By Jennifer Farnsworth
The Bread Basket Bakery is under new ownership as of July.
As Bread Basket Bakery founder Joan Tallman enters retirement, Ed and Lisa Mitzen, the bakery’s new owners, purchased the business and pledged to keep the bakery a Saratoga mainstay the same, according to marketing director Pascal Salvatore.
The Mitzens own Fingerpaint, a prosperous marketing company in Saratoga Springs.
Salvatore said the building has undergone some minor updates and renovations, but “everything is still the same on the menu. Everything is still the way Joan made it.”
Updates to the bakery included new floors, coolers, updated display cases and fresh paint.
“We removed some drywall and found some amazing windows that we were able to uncover. It’s a building from 1933 and we want to really preserve that historic feel,” said Salvatore.
Tallman’s son, Matt, remains as the bakery’s general manager.

The Village of Ballston Spa and the Saratoga County Prosperity Partnership, a Saratoga County-based economic development organization, unveiled in October a comprehensive and customized economic development plan designed to promote future growth and drive long-term prosperity in the village.
Prosperity Partnership said the effort was guided by input from hundreds of citizens and community, business and government leaders. The blueprint outlines a strategic and tactical approach to attracting visitors, residents and businesses to Ballston Spa by enriching and promoting the assets, resources and character of the village.
It is a product of the Saratoga Partnership’s Next Wave Communities initiative.
“The plan heralds a new beginning for the Village of Ballston Spa and makes it abundantly clear that we are open for business,” said Ballston Spa Mayor Larry Woolbright. “I’m particularly proud that our village is proactively taking this important step forward, undaunted by the impact of COVID-19 on the state and national economies.”

The Saratoga Builders Association presented checks totaling $10,000 to two area charities, the result of money raised from this year’s Showcase of Homes event.
Funds went to Rebuilding Together Saratoga County and Habitat for Humanity of Northern Saratoga, Warren and Washington Counties.
This year, the live 2020 Saratoga Showcase of Homes tour, where people buy tickets and physically visit the homes, was cancelled due to health and safety concerns from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s edition of the Saratoga Showcase of Homes was a “re-imagined” event in the form of a one-hour TV show special hosted by CBS-6 News Anchor Liz Bishop.

The Saratoga County Capital Resources Corp. has donated $10,000 to the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce’s Save Our Locals campaign.
The funds will be used to create a help line for use by businesses in Saratoga County during the pandemic, as well as to create boosted social media posts and videos to promote hundreds of local independently owned businesses, officials said.
The Save Our Locals campaign will also include a new take out promotion to support area restaurants and an online gift card promotion to support local shops, stores, salons and spas, florists and home goods, wineries, breweries, hotels and any other Saratoga County business that sells gift cards online.
“The Capital Resources Corp.’s board of directors voted unanimously to support this Save Our Locals campaign,” said Anita Daly, corporation chair. “We all realize just how important it is to help our local independently owned firms across all of Saratoga County as they face restrictions and limitations to stop the spread of COVID-19.

By Jennifer Farnsworth
Eliza DeRocker has moved her Bride and Gown business, previously located in Glens Falls,to the upper level of Saratoga Closet, 38 Van Dam St., Saratoga Springs.
DeRocker also owns Saratoga Closet.
“Being in the same spot, I don’t feel so split between the two. I was going back and forth up to three times a day. I love just being in one location. It has really allowed me to enjoy the atmosphere at both places that I have tried to create, which is comfortable and relaxed,” said DeRocker.
She earned a fashion design degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology in Manhattan.She designed for Wathne Limited for Chanel and was the stylist for Lilly Pulitzer, as well as having her own line of handbags and clothing, all before opening Bride and Gown in Glens Falls in 2013.

The Adelphi Hotel has re-opened the dining area as Morrissey’s Bistro Dining Room in the Adelphi Conservatory.
Morrissey’s Lounge, as it existed since October 2017, was met with immediate success, hotel officials aid. It was achieved “by the consistent combination of providing its guests with a welcoming, casual, authentic environment along with an extraordinary food and beverage experience. And just when our loyal followers near and far thought it could not get any better, here comes the Morrissey’s Bistro,” a company news release said.
Culinary director, and chef David Burke has created an all-day menu with added features to include cheese fondues with truffles, short rib croquets, an array of specialty paninis, wood-fired flatbreads, pastas and more.