The Towne Law Firm PC announced the addition of recently retired state Appellate Division Justice Eugene Devine and attorney Jessica A. Rounds to its team.
Eugene, an Albany native, has been in private practice for more than 30 years, with a focus in the fields of pension/health insurance, labor, commercial, banking, real estate, and criminal law. He was elected justice of the New York Supreme Court in 2006. In 2014, he was appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo to the Appellate Division of the New York State Supreme Court, Third Department.
Before taking the bench, he was the Albany County public defender overseeing a staff of 35 attorneys and was also the chief attorney for the Albany County Department of Social Services.
Rounds is an associate attorney in the firm’s Albany office, focusing in the areas of civil litigation, commercial litigation, professional malpractice, personal injury, and general negligence.
Nafeesa Koslik Brings Cuisine From Her Native Country To ‘Nani’s Indian Kitchen’
©2020 SaratogaPhotographer.com
By Jill Nagy
Nafeesa Koslik grew up in India, the oldest of five children. So, “by means of necessity” she started cooking when she was eight years old, she said.
While living in Milton with her husband and three children, a restaurant building became available at about the time she was laid off from her job in hotel management. As a result, Nani’s Indian Kitchen opened at 256 Milton Ave., Ballston Spa.
The business is “going like wildfire, very busy,” she said.
After a soft opening, the restaurant officially opened the day after Thanksgiving. That Friday and the following Saturday, Koslik served meals in the restaurant. However, with COVID-19 restrictions, the establishment can only seat eight to 10 people at a time, instead of the normal 33. Consequently, Koslik switched to a take-out only format for the time being.
Development Company Will Add 64 Rental Units To ‘The Lofts At Saratoga Boulevard’
Courtesy Hayes Development Co.
By Christine Graf
Hayes Development Co. of Saratoga Springs is building 64 additional townhouse apartments at its The Lofts at Saratoga Boulevard property in Malta.
The project includes eight townhouse buildings, a tennis court and a dog park. It was designed by Cotler Architecture, and Bonacquisti Brothers Construction of Albany is the general contractor.
Construction began in July. The first townhouses will be ready for occupancy in early spring. By summer 2021, the remaining townhouses will be available. “We anticipate reaching full absorption before the completion date,” said Hayes.
The townhouse apartments are being built on a portion of a six-acre parcel of land that was purchased by Hayes Development for $1.35 million in January. The previous owners had planned a mixed-use development called Blacksmith Square on the property. After they defaulted on tax and mortgage payments, Sunmark Credit Union foreclosed on the land.
Hayes Development got it divided into two parcels.
Equitas Realty Moves From Downtown Offices Into New Space At Wilton Mall
©2020 SaratogaPhotographer.com
By Christine Graf
Equitas Realty broker/owner Janet Besheer recently relocated her Saratoga Springs office from 38 High Rock Ave. to space in the Wilton Mall.
Her decision to move out of the High Rock Avenue space was made after the COVID-19 pandemic impacted the way she and her staff did business. Both her businesses, Equitas Realty and Equitas Realty Management, are located there.
Because her agents are spending significantly less time in the office, Besheer decided to downsize from a 2,800-square-foot office to a 1,000-square-foot space in the Wilton Mall. The office was previously occupied by Liberty Travel and is located near the Home Goods and Healthy Living Market entrances.
“We’ve realized in recent years that with technology and the ability to do everything on our phones and being totally mobile, there was less need for an office. The way people shop for real estate has truly changed since I started in 2000,” she said. “And when COVID hit this March, we were not allowed to go to our office.”
During the early months of the pandemic, real estate agents were also not allowed to show houses. Instead, they relied solely on photographs and videos to market properties to prospective buyers. All meetings were held virtually and agents began using electronic signature software.
Second Location Of ‘42⁰’ Shop Features A Large Array Of Handmade Glass Products
©2020 SaratogaPhotographer.com
By Christine Graf
Glens Falls business owner Robin Barkenhagen recently opened a second location of his 42° ventures. The new glass gallery and smoke shop is located in Ellsworth Plaza on Route 9 in Malta.
Last year, he relocated his Glens Falls store from Park Street to the Colvin Building at 206 Glen St. The building was purchased for $945,000 in January 2019 by Brian Bronzino, part owner of 42°. Barkenhagen and Bronzino entered into their partnership in 2018.
The first 42° opened in 2010, and the move to the larger store on Glen Street allowed Barkenhagen to expand his product line.
Both stores feature glass products that are handmade by more than 100 independent glass artists throughout the United States, he said. Convenience store items are also sold at the Glens Falls location.
“We sell things like cigarettes and vape products,” he said. “Our glass gallery features high-end glass. We have pipes ranging from $15 to $80, and our most expensive piece is $40,000. It’s a glass chess board that’s in our window in Glens Falls.
“Some people buy our glass and use it as decorations. There are collectors around the country that will seek out some of these blowers that we have that are nationally and internationally known,” Barkenhagen said.
Salon 8 Owner Brought Her Business From Vermont To Her Home In Saratoga Springs
©2020 SaratogaPhotographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Nicole Loscalzo is making a career out of something that she loves to do and in a new space that is serving her well. As owner of Salon 8, she has brought her passion for hair color to Saratoga.
