Saratoga Business Journal

Bundle Store Increases Space, Has Convenient Parking At Its New Location In Clifton Park

January 8, 2016November 8, 2017

Amber Chaves, right, owner of the Bundle Store in Clifton Park, helps a customer with a ‘babywearing’ device used for carrying infant children.

BY JENNIFER FARNSWORTH

The Bundle Store has a new location at 1789
Route 9 in Clifton Park. Nestled in between Exit 9
and Exit 10 of the Northway, owner Amber Chaves
said the move from Ballston Spa allows for more
space and other positive changes.

Chaves said going from 300 to 1,700 square feet
gives the store a better way to showcase its goods
and more space for classes conducted for mothers.
There is also more parking.

“Before we could only offer on-street parking and
classes sometimes held outside, because of space.
Now we have the room that we need,” said Chaves.

Chaves opened The Bundle Store in 2013. The
business expanded, but has managed to stay true
to its original purpose. Chaves said the reasons
why she started the company are still what is most
important. She wanted to give parents a safe place to
go for advice on baby carrying and natural products
for infants, such as cloth diapers.

Saratoga Prosperity Partnership Focuses On Plan To Attract, Retain Saratoga County Jobs

January 8, 2016November 8, 2017

This is the logo of the relatively new Saratoga Prosperity Partnership, formed by the Saratoga
County Board of Supervisors to deal with economic development issues in the county.

BY R.J. DELUKE

A two-year plan for promoting economic growth,
devised by Saratoga Prosperity Partnership and
presented last month, is something the economic
development organization says will “propel Saratoga
County forward” in its quest to attract more business
while at the same time retaining jobs at existing
businesses.

Martin Vanags, president of the group created in
2014 by the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors,
said that while the program was formally unveiled
in December, its implementation started earlier in
the year and is ongoing.

It was developed with assistance from the consulting
firm TIPS Strategies out of Austin, Texas,
Vanags said. The plan involves brainstorming with
business and government leaders to best focus on
the targeted goals.

“We are about this plan,” he said about the Partnership,
“putting our nose to the grindstone and
moving forward.”

'Great Tang's' In Price Chopper Plaza Is New Restaurant Offering Varied Asian Cuisine

January 8, 2016November 8, 2017

Peter Chen right, and Qing Chen operate
Great Tang’s restaurant in Saratoga Springs.

BY LIZ WITBECK

Great Tang’s, a new restaurant in Saratoga
Springs, brings Asian cuisine to the Spa City.

The establishment opened in October in the
Price Chopper Plaza at 127 Ballston Avenue.
It offers a variety of Chinese, Japanese, and
Thai food.

Owner Peter Chen grew up in China, and
moved to New York City. It was there that he
began his career in the food industry. He has
been working in restaurants since 1998. He
has owned restaurants in New York City and
Pennsylvania, but wanted a change of pace.

“I wanted to try something new,” said Chen.

Priority One Payroll Inhabits Larger Space At New Office In Parade Ground Village In Malta

January 8, 2016November 29, 2017

Jeannine Dubiac, in the foreground, poses with staff at the company’s new offices at 3 Hemphill
Place in the Parade Ground Village complex in Malta.

BY JILL NAGY

Priority One Payroll, an eight-year-old payroll
service company, has moved to new, larger officers
in Malta but things have been too busy for
them to show off the new space to the public.

“We love our new space,” company head Jeannine
Dubiac said, and she hopes to have an open
house and ribbon-cutting in the spring.

The company moved its offices from the Village
of Ballston Spa to 3 Hemphill Place in the
Parade Ground Village complex on Route 9 near
Northway Exit 12.

The move from a 700-square-foot office to
1,700 square feet of space was prompted by the
company’s growth. It allowed the business to add
new employees and to install camera security
and other security systems to protect clients’
confidential information.

Adirondack Trust Community Fund Awards Grants to 23 Local Nonprofit Organizations

January 8, 2016November 8, 2017

The Independent Advisory Committee of
the Adirondack Trust Co. Community Fund
has awarded Lend-A-Hand Grants to 23 local
nonprofit organizations.

The grants were presented at the fund’s annual
grant award reception in December. Directors or
representatives of the organizations were present
at the reception and spoke briefly about their
respective organization’s mission and how the
grant will support their particular cause.

Grant awards were provided to:

Comfort Inn And Suites In Clifton Park Adds Restaurant For Customers And Local Events

January 8, 2016November 8, 2017

Comfort Inn and Suites at 7 Northside Drive in Clifton Park now has a restaurant offering
breakfast, lunch and dinner. The space is also available for weddings, shower and business events.

BY JENNIER FARNSWORTH

The Comfort Inn and Suites in Clifton Park
now has a full-service restaurant and banquet
facility for customers.

