By Susan Elise Campbell

Greg Goldstein opened the doors of GT Toyz Motor Sports and Marine four years ago and is already expanding the full-service dealership to keep up with growing and shifting demand for motorcycles, motorboats, all terrain vehicles, and other sporty equipment like jet skis and snowmobiles.

All permits are in place and ground-breaking is soon to begin on an expansion that will increase parking space and showroom space for the business at 1537 Route 9 in Halfmoon, and continue to accommodate administrative offices and a growing service department.

There is 7,500 square feet of space now, and Goldstein said he is “trying to figure out how to reconfigure” optimally the property that the business purchased five years ago. He said he is filling in a ravine for parking and wants to consolidate boat storage, which overflow is now across the street and at another rental location.

Goldstein credits the growth of GT Toyz to his retail background selling automobiles for his father, Alan Goldstein of Goldstein Auto Group, a career training that developed an attitude he believes other dealership owners do not have.

By Ann Donnelly

High Rock Wine and Spirits, owned by Ron Murphy and Daniel Munn, will open this month at 2149 Doubleday Ave., Ballston Spa.

The store will be sharing a location with Murphy and Munn’s existing businesses, High Rock Realty and High Rock Property Management.

Each business partner has over 30 years of experience appraising, selling, and managing real estate in the Capital District, and they are now applying their business acumen to wine and spirits. 

For Murphy, the startup of High Rock Wine and Spirits is a return to his roots. He said his grandfather owned breweries up and down the East Coast. It was the family business throughout Murphy’s childhood, and it has always been an interest of his.

The New York Racing Association, Inc. announced that the 40-day summer meet at historic Saratoga Race Course generated more than 1.1 million in paid attendance for the first time since 2018 and nearly $800 million in all-sources handle.

Despite one of the wettest summers in history, which forced an unprecedented 65 races off the turf, all-sources handle totaled $799 million with paid attendance continuing its steady climb to 1,105,683. 

The handle was the third largest in Saratoga’s history while this summer also marked the eighth consecutive season with attendance exceeding 1 million fans, officials said.

“Thanks to the fans who visited Saratoga Race Course over these 40 days, and all those who watched and wagered from home, the popularity of the summer meet continues to exceed all expectations,” said NYRA President and CEO Dave O’Rourke. “The world-class racing held here each summer is made possible by the owners, trainers, jockeys and backstretch community who collectively dedicate so much to the horses and the sport.

“At the same time, the continued success of Saratoga depends upon our ability to continuously enhance equine safety through science and technology,” said O’Rourke. “In the coming months, NYRA will make significant investments in PET scan imaging to identify pre-existing injuries; finalize the path forward regarding the adoption of synthetic surfaces at each venue; and expand the use of biometric wearable devices. Horses, fans and the racing community deserve nothing less.” 

By Paul Post

 First a late-spring killing freeze. Then a devastating, early summer hail storm.

 “I’ve heard many, many stories about lots of orchards that had total loss and won’t even be able to do anything with apples this fall,” said Michelle Wilson, business manager of Hick’s Orchard in Granville. “Some got hit double whammy with the hail storm a few weeks after that freeze. It definitely depends on where you were, your elevation and how cold it got.”

 But Hick’s, like Saratoga Apple in Schuylerville, is the exception this harvest season, whose you-pick business kicked off on Labor Day Weekend, ushering in one of autumn’s most popular family-oriented outdoor activities.

 “We do have a crop,” Wilson said. “I think we’re going to be okay.”

 The U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated 31 counties across New York state, including Washington and Saratoga, as a primary natural disaster area following the late May frost-freeze event. These designations mean that impacted farmers may be eligible for assistance,  including emergency loans from the USDA Farm Service Agency.

Fossil Stone Vineyards & Winery is a new operation at 331 Grange Road in Greenfield Center.

A Sept. 1 ribbon cutting event marked the opening of one of the only combined vineyards and winery in the area. 

At the event, Fossil Stone Vineyards & Winery debuted its Amish-built, timber frame barn, a 720- square foot facility that sits on the 140-acre farm, including seven acres of vineyards and a large horse farm on the property that dates back to 1802.

The winery and vineyard will have a limited calendar of hours this fall and will hold a Harvest Party that is open to the public on Sept. 23. 

The event will feature grape harvesting starting at 10 a.m., followed by evening of food from Mama Mia’s of Saratoga, a cash bar and music from the Greenfield band Nymbis. The business will host a variety of other private parties throughout the year. Starting next spring, the winery will be open for business and tours with more regular hours. For more information or to book, contact 417-849-6692. The new business joins the already-established Fossil Stone Farm, an equestrian operation that opened in 2016.

“It is a dream of ours to combine locally grown wine with our history of horses to make a special place and event venue that warms the heart and calms the soul,” said Mike Spiak, who co-owns the business with his wife, Kelly. They have been working on the idea since 2009. 

Spiak, who was a member of the Air National Guard branch of the U.S. Air Force for 26 years, spent many years as a flight engineer on C130s, flying in the Polar regions for scientific research. He said many stops in New Zealand inspired his love and interest for vineyards, wine, and the grape to glass process, eventually opening his mind to having his own vineyards. 

J. Gregory Connors, a former senior government relations executive for GlobalFoundries U.S., is the new president and CEO of the Saratoga Economic Development Corp.

Connors was senior leader of government relations at GlobalFoundries in Malta for about a decade.

Longtime SEDC president Dennis Brobston retired at the end of 2022 and vice president  Tori Riley headed the group in the interim. Now Connors steps into the role.

“Greg is a lifelong Saratoga County citizen, and he has the experience, professional credentials and network that makes him the right leader,” SEDC board chairman John Munter said in a statement.

Connors was involved in the family real estate business, Connors-Howard Realty, in Mechanicville for a time, followed by a career in public service.

He was Stillwater town supervisor during the time the Luther Forest Technology Park was under development.

“He understands our county and he knows economic development. He’s going to take SEDC to the next level,” Munter said.