Loscalzo first opened her business in Vermont. Before that, she was working as a flight attendant. But everything changed after the attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.
“After the 9/11 attacks, I was furloughed from my job and I thought what now? I decided to go to cosmetology school on a whim. I wasn’t even that serious about it, but I found that I absolutely loved it. I have been doing hair ever since,” she said.
Later, Loscalzo decided to make a change and thought Saratoga would work as a new location. She likes that it is close enough to Vermont for her loyal customers to travel to her and at the same time, it gives her a bigger pool of clients.
“Being right off of (Northway) Exit 15, I’ve been able to keep my Vermont customers who are willing to make the drive. I am starting to bring in more local people, and of course I am so thankful for that,” said Loscalzo.
Red Roof Inn, Under New Management, Steps Up Renovations To Meet COVID Rules
Courtesy Red Roof Inn
By Erin Nudi
Alan Schnurman took over ownership of the Red Roof Inn in Clifton Park in 2018. In June of this year, he made a change in management and renovations, which had been ongoing slowly, moved forward in earnest.
“Things are run differently now,” said Elaine Swain, the new general manager. Kemanni Gang is also part of the new management team as operations manager.
Swain said the team is re-focusing the hotel’s upgrades and its hospitality mission while adhering to the new COVID regulations.
All of the rooms underwent major renovations in 2019. They now have laminate flooring instead of carpet, which adds safety and cleanliness, two aspects of staying at a hotel that many think about today, she said.
Other upgrades in the guest rooms include a workspace, microwave and refrigerator. A guest laundry room was added and there are plans for the addition of a truck parking lot.
COVID-19 Causes Adirondack Thunder Team To Opt Out Of The ECHL Season
The Adirondack Thunder hockey team, the ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils that plays its games at Cool Insuring Arena in Glens Falls, is opting out of the 2020-21 season.
The Thunder joined the rest of the North Division in the decision to not play.
The Adirondack Hockey Coalition LLC and Adirondack Civic Center Coalition said in a statement that the Adirondack Thunder will not be able to participate in the 2020-21 ECHL season “due to the on-going COVID-19 pandemic and the state’s guidelines on permitting no fans inside the arena.
“We were hopeful that government restrictions would ease up as we approached the time we needed to declare our formal intentions for the season. Unfortunately, we are unable to have any fans in attendance for the foreseeable future and cannot sustain a season without fans,” officials said.
The North Division of the ECHL is comprised of six teams including Adirondack, Worcester, Maine, Reading, Brampton, and Newfoundland.
“We knew this season would be a challenge regardless of any state restrictions on fans in the arena,” officials said. “We had worked on numerous contingency plans to socially distance fans and to ensure a clean, safe environment, and to fully abide by all state-imposed guidelines. We were ready to play at a 50 percent capacity, knowing it would be difficult to operate at that capacity.
“We know the disappointment our fans, coaches, players, staff, and community share with this announcement. Our focus going forward will be to start the planning for the 2021-22 season.”
Stewart’s Shops Acquisition Of Red-Kap Adds Gasoline Distribution Services, A Few Stores
Courtesy Red-Kap
Stewart’s Shops is announced it is expanding its fuel distribution business with the acquisition of Red-Kap, a locally owned, family run business.
Stewart’s officials said the company will acquire eight convenience stores, three car washes, a 75-plus dealer network and fuel distribution business.
Under the terms of the agreement, Stewart’s will maintain the branding of the Mobil, Citgo, and Sunoco stations and will convert a few of the Red-Kap locations into Stewart’s Shops.
“Stewart’s has always respected the business and our long personal relationship with the Kaplans and their team,” said Stewart’s Shops President Gary Dake. “Doing business with people who respect people is always a pleasure. Both organizations come from long local family histories that have helped form the communities where we live.
“The acquisition will add eight corporately run locations and a significant addition of gasoline supply and distribution to local stations. Stewart’s prides itself on vertical integration and support. In the age of COVID-19, with an ever-changing business climate, we look forward to extending this support to the distributor/dealer network.”
Red-Kap, based in Schenectady, owns eight convenience stores from Saratoga to Loudonville, Troy, East Greenbush, and as far west as the Syracuse suburb of Baldwinsville.
Executive Woods Mixed-Use Park Will See Expansion; 50 New Apartment Units Planned
Courtesy DCG Development
By Susan Elise Campbell
DCG Development Co. has planned an expansion of residential space in Executive Woods, one of three mixed-use office parks the company has near the intersection of Route 9 and Route 146 in Clifton Park.
According to Donald MacElroy, DCG vice president, the project will include completely re-purposing an existing structure. They will also build a new one. The result will be a total 50 rental units that MacElroy said will appeal to the middle market.
“New apartments have not been built in Clifton Park in many years,” said MacElroy. “As products age and grow out of use, others step in to take over.”
MacElroy said there is “pent-up demand for apartments, particularly new construction.” He expects that middle-income jobs will continue coming into the area because “many of the businesses springing up around that intersection are health care facilities, bringing in new employment opportunities.”
Executive Woods is on the north side of Route 146 and has a two-story, 20,000-square-foot professional office building that will be converted into 34 rental units, he said. Floor plans are being developed. All walls and partitions will be removed and new utility systems installed.