By Paul Post

John Haller never eases into anything.

Fresh out of RPI, he co-founded MapInfo, a tech-based company that quickly grew to 1,000 employees, went public and is now a division of Pitney-Bowes. Then he launched SportsSignUp, an online firm designed to help groups create, grow and manage youth sports programs. It was purchased by Time Inc. and is now called Sports Illustrated Play.

But upon moving to Saratoga Springs, Haller purchased a grand old Victorian home on Union Avenue, and while helping out with renovations he discovered a brand new passion for woodworking.

Leaving software development behind, he’s made an 180-degree about face by jumping into a more blue collar, hands-on type venture called Saratoga Joinery.  Plans call for converting the former Saratoga Children’s Museum at 69 Caroline St., which he purchased for $2 million, into a full-scale community woodworking shop for people to gather, learn about this activity and work on projects of their own.

Much like tech development, Haller said woodworking involves great deal of creative problem solving, just the kind of challenge he enjoys tackling.

“In the end, with software, you have something that works, a program,” he said. “What’s cool with woodworking is that you have something you can actually show people they can understand, like a piece of furniture, something you built. You get to use your hands, feel things, smell things. I find that really super.”

by Jill Nagy

Unified Beerworks at 7 Old Stonebreak Road in Malta has added a kitchen featuring Mexican and South American-inspired dishes. Co-owner Erika Anderson describes the menu as “high-end gourmet tacos” and burritos. 

The kitchen opened with little fanfare in late May and business grew  slowly. 

“It took a little bit for people to know we were out here,” Anderson said. It also gave the owners and chef Michele Hunter a chance to work out the details.

Anderson and her husband and co-owner, Jeff Gannon, began Unified Beerworks as a taproom and tasting room in 2018. Beer is brewed on site. 

According to their website, Gannon prefers hazy New England-style IPAs and and stouts. Anderson is more into “fruity sours and funky saisons.” Brewing began as a hobby and turned into a passion. She was a computer science major with a minor in art and he studied biology.

The Veterans Business Council of the Saratoga County Chamber will host a breakfast program featuring Retired Admiral Phil Davidson at 8 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 2, at the Holiday Inn-Saratoga Springs. 

Admiral Davidson is the former 25th Commander of United States Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM), America’s oldest and largest military combatant command.

The admiral will speak to timely perspectives on Russia, Ukraine, China and Taiwan and what that means for the U.S. economy and what it looks like for the prosperity of the United States.

“The Veterans Business Council of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce is eager to welcome Admiral Davidson. He provides expert perspective on current events that will likely impact our lives and businesses for the foreseeable future”, said Erica Choi, chair of the VBC.

Individual tickets are $25 with sponsorship opportunities available at www.SimpleTix.com/e/vbc-breakfast-tickets-116727.

By Jill Nagy

Sydney Reichart is the new owner of the Shear Gold Salon and Spa at 1456 Route 9P on the north end of Saratoga Lake. 

The salon is a well-established business and Reichart worked there for three years before buying it in April.

The new owner is a licensed cosmetologist who trained at the Paul Mitchell School in Schenectady. She is joined by three other cosmetologists and an esthetician. For now, the four employees work for Reichart on a commission basis but, she said she expects them to be ready to practice on their own at the shop after six months to a year of training. They will have the opportunity to build their own clientele. 

Shear Gold offers a range of hair services—including Hollywood blowouts— as well as facials, eyelash and eyebrow enhancements, makeup, manicures, and “anything that enhances appearance,” she said. 

So far, she said business has been “phenomenal.”  She already had an established clientele and is building from there. She said she “loves it. … We all enjoy coming to work everyday.” 

by Jill Nagy

Visitors to Finishing Touches home decor shop can now enjoy gourmet coffee and home baked treats at the Coffee Bar, recently opened inside the shop. 

The shop is in the Collamer House, an 1880s building at 450 East High St. in Malta near Northway Exit 13.

Owner Shelley Walker expects the coffee bar to enhance the experience of people coming into Finishing Touches, a home design and gift shop. 

The Coffee Bar offers a range of coffees including espresso, latte, and other European style coffee drinks as well as the shop’s house blend, breakfast blend and decaffeinated American-style coffee. Walker said that one of her regular customers is so fond of the low-acid house blend that she buys the coffee beans by the bagful. A house specialty is affogato, vanilla ice cream with espresso poured over it. Hot chocolate and half a dozen varieties of tea are also available. This time of year, anything can be ordered with pumpkin spice flavoring.

The coffee shop has a bar top and cafe tables inside the store and some outdoor seating. Walker plans to add a sofa and chairs. Coffee is also available through the service window of Cookies and Cream, an ice cream shop also housed in Finishing Touches, but slated to close soon for the winter. That outlet presently features cider doughnut sundaes. Walker owns all three businesses and the building.

Walker has been an interior designer for almost 25 years and has had her own shop for 10. She has been at her current location for three years.