After several construction delays, the
American Bistro is now open for business at
the hotel.

The grand opening was scheduled for Jan.
11.

Restaurant owner Frank Ciaccio comes to
the hotel with 12 years of training restaurant
managers with the Cheesecake Factory. Ciaccio
said he trained at eight different locations and
is ready for both the change and the challenge
of opening a new restaurant.

He will have between 30 to 35 people on
staff.

Saratoga Casino & Raceway Will Have Morton's Steakhouse When New Hotel Opens This Year

January 8, 2016November 29, 2017

The new hotel at Saratoga Casino & Raceway is under construction and scheduled for opening
this summer. When it does, Morton’s The Steakhouse will be one of its restaurant choices.

Saratoga Casino and Raceway announced
that a Morton’s The Steakhouse will operate the
feature restaurant inside the casino’s $40 million
hotel expansion.

Both the hotel and Morton’s The Steakhouse
are on track to open for the summer of 2016,
casino officials said.

Morton’s The Steakhouse opened its first
restaurant in 1978. Its menu features USDA
prime-aged beef, fresh seafood and hand-picked
produce.

“We are proud to be able to offer our guests
‘the best steak anywhere’ right here in Saratoga
Springs,” said Tom Wiedmayer, general manager
of Saratoga Casino and Raceway. “Morton’s The
Steakhouse shares our core goal of providing
unique and special experiences to each and every
one of our guests and we couldn’t imagine a more
perfect fit for our property or our community.”

Cuomo: Increase In 'Taste NY' Events Boosted Sales Of NY State-Made Food And Beverages

January 8, 2016November 29, 2017

Taste NY events in 2015 helped triple gross
sales of participating vendors in 2015, including
its presence at Saratoga Race Course, according
to the office of Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

In less than one year, total gross sales of New
York products from Taste NY events and stores
jumped from approximately $1.5 million in 2014
to over $4.5 million today, according to the state.

“The momentum behind Taste NY continues
and is helping to expand New York’s thriving
food and beverage industry faster than anyone
thought possible,” Cuomo said. “I’m proud that
our ambitious sales goal has been reached and
that these efforts are helping to create jobs, support
farmers and small businesses, and get the
word out about the world-class products made
right here in New York.”

Last year, Cuomo called for the further
development of Taste NY in order to continue
strengthening New York’s growing food and
beverage industry. The plan added four new
Taste NY stores, increased marketing opportunities,
established several new partnerships and
strengthened connections to consumers across
the globe, officials said.

KeyBank Will Keep Mortgage Operations In Buffalo After Purchasing First Niagara Financial

January 8, 2016November 8, 2017

KeyBank, in the process of purchasing First
Niagara Financial Group announced in December
it plans to keep mortgage operations in Buffalo
where First Niagara Bank is based.

KeyBank, a wholly owned subsidiary of KeyCorp, with various offices in Saratoga County,
said it will leverage and expand First Niagara
Bank’s mortgage capabilities as it completes
First Niagara’s merger into Key.

Officials said that although it is too soon to
know exactly how many jobs the Buffalo mortgage
operations will entail, it is anticipated that
initially approximately 300 employees will be
needed to ensure all functions are covered.

KeyCorp and First Niagara Financial Group
announced on Oct. 30, 2015, an agreement for
Key to purchase the Buffalo-based bank, subject
to shareholder and regulatory approvals. Key
recently announced a plan to bring its currently
outsourced mortgage fulfillment operations into
the organization. The scope of the project will
now leverage First Niagara’s servicing platform
systems and expertise after the merger occurs.

Integrative Vision Therapy Owners See Eye Problems As A Factor In Learning Disorders

January 8, 2016May 11, 2023

Dr. Howard Kushner and Sherry Sherlock operate Integrative Vision Therapy in Saratoga Springs,
specializing in behavioral optometry and how improved vision can enhance a person’s abilities.

BY LIZ WITBECK

With many children in the United States struggling
academically, parents are looking for answers
to help their children. Academic struggles and
learning disorders are frequently linked to vision
problems, according to Dr. Howard Kushner and
Sherry Sherlock, who operate Integrative Vision
Therapy in Saratoga Springs.

As vision therapists, they specialize in behavioral
optometry and how improved vision can
enhance a person’s abilities in the classroom,
workplace, and life.

“Eighty to 94 percent of students who struggle
have vision issues,” said Dr. Kushner. “Many
children receive occupational therapy, physical
therapy. But they won’t progress if there is a vision
problem.”

Integrative Vision Therapy relocated in August
from offices in Clifton Park to Saratoga Springs.
They are now located at 3 Franklin Square, on
the first floor.