By Rachel Phillips

Slowly but surely, New York is beginning to emerge from the months-long shutdown that resulted from the outbreak of COVID-19.

In Saratoga Springs, in particular, the lack of tourists and probable dearth of fans in the city  for the Saratoga Race Course this summer pose yet another hurdle to overcome for small businesses. However, business owners and organizations are hopeful that people and entrepreneurs can work together to keep the area thriving.

Harness racing resumed on Thursday, June 18, at Saratoga Casino Hotel in Saratoga Springs,  but no spectators are allowed at the track due to state guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fans can wager remotely on the races through Saratoga Casino Hotel’s online wagering platform, SaratogaBets.com, or on any other New York State approved online waging platform.

The casino remains closed and is awaiting further guidance from the state regarding a reopen date for the entire property.

Following the directive outlined by the state Gaming Commission and the state Department of Health, Saratoga Casino Hotel developed new policies and procedures to reduce the risk of a COVID-19 outbreak and ensure the safety of employees, horsemen, and horses, officials said.

By Jill Nagy

Family Vision Care Center at 205 Lake Ave. in Saratoga Springs is celebrating its 100th anniversary,doing so with monthly events for the rest of the year.

Plans changed, both for the celebration and for the business itself, with the advent of the coronavirus lockdown. But the center is reopening and will continue marking the anniversary.

The business in March was restricted to emergency care only and the staff worked at home or not at all. April, usually the center’s business month, saw essentially no business at all, the owners said. The celebration went online, with monthly raffles and a “throwback” video every Thursday recounting some of the business’s history.

By Susan E. Campbell

A new restaurant on Saratoga Lake, dubbed 550 Waterfront, is slated to open soon at the site of the former Lake Local.

The restaurant was about three years in the making.

Managing partner John Boyle said he expects to receive a certificate of occupancy soon. Upon opening, the restaurant will serve clients curbside, boatside and at its expansive outdoor spaces.

Lake Local was lost to a fire a few years ago. As Boyle and his partners discussed how to rebuild the “clear vision was to have similar cuisine and keep the same vibe as a family oriented restaurant,” he said.

The once intimate, approximately 1,000-square-foot structure was rebuilt and now encompasses 7,000 square feet. It sits at the northern tip of Saratoga Lake and has “one of the most beautiful views in Upstate New York,” according to Boyle. “550 Waterfront is the only place where you can see from one end of the lake to the other. There is sun on the patio from sunrise to sunset.”

By Jennifer Farnsworth

The Inn at Saratoga, at 231 Broadway in Saratoga Springs is ready to re-open.

The business was also able to open its outdoor dining area in early June. It is also accepting reservations.

“It has just been so great to have people back,” said owner Elizabeth Israel. “We have missed the feeling of seeing people be able to enjoy themselves. Having people on the patio or on the front porch has just felt great.”

Israel said her staff has been hard at work developing a plan that will ensure guests are in a safe environment.

By Jill Nagy

The owners of Aviation Mall in Glens Falls received two pieces of good news in June. They received the go-ahead from the town of Queensbury to expand the mall to include a mixed-use and residential development project and, along with other malls in the area, they received permission to re-open part of the mall as the state moves forward with reopening during the coronavirus pandemic.

As New York state slowly allows businesses look to reopen in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, shopping malls are acclimating to the new rules.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer

Shelly Walker is relocating her interior design business and showroom, Finishing Touches Home Décor.

The new location is at 450 E. High St. in Malta, on the corner of Route 9, across the highway from the Publik  House. The property previously housed Collamer House Bike & Ski.

“I started a moving sale. The sale, had fliers and mailings—everything ready for a big sale. The following week, we had to close down. (Due to the coronavirus). I sold a few little things and put some larger items like furniture into our storage facility. We had to pack most of the store up and move it all with us to the new location,” said Walker.

By Andrea Harwood Palmer

Fingerpaint Marketing, the health and wellness marketing agency in Saratoga Springs, has acquired the California-based market access and commercialization firm 1798.

The acquisition took place earlier this year.

Fingerpaint works primarily with health care, biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

1798 is a 60-person team located on La Jolla, Calif. The agency specializes in health consulting services to medical device, pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies. The company is named after the year in which the modern health insurance system was created.

Bill McEllen, a partner at Fingerpaint, said  the coronavirus shutdown has not slowed down the integration process of the two companies.