the product at a store like Harvest Moon Market.

After some 14 years of operating in Saratoga Springs, not far from Saratoga Race Course, Leon’s Mexican Restaurant has moved to the Carousel Village off Route 50 in Ballston Spa.©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Liz Witbeck

Leon’s Mexican Restaurant recently moved to a new location, opening at 2100 Doubleday Ave. (Route 50) in Ballston Spa in January.

The restaurant was previously located on Crescent Avenue in Saratoga Springs.

Leon’s Mexican Restaurant is located in Carousel Village, the previous location of the Three Olives restaurant.

The business has been operating for the past 14 years. Roberta Acosta is owner of the establishment. Her entire family helps with the business.

“We sold the property and we were looking for a more modern building,” said Acosta. “We wanted something with more traffic. As a mom, I was excited because this has parking. It’s in a plaza. We looked at things in downtown Saratoga, but we didn’t like anything because there was no parking. This came up and it was the perfect fit. I was really happy.”

Renovations done prior to opening included adding new equipment to the kitchen, painting, new signs and decorating the interior. Leon’s Mexican Restaurant has shipped in many interior decorations from Mexico, including their lights and their glassware.

Justin Wilock, owner of Mr. Formal Wear, says he dreamed of owning a business in Saratoga Springs. His shop on Weibel Avenue opened recently and he also owns one in Clifton Park.©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Justin Wilock dreamed of owning a business in his hometown of Saratoga Springs. A 2007 graduate of Spa Catholic High School, he made that dream a reality with the opening of Mr. Formal Wear, off of Weibel Avenue at Hempstead Place.

The tuxedo shop is Wilock’s second Saratoga County location.

Mr. Formal Wear, also located on Route 9 in Clifton Park, is a full service formal men’s wear operation.

“I have always wanted to open up a store in Saratoga. I know how popular Saratoga is and now more than ever a destination place for weddings with all the wedding venues around this beautiful city,” said Wilock.

Wilock said his business differs from most traditional men’s formal wear because of a commitment to keeping up with the latest fashion trends and its ability to add a modern “twist” on the tuxedos. They also sell suits, ties and, dress shirts.

Theodore Sourlis, right, owner of Ballston Spa Diner-Restaurant, a new eatery on Route 50 in Ballston Spa, stands outside the diner with Peter Panos, diner manager.©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

By Maureen Werther

The building that housed the well-known Ecobelli’s Restaurant on Route 50 in Ballston Spa–vacant for some time–has opened again under new ownership as the Ballston Spa Diner-Restaurant.

Owner Theodore Sourlis said he hopes to fill a void in the Ballston Spa area by offering a diverse menu that includes breakfast and featuring locally produced organic eggs, paninis, wraps, burgers, and dinner entrees ranging from steaks, chops, and seafood to authentic Greek and Italian specialties.

Sourlis has been in the restaurant business for 31 years, owning and operating the Dix Hills Diner in Long Island for 17 years before relocating to Amsterdam five years ago to take over the Olympic Diner, where he is still a 50 percent owner.

Sourlis said he happened to be driving through the area last year and noticed the vacant building. Interested in finding out more about the property, he contacted a real estate agent and, three months later, closed on the transaction.

BY MAUREEN WERTHER

Danny and Patti Petrosino have opened their newest culinary venture, Osteria Danny, at 26 Henry St. in Saratoga Springs, formerly home to Capriccio Saratoga and Dine restaurant.

The Italian term “osteria” refers to places that serve mainly wine and simple food. The menus are typically short and focus on local specialties. Chef Danny Petrosino has been using local products for his entire culinary career.

A native of Amsterdam and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Petrosino is a highly regarded chef who honed his culinary skills at such restaurants as Glen Sanders Mansion in Scotia and Saratoga National Golf Club. In 2012, his restaurant, Mio Posto, captured the attention of Bill Donovan, a faithful patron and one of the owners of Maestro’s at the Van Dam and Harvey’s Restaurant & Bar, both in Saratoga Springs.

In September of 2014, Petrosino sold Mio Posto to a colleague, Danny Urschel, who continued to run that establishment. Petrosino became executive chef of Maestro’s and Harvey’s. When Donovan and his partners decided to open Symphony Catering, Petrosino became its executive chef. He will continue to be in charge of menu development there, concurrent with the operation of Osteria Danny.

Michael Russo is set to open Russo’s Bar and Grill at 15 Prospect St., the site of the former D-Line
Pub. Russo also owns restaurants bearing his family name in Amsterdam and Broadalbin.

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH

Some new Italian cuisine is coming to downtown
Ballston Spa with the opening of Russo’s Bar
and Grill.

The restaurant will be located at 15 Prospect
St., formerly the D-Line Pub. It will be part of the
Russo family restaurant business that started in
Amsterdam many years ago.

Owner Michael Russo said his great-grandfather
started the family business with Russo’s Grill on
Route 5 in Amsterdam in 1920, after coming to
America from Sicily. Since then, the successful operation
has expanded with Russo’s Adirondack Grill
on Route 30 in Broadalbin, and now Ballston Spa.

Russo said they are hoping to open the restaurant
between the second and third week of
February.

Salt & Char, an upscale steakhouse, will open
this spring at 353 Broadway, Saratoga Springs.

BY MAUREEN WERTHER

The trifecta of restaurants scheduled to open
in the Adelphi Hotel in Saratoga Springs and at
the site of the former Maestro’s restaurant are
only the first of many projects envisioned by
Adelphi Hospitality Group.

Toby Mildé, president of Richbell Capital
LLC and owner of the historic Adelphi Hotel,
365 Broadway, formed the Adelphi Hospitality
Group after meeting with renowned chef Gray
Kunz and finding that they shared a vision for
the culinary future of the region.

Mildé said he met Kunz through a mutual
friend in the hospitality industry. After sitting
down together on several occasions to talk
about Milde’s vision for the Adelphi Hotel-and
the Saratoga region in general, they found their
visions aligned and decided to form a partnership.
They envision three projects.

The first–Salt & Char–is expected to open
this spring in the Van Dam building, 353 Broadway,
formerly home to Maestro’s.