By Susan Elise Campbell

Saratoga business developers Ed and Lisa Mitzen are within months of adding two new eating establishments to their portfolio and another, an additional location for the iconic Hattie’s Restaurant, opened only weeks ago. As is their mission, profits from all three businesses will be used to give back to the community.

The Mitzens are founders of Business for Good, a not-for-profit foundation that channels proceeds from its donor companies to worthy charities in the communities they serve. Lisa Mitzen said recipients are other non-profits that primarily provide help for food insecurity, housing instability, animal welfare, and other causes that are close to the Mitzen family.

Hattie’s Albany opened its doors on March 14 with a celebratory ribbon cutting at 121 Madison Avenue in Albany, former home of the renowned Lombardo’s Italian American Restaurant. 

By Christine Graf

Work is currently underway on a $6 million renovation project at the Southern Saratoga YMCA. Located in Clifton Park, the branch is one of the 10 operated by the Capital District YMCA (CDYMCA).

As part of its $20 million capital campaign, the CDYMCA plans to renovate some of its older facilities. The project in Clifton Park represents phase one of the plan, the rest of which has yet to be announced.

Built in 1994, the Southern Saratoga YMCA will undergo a major interior and exterior facelift. Unutilized and underutilized spaces within the facility will be repurposed, mechanical and HVAC systems will be upgraded, and technologic capabilities will be enhanced.

“We will be adding new administrative office areas as well as collaborative spaces for learning and sharing—a community space with multi-purpose rooms,” said David Brown, CEO of the CDYMCA. “We’re  also enhancing the kitchen, making it a chef’s kitchen. That will allow us to offer more classes and programming in the kitchen.”

The renovation includes new and expanded spaces for teens and youth, a refresh of the lobby and gyms, and enhancements to the childcare facilities. The pool area, locker rooms, and sauna will also be updated. The facility’s wellness centers will be expanded, a larger spinning studio will be added, and several new lines of high-tech fitness equipment will be purchased. 

By Susan Elise Campbell

A paid parking proposal before the Saratoga Springs City Council had many local business owners scratching their heads for the past few months, but a simpler approach is now in the works.

The multi-faceted proposal seen in news media and spearheaded by Department of Public Works Commissioner Jason Golub calls for the City-owned parking garages and surface lots north of Spring Street, east of Broadway, and north of Division Street to the west to charge a fee of $2 per hour from the time of entry. 

Paid parking would only be in effect for the summer, but residents and businesses get permits to park for free.

“A growing city like Saratoga Springs needs to consider how it can pay for, and expand, services that support a booming tourist industry and our residents,” said Commissioner Golub. “Investing into the downtown corridor and streamlining visitor parking without balancing it on the back of the taxpayers was one of the primary goals of the seasonal parking program.”

While Broadway was deemed to remain meter-free and accessible by all, the original proposal designated several blocks of parking spaces on streets adjacent to Broadway as “permit only” or “two-hour free or permit only,” according to a presentation Commissioner Golub made to the Downtown Business Association members and their guests. The forum was at DBA’s invitation and held at City Hall on February 15, 2024, according to Joseph Vidarte, a Merrill Lynch financial advisor who has worked from an office on Broadway since 2017. 

The full proposal was submitted one week later to City Council.

STRIDE Adaptive Sports, one of America’s most respected nonprofits committed to empowering individuals through life-changing sport and recreation programs, is proud to announce the appointment of Alex Brame as its new Executive Director.

Alex joins STRIDE with an impressive background and passion for making a positive difference in sport.  Alex was the executive director of New York West Youth Soccer Association for 7 years, fundraising and advocating across New York State for youth programs, competitions and tournaments across a 54,000 membership. With a focus on inclusivity and a proven track record of strengthening organizational funding, Alex is well-positioned to lead STRIDE into its next chapter of growth and impact.

Alex inherits the leadership of STRIDE from Mary Ellen Whitney, the Founder and CEO of STRIDE for almost 40 years.  The Board of Directors, staff, and all of STRIDE’s communities are indebted to Mary Ellen’s immeasurable dedication to build and lead STRIDE since 1985.  Under Mary Ellen’s leadership, STRIDE hosts and delivers more than 14,000 annual adaptive lessons and activities at sites across the New York Capital region, positively impacting the lives of more than 2,500 families annually.

