By Jill Nagy

Trader Joe’s opened a store in Halfmoon in September, its second outlet in the Capital Region. The grocery chain offers a variety of  food products, most of them under its own label, and a few local, mostly produce, items.

“We know there are a lot of foodies in Halfmoon, and we knew there was some community interest in having a Trader Joe’s in the neighborhood. So, we did our due diligence and decided it was a great fit,” said company spokesperson Rachel Broderick.

The store is located at 2 Halfmoon Crossing. It is a free-standing building, approximately 12,500 square feet, surrounded by more than 100 parking spaces.

Thomas Witte, referred to as Captain Tommy, manages the new store. He celebrates 20 years with the company this year and spent the past six years managing the Trader Joe’s outlet in Colonie.

The store has 85 employees. According to Broderick, approximately 80 percent of them were hired from the local area.

While many area businesses are struggling to find staff, Broderick said, “We are fortunate to have a reputation as a good employer, so we were able to hire a great crew. . . . We are always looking for great crew members, though, so anyone interested is welcome to apply on our website.”

By R.J. DeLuke

Lucy’s is the latest addition to the bar scene on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs. Unlike many, where volume and intensity can be a factor, this establishment aims for cozy and comfortable, according to co-owner Kelsey Whalen.

The bar physically lends itself to that. The bar itself is small and there are a handful or so of tables. Occupancy is 23.

“It’s  a very casual vibe, but welcoming,” said Whalen. “Our slogan is, ‘Lucy’s bar, Come in as you are.’ We truly mean that. All are welcome.

“We want everyone to be comfortable. We want you to walk away with a good cocktail for $10, not 14 which is seemingly the average in Saratoga for a cocktail.”

It opened in late September and business, she said, is strong despite the size. In fact the size appealed to her. She previously operated Whole Harvest, a stored that prepares healthy meals using local products. She closed the store because the bottom line was not going to hold up during the coronavirus pandemic.

But she retained the lease on the space.

“It’s so good,” Whalen said of business thus far. “In terms of business, it’s low overhead, low staffing, easy maintenance, easy to clean, easy upkeep  … We definitely say it’s cozy eclectic.
It’s been wonderful. It’s been really busy. I think we found a niche that wasn’t in Saratoga … A spot to get a good affordable cocktail and not need to buy food.

Submitted by

the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce

Recently reported September county data indicates that Saratoga County is coming back stronger and more resilient than ever as we continue to emerge from the pandemic.

“Unemployment rates, sales tax collections, lodging, and real estate across the county are seeing tremendous growth when compared to this time last year,” said Todd Shimkus,  Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce president. “We’re excited to see residents and tourists working, shopping, and staying throughout the county, and we hope the numbers continue to rise.”

Unemployment

As of August, the unemployment rate has decreased from 7 percent in 2020 to 4 percent in 2021. The number of employed residents has risen, adding an additional 800 laborers to our county’s workforce. Unemployment numbers have been nearly cut in half compared to last year.

Lodging

Hotel occupancy has seen a rise throughout the county in 2021 thanks to an increase in leisure demand coming out of the pandemic, and group and corporate travel is starting to rise. Revenue per available room (RevPAR) has nearly doubled since this time last year, showcasing that out-of-town visitors are beginning to explore our vibrant county again.

“Our lodging partners had a strong season with some even setting revenue records,” said Darryl Leggieri, president, Discover Saratoga. “While we didn’t break revenue records in 2021, the occupancy and average daily rate that our lodging partners were able to command shows a strong return to our historical patterns in 2019. The future looks bright.”

By Jennifer Farnsworth

A new doughnut shop, 518 Donuts, has opened in Clifton Park.

This one will combine doughnuts with speciality fried chicken.

Glenn Babinueau, Joseph Carl, and Sam Clifford officially opened the doors to 518 Donuts at 7 Southside Drive in Clifton Park and  business has been good.

“Day one, there was a line all the way down the sidewalk waiting for the doors to open,” said Clifford.

He said all three owners have roots in Troy, where they were in the process of opening what was set to be their flagship shop. But they took one look at The Shops at Village Plaza and   decided they would plan for locations in both Clifton Park and Troy.

“We basically walked in and said,’We will take it.’ We knew we had to move quickly on it,” said Clifford.

CDTA has expanded its FLEX service to the Southern Saratoga County region.

The on-demand, app-based service became available in the Mechanicville, Halfmoon and Clifton Park areas as of Sept. 20.

“It is our mission to create connections and seamless transportation options throughout the Capital Region,” said Carm Basile, CDTA chief executive officer, in a press release. “Now with the addition of Mechanicville Halfmoon and Clifton Park, we have expanded our route network and increased access and opportunity for thousands of residents.”

CDTA first introduced FLEX to the Capital Region in January of 2020 and allows customers to enjoy curb-to-curb service within specified zones by downloading the free TransLoc App and requesting a ride or by calling CDTA.

The program also operates in Colonie, Guilderland, Latham and at the UAlbany Uptown Campus. This service is also offered to Albany Medical Center, Albany International Airport, and University at Albany as part of a Universal Access agreement.

The Southern Saratoga County FLEX service will operate free of charge during the initial pilot period. It operates from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends.