Saratoga Business Journal

Golf Simulator Company Has Plans To Open Two New Facilities In Saratoga County

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021

This is The Bunker, a Guilderland-based business that has golf simulator technology.
Nicole McCutcheon

By Christine Graf

The Bunker, a Guilderland-based business that offer golfers the opportunity to use golf simulator technology in an indoor, country club-like setting, has plans to open additional locations in Clifton Park and Malta.

Owners Troy Miller and Burl McCutcheon will invest approximately $1 million to get both sites up and running. Because there are tenants currently occupying both existing spaces, exact addresses will not be released until next month, they said.

According to Miller, both are centrally located near exits 9 and 12 of the Northway.

Miller is the owner and broker at CM Fox Real Estate and also owns Troy Miller Construction. In his free time, he is an avid golfer.

“I’ve been in the development world, and when golf and my past development work collided, out came the Bunker,” he said.

The 4,000-square-foot Guilderland location opened at the end of 2019 in the CM Fox Real Estate building at 2390 Western Turnpike. Before being temporarily shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic, business exceeded expectations and plans for expansion were already underway, he said.

Personnel Briefs: April 2021

April 20, 2021April 20, 2021

Roohan Realty announced that Jeana Labas has joined the team as a licensed real estate salesperson.

Labas has been with Kodiak Construction for seven years as office manager and client selection representative. She helps new construction clients throughout the process of building a home. She also joins Roohan Realty as Kodiak Construction’s seller agent, while maintaining her office manager duties.

The Saratoga Springs native attended Clarkson University, and returned to the area after school to build a home in Wilton.

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Timothy E. Blow, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Ballston Spa National Bank (BSNB), has announced his retirement effective Dec. 31.

Since joining BSNB in 2005, his responsibilities include strategic financial planning and oversight of the finance, IT, operations, compliance, and facilities functions. Blow’s leadership at BSNB caps a 33-year career in the Capital Region working in audit, advisory and corporate banking roles.

“Tim’s contributions have been instrumental in helping BSNB achieve high levels of fiscal and operational effectiveness, the development of a sophisticated technology infrastructure, market expansion, and record financial performance. Of particular note was Tim’s leadership in the development of the company’s new corporate headquarters building in 2011,” said Christopher R. Dowd, president and chief executive officer at BSNB.

‘Little Market At 5 Points’ Serves Customers Inside, Online And Through Take-Out Window

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

Business partners Michele Morris and Jim Morris (not related) opened the Little Market at 5 Points in Saratoga Springs at 42 Park Place in late March.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

The Little Market at 5 Points in Saratoga Springs is now open on the city’s east side.

Business partners Michele Morris and Jim Morris are not related. They opened the store at 42 Park Place in late March and they are ready to serve the community they love.

The new owners say the “quintessential” corner store deli is more than a place to grab a quick bite to eat. Michele and Jim said they are “refreshed, re-imagined and ready to bring you delicious eats, everyday conveniences, thoughtful gifts and fast and friendly service.”

The new store is on a site that was a deli and market for many years.

“It is with gratitude that we continue in the spirit of those who came before us,” said Jim Morris. “We look forward to getting to know you and your families over a warm breakfast sandwich and cappuccino, a hotdog, or a deli sandwich made your way.”

The Little Market at 5 Points is a place with many necessities, including milk, fresh produce, candy bars, ice cream, craft beers and hard seltzers. It also has a gift shop with items like dish towels, speciality soaps and artwork.

Michele Morris said they have 10 employees ready to serve people inside the store and through a take-out window.

State Will Allow Spectators At Saratoga Race Course, Capping Attendance At 20 Percent

April 19, 2021April 26, 2021

NYRA will allow spectators at Saratoga Race Course when the annual meet begins. A limit of 20 percent of full capacity has been set. Courtesy NYRA

New York state will allow some spectators at Saratoga Race Course when the annual meet begins in July, officials announced.
The announcement also applies to Belmont Park as of April 22. Spectators will be subject to the state’s safety guidance, which is currently in effect for other professional sports competitions with fans.
The Saratoga meet runs from Thursday, July 15, through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6.
Attendees must show proof of a recent negative test or completed vaccination series prior to entry and are subject to the state’s health and safety protocols on face coverings, social distancing, and health screening.
The New York Racing Association “looks forward to welcoming fans back to Belmont Park this spring and to Saratoga Race Course this summer,” said CEO Dave O’Rourke. “We thank Gov. Andrew Cuomo for the opportunity to host fans at our historic tracks for the first time since the start of the pandemic.
“We will announce ticketing options for fans once we further review the guidelines and protocols set forth for thoroughbred tracks in New York state.”