“I am thrilled that we have hired Alex as the next executive director of STRIDE after a 16 month search,” said Mary Ellen Whitney. “I know that Alex will be a significant asset to drive the future of STRIDE.  I am looking forward to focusing on my passion and first love of teaching and volunteering with STRIDE athletes. I will also be joining the STRIDE Board of Directors in an ex-officio capacity, and I will be working within the STRIDE community to support Alex’s leadership and the next chapter of STRIDE’s journey.”

By Christine Graf

Guilderland’s Jason and Bobbie Sellie, Dogtopia franchise owners, are preparing to open their second Capital Region dog daycare and pet spa in Clifton Park. The couple has operated the Latham Dogtopia for just over a year, winning the franchise’s Rookie of the Year Award.  

Expected to open in late March or early April, the Clifton Park Dogtopia will be located in North Country Commons at 1208 Route 146. A major renovation of the plaza is underway, and new tenants include Goldfish Swim School, CrossFit House Party,  and Flipside Gaming. Ocean State Job Lot, Cartwheels Gymnastic Center, and Clifton Park Bottle & Can are longtime tenants of the plaza, one of the oldest in Clifton Park.  

The new facility will feature four spacious doggie daycare playrooms, an outdoor play area, and a grooming salon. Open play daycare will be available from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., and overnight boarding services will also be available. 

Each of the four playrooms will be staffed by Canine Coaches, individuals who have completed  a rigorous three-level certification program. Dogs are divided between the rooms according to their size, temperament, and play style, and animals must complete a temperament evaluation before being allowed into one of the rooms for the first time. Pet parents must also show proof of vaccination and spay/neuter.

By Christine Graf

Glens Falls resident Tim Schultz has opened the first Gotcha Covered franchise in Upstate New York. With more than 170 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, Gotcha Covered is a leader in custom window treatments, offering end-to-end consultation to meet the specific needs of each customer. The franchise is expanding rapidly, with 30 new locations opening last year.

Before opening the Upstate New York franchise in February of this year, Tim spent 20 years working in the tech industry, selling data security tools to companies.

“I recently left corporate America, and joined with a designer who has over 20 years of experience in the design and window treatment industry,” he said.

Gothca Covered, offers custom window treatments including, draperies, indoor shutters, shades and indoor and outdoor motorized awnings and screens from the leading manufacturers. All can be integrated into broader home automation technologies.

“The Northeast is the largest market for outdoor awnings, and a motorized awning can really transform your outdoor space,” said Schultz. “And, you can put a power screen on your garage door. You just hit a button and the screen comes down.”

By Christine Graf

Common Roots Brewery of South Glens Falls has opened its long-anticipated sister location, the Common Roots Brewery Albany Outpost, at 19 Quakenbush Square in Albany. Located in the former home of the Albany Pump Station, the restaurant and taproom is owned by father and son Bert and Christian Weber. 

The Weber’s purchased the Albany property from the late Cornelius “Neil” Evans, the founder of the C.H. Evans Brewing Albany Pump Station. About 18 months ago, Evans reached out to the Webers, asking if they would be interested in purchasing the building as well as additional business assets.  

“The deal was in the works for a while,” said Christian Weber. “We completed the details of the sale in May but didn’t close on it until November.”

Evans died just one month after the deal was finalized, passing away in June at the age of 78. 

After assuming ownership of the Pump Station, the Webers totally gutted the facility, installing a new kitchen, taproom, and bar. They also added new bathrooms and purchased new furniture for the facility.  

“We reopened at the end of February, rebranded as the Common Roots Brewery Albany Outpost,” said Weber. “We’re really excited because we’ve always wanted to have an outpost facility in the Capital Region. We feel like we’ve created and cultivated this wonderful experience at Common Roots, and we want to create that same experience in Albany.”

By Jill Nagy

Eric Eckardt’s real estate office is “wherever there is the best coffee,”  as he strives to bring great service at low cost through Cleardoor, his new real estate company. 

Cleardoor has no fixed brick and mortar office and, Eckardt said, no fixed levels of management. He meets his clients at coffee shops where “We have a cuppa together,” or at their homes.

Low overhead keeps his costs down. Costs to clients are, typically, a one percent commission for his company and a similar amount—at the customer’s discretion—toward the other broker’s commission. That can save a buyer or seller as much as $20,000 on a typical transaction, compared to the national average commission of five to six percent of the sales price, he estimates.

The company was launched—virtually—last January and sold its first property, a house in Wilton, in less than a week. He reports that there were 20 showings of that house and multiple offers and it sold for more than the asking price.