PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE
GBJ 9 Broad Street, #7 Glens Falls, NY 12801
VOL. 37 NO. 03
PAID
GLENS FALLS, NY 12801 PERMIT #600
★★ The Business Newspaper of Warren and Washington Counties ★★
www.glensfallsbusinessjournal.com
MAY 2025
‘The Ed’ Opens In Glens Falls As Centerpiece Of Downtown Revitalization And Community Renewal BY PAUL POST The wait is over! Nine years ago, the City of Glens Falls applied for a potentially game-changing $10 million state grant to revitalize downtown. Money came through a year later and in October 2023, following pandemic-related delays, workers broke ground on a new market center, part one of a huge multi-phase effort to transform South Street. On Friday, May 16, hundreds of people gathered to celebrate opening of the Events Downtown Center, nicknamed “The Ed” in honor of the late Ed Bartholomew, the Warren County Economic Development Corporation leader, whose driving force made the project possible. “This property in 2016 was the definition of downtrodden,” Mayor Bill Collins said. “A jumble of rundown buildings, garbage in a parking lot, no residents. Hot Shots was closed, had been abandoned and stripped of all its copper plumbing by vandals. Sandy’s was on its last operating legs and, of course, the so-called incubator building had been closed for over two decades. Look at how far we’ve come.” “Who would have ever believed we would ever have been here amidst all of this progress today? Ed Bartholomew that’s who,” Collins said. “He painted the vision with Mayor (Jack) Diamond, shared the vision with the community, worked with Mayor (Dan) Hall to build forward momentum. After his (Bartholomew’s) untimely death, a coalition of citizens was brought together to continue that progress. Thank God that they did.” One of the center’s primary tenants, Glens Falls Farmers Market, will hold its first event there from 8 a.m. to noon on Saturday, June 7 with a variety of special activities. “I’m really excited about it,” market President Tom Wells said. “It’s going to be a new experience for our customers and vendors. I’m excited about the way the building has turned out. It’s
Mayor Bill Collins unveils the plaque for “The Ed,” a new Glens Falls events center named for the late Ed Bartholomew, honoring his legacy and vision for downtown revitalization. Courtesy Paul Post
deceiving. When you get inside there’s a lot more room than it appears from the outside. It will be awesome when you can open the overhead doors, there’s a little breeze in there with music out back.” The market is currently at Aviation Mall, with 38 vendors, but will have room for more at its new South Street home, creating business opportunities for the region’s growers and producers. “I think it’s going to help out the South Street community, too, all those businesses and local restaurants,” Wells said. “A lot of them use our vendors for their fresh produce.” Gregg Singer and Larissa Ovitt are especially pleased with “The Ed’s” completion. In October
2023, they opened the Golden Monkey Lounge directly across the street, and are counting on the center to generate South Street foot traffic. “We put our stake in the ground a long time ago,” Singer said. “We’ve been waiting for this, it’s finally here and we’re excited.” The center’s unique, leaf-shaped design is an attraction in and of itself. Outside, several large leaf-shaped patterns are found in the surrounding pavement, there’s a setting out front for people to sit and relax, and a performance space at the rear of the property for musicians to entertain crowds. The $4.5 million, 6,000-square-foot structure was built by Latham-based Bunkoff General
Contractors. Chief foreman Mike Cole said the distinctive architecture made it a special, challenging and rewarding project to work on. The handsome interior has huge white pine timbers and cedar ceilings. The $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant has also funded a variety of other work including improved streetscapes, green infrastructure, a mile-long arts trail, SUNY Adirondack culinary program’s move to 14 Hudson Street, and renovation of three other buildings – the former Hot Shots tavern and Sandy’s Clam Bar on South Street, and a business incubator behind Hot Shots on Elm Street. The Hot Shots and Sandy’s buildings will have first-floor commercial space with apartments overhead. When completed, Saratoga Springs-based Bonacio Construction plans to start work on a large, six-story, multi-use building that will wrap around Sandy’s, which includes occupying the parking lot where the Farmer’s Market was previously held. Separately, developer Chris Patten is currently renovating a large building directly across from Hot Shots at the corner of South and Elm streets, with first-floor commercial space and apartments on upper floors. In addition, he’s begun work at the point of land previously occupied by a Rite-Aid store, where South and Broad streets meet. Plans there call for a first-floor parking garage with apartments above, for workforce housing. “Now we have it all – office space, retail space and apartments,” said prominent Glens Falls businessman Ed Moore. “Apartments bring people. People make business.” He described “The Ed” as a “foundational brick in the wall that we’re building on to make this town better and better.” Deputy New York State Secretary of State Continued On Page 15
Revolution Rail Kicks Off 2025 With Adirondack Saratoga Regional YMCA Launches Capital Tours, New Sails-to-Rails Package In Hadley Campaign To Transform Glens Falls Branch
A Revolution Rail bike overlooks the Hudson River on a scenic Adirondack ride, part of the company’s 2025 rail biking season. Revolution Rail Co. has kicked off its 2025 season with the reopening of its three Adirondack rail biking locations in North Creek, Hadley and Thurman.The company, founded in 2017, offers scenic rail biking excursions along historic railroad tracks. Riders travel across bridges, alongside rivers and through Adirondack forests on custom-built,
Courtesy Revolution Rail
pedal-powered rail bikes. Each location offers a different route and landscape, attracting families, couples and group outings throughout the region. Revolution Rail’s popular “Rails to Sails” package, a joint venture with the Lake George Steamboat Company. The experience includes Continued On Page 14
The Saratoga Regional YMCA has launched a $5.5 million Capital Campaign to renovate and expand its Glens Falls Branch, including modern upgrades and a new youth climbing center. The Saratoga Regional YMCA (SRYMCA) is proud to announce the public launch of its Capital Campaign to revitalize and reimagine the Glens Falls Branch—one of the community’s most cherished gathering spaces for over 130 years. With a goal of raising $5.5 million, this ambitious campaign will breathe new life
Courtesy SRYMCA
into the aging facility, ensuring it continues to serve thousands of families, children, and individuals—while expanding our capacity to welcome even more in the years ahead. Planned renovations include modernized locker rooms, enhanced wellness areas, essential infrastructure upgrades, and the addition of an exciting Continued On Page 13