Food At Spice Malabar Restaurant In Clifton Park Influenced By North And South India

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

A new Indian restaurant is open in Clifton Park.

Spice Malabar, 7 Southside Drive, opened in The Shops at Village Plaza on March 16.

The owners also operate Karavalli of Latham, also an Indian restaurant.

The cuisine at Spice Malabar is influenced by the flavors of north and south Indian.

Vince George, chef and owner of Spice Malabar, said North Indian cuisine includes dishes and breads cooked in the tandoor, a cylindrical clay oven. Traditionally, meats and vegetables slowly cook in tomato, onion, and tree nut-based sauces, which are seasoned to each dish.

South Indian cuisine brings together the cuisines of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Mangalore and Goa with a range of healthy dishes.

Seafood is at the heart of Spice Malabar’s menu, which also includes poultry, game and vegetarian selections.

Visitors to Spice Malabar can experience a lunch buffet that includes tandoor, vegan, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian specialties. Convenient take-out lunch box specials and other à la carte menu options are also offered mid-day.

New Recruiting Company Helps Law Firms, Attorneys And Support Staff In The Region

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

Sean Macari, an experienced recruiter, opened Valiant Search in the Capital Region.
Courtesy Valiant Search

Valiant Search, a search firm that focuses on recruiting for law firms, is now open.

Sean Macari, an experienced recruiter, said he saw an opportunity when many search firms dramatically scaled down or closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He saw the need to help attorneys, support staff, and law firms get back on their feet as the pandemic starts to subside.

There was also an absence of legal-focused recruiting firms in upstate New York, he said. That inspired him to launch his own company, based in Albany.

“Valiant Search is currently serving law firms in all counties in New York state, however, being based in the Capital Region, we have a particular familiarity and focus on firms in Saratoga and Warren counties,” he said.

“In the wake of COVID, many search firms went through dramatic changes as they shut down or shifted their focus exclusively to bigger firms in the Manhattan area. With this, I saw an opportunity to help those firms in Upstate New York (including those in the Saratoga/Washington/Warren counties area) get back on their feet. As an experienced recruiter myself, I was inspired to start my own company during the pandemic to make sure that these Upstate businesses could have someone to help support them as they look to reopen amidst COVID.”

He said Valiant is the only search firm that specializes in the legal industry north of New York City, “so we have a much greater presence in these upstate counties—like Saratoga and Warren—than others that focus primarily on New York City. “

Soft-Tex International, A Pillow Making Company In Waterford, Is Growing Fast

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

Soft-Tex International, a leading producer of bedding and home comfort products based in Waterford, has opened a facility in Sugar Land, Texas, which it said will provide an immediate improvement in overall shipping efficiency and double the company’s production capacity for fiber-filled products, adding hundreds of new jobs over the course of 2021.

In the first half of 2020, Soft-Tex previously announced an expansion doubling capacity and set an aggressive target of continued domestic expansion by at least 20 percent per year for the next five years. The ramp up of the new facility will double the total of domestic capacity, far exceeding the annual growth target.

The company also has plans to add 40,000 square feet of storage and office space. The mattress and pillow maker received approval from the Halfmoon Planning Board in March to add warehouse space at 430 Hudson River Road in Halfmoon, next door to an existing Soft-Tex factory.

The Sugar Land facility will begin immediate warehousing and distribution operations that will improve overall shipping efficiency to both retailer warehouse networks and direct-to-consumer shipments with three-day or better ground service coverage, as Soft-Tex scales inventory balancing, officials said in a news release.

In parallel, Soft-Tex will add new production equipment for fiber-filled products and personnel in Texas and hopes to begin manufacturing at the facility by June 1.

“As promised, Soft-Tex has delivered and now continues to expand upon its commitment to growing its domestic footprint,” Soft-Tex principal Mark Smiderle said at the opening of the Sugar Land facility. “These efforts will continue to improve Soft-Tex’s, and in turn, our partners’, overall service quality, speed, and costs, which we recognize is critical to driving continued growth.”

KPM Restoration Outgrows Saratoga Facility, Moves Into New Warehouse, Offices In Malta

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

Jamie Kennedy is the owner of KPM Restoration. The company repairs water damage, does mold remediation and other commercial cleaning through the region.

By Jill Nagy

KPM Restoration, a company that cleans up and repairs premises after fires, floods and other disasters, moved in January to a new facility in Malta.

It consists of a large warehouse and 12 offices. It replaces a facility at 211 Maple St. in Saratoga Springs.

The company is still in the process of moving out of the Saratoga Springs location, according to business owner Jamie Kennedy. Only six years old, KPM outgrew its former quarters, he said.

The company is on-call 24 hours a day and, all 13 of its trucks are kept busy, said Kennedy. The company repairs damages from water pipe bursts, fixes other water damage, does mold remediation and commercial cleaning .

A large part of the business these days involves COVID-19 cases. Kennedy said the company has done more than 200 COVID cleanups, which include cleaning, disinfecting, and sanitizing. As a community service, they have done several free clean-ups for schools and firehouses.

Kennedy came to the area from Milbrook, a downstate town near Poughkeepsie, where he had three businesses, a property management company (Kennedy Property Management), a landscaping service and a tree service. He sold them all and moved north.

Business Briefs: April 2021

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

NBT Bank is hosting a webinar series educating business leaders on the latest information surrounding all facets of addressing cyber threats from awareness to prevention and response.

Presenters include NBT Bank director of information security Terra Carnrike-Granata, director of cash management and government banking Margaret Scopelianos, information security manager Andrew Frisbie and NBT Insurance Agency president Tucker Lounsbury.

The events are free to attend, and guests may join one or all sessions.

“Are You Covered? Proactive Controls You Need Now” will be held on Friday, April 23. It will outline how to integrate cyber liability insurance into your cybersecurity program while also leveraging banking controls to protect financial assets.

“After A Breach: Effective Incident Response on Friday,” will be held April 30. The team will share the fundamentals of incident response planning, and tips on how to respond to a ransomware attack or an email account takeover in Microsoft 365.

“Cybercrime Survivors: Stories & Lessons Learned” is schedule for Friday, May 7, and will feature a virtual roundtable hosted by all four of our presenters. The team will discuss valuable lessons from actual cyber-attacks, as well as answer questions submitted on topics from cybersecurity to cash management and more.

To register, visit www.nbtbank.com/CybersecurityRSVP.

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Ferraro, Amodio & Zarecki, CPAs, a forensic accounting, business valuation and business advisory firm and Hudson Forensic Solutions, a boutique forensic firm, have announce a merger.

The union, designed to provide the Hudson Valley with expanded services in business valuations, fraud and financial investigations, economic damage analysis, litigation support, expert testimony, as well as business growth consulting, exit planning and investment banking services.

As a result of the merger, FAZ, based in Saratoga Springs, now also operates out of White Plains, covering Westchester County and the entire Hudson Valley.

Developer Seeks Permission For Condos, New Marina And Restaurant On Saratoga Lake

April 19, 2021April 20, 2021

A development group is proposing a mixed-use condo development on about 8.7 acres of land on the south short of Saratoga Lake in the town of Malta.

The South Shore Marina Proposed Planned Development District was presented to the Town Board on Jan. 25,

Sophia Maruso, the owner of Plan & Site Consulting LLC located in Ballston Lake, representing to principals of the New York Development Group addressed the board outlining plans, which are preliminary at this point.

The Formal application could be made in the coming weeks, the development group said.

Geoffrey Booth and Jeff Knox are the principals in the group.

Two- and three-story condominium buildings and a public kayak and canoe launch are included in the project. The developers are under contract to purchase nine parcels totaling 8.7 acres from Joe and Tony DiDonna, owners of the marina and restaurant South Shore Marina on Saratoga Lake. If approved, they will be demolishing all the existing structures and starting anew.

The land is near the intersection of Route 9P and Plains Road (County Road 108). The PDD concept proposes mixed uses consisting of 96 condominium units in five buildings, a marina, a 4,000-square-foot restaurant and potentially associated amenities such as clubhouse, fitness center, and public access to the lake with parking, according to Town Board minutes of the session.