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Spirit Halloween Stores Bring Seasonal Shelters Of Saratoga Launches $8 Million Shopping Boost To Capital Region Retailers Campaign For Permanent Code Blue Shelter
A Spirit Halloween display highlights the retailer’s seasonal presence as record Halloween spending brings added traffic and sales to stores and shopping centers throughout the Saratoga region. BY PAUL POST Americans are expected to spend a record $13.5 billion on Halloween this year, exceeding last year’s total by $400 million. New Jersey-based Spirit Halloween, operates more than 1,550 locations in the United States and Canada, including stores in Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park and Queensbury. Its Saratoga Springs store is at 155 Ballston Ave., while the Clifton Park location occupies a former Rite Aid store at 1701 Route 9. In Queensbury, Spirit Halloween opened in early August in the former Bon-Ton space at Aviation Mall. The company, founded by Joseph Marver in 1983, was acquired by Spencer Gifts in 1999. Its seasonal operations create thousands of jobs annually while bringing additional shoppers and revenue to shopping centers and retail plazas. Spirit Halloween’s presence also benefits neighboring businesses.
Courtesy Paul Post
“The growing traffic they bring while they’re here is very substantial,” said Shannon Stafford, Aviation Mall manager. “We always appreciate them coming to the mall.” About 74% of Americans celebrate Halloween, with spending averaging approximately $115 per person. National spending is projected at $4.4 billion for costumes, $4.3 billion for decorations, $4.1 billion for candy and $800 million for greeting cards. Major retailers such as Walmart and Lowe’s also participate in the seasonal market, selling decorations ranging from colored lights to 12-foot-tall skeletons. Halloween parties and community events generate additional business for supermarkets and other retailers. Costume selections reflect entertainment, gaming, social media and nostalgia, as retailers respond to changing consumer preferences. Continued On Page 11
Shelters of Saratoga leaders and community partners break ground on a permanent Code Blue shelter in Saratoga Springs, part of an $8 million campaign to create a 75-bed facility opening in 2027. Shelters of Saratoga broke ground Oct. 1 on a permanent Code Blue shelter at 116 Ballston Avenue in Saratoga Springs and launched the public phase of Blue, the Color of Hope, an $8 million capital campaign to fund the facility. The planned 25,000-square-foot, 75-bed shelter will provide a permanent home for Saratoga County’s Code Blue program. Shelters of Saratoga has operated the program from multiple temporary locations for more than a decade. The facility will provide winter shelter and space for on-site case management, housing navigation and other services intended to help guests move toward stability. Plans include dedicated sleeping areas, accessible facilities, a commercial kitchen, and space for case management and resource navigation. “This groundbreaking represents years of persistence, partnership and a shared belief that our community can provide a safe and dignified response to homelessness,” said Stephanie Romeo, Execu-
Coutresy Shelters of Saratoga
tive Director of Shelters of Saratoga. “A permanent Code Blue shelter gives us the stability to focus our resources where they belong: on the people we serve and helping them move toward greater stability and independence.” The $8 million campaign will fund design and construction of the shelter. Saratoga County separately invested approximately $3 million to acquire the Ballston Avenue property. As of Oct. 1, Shelters of Saratoga had raised $4.3 million toward its campaign goal and was seeking the remaining $3.7 million from individuals, businesses, foundations and community partners. “For years, our community has come together each winter to make sure our neighbors have somewhere safe to go when temperatures become dangerous,” said Leona Beck, Capital Campaign Co-Chair. “Today, we are moving beyond a temporary solution and building something lasting. Raising $4.3 million Continued On Page 10
Siena Research Institute Measures New York Hudson Valley Community College Formally Consumer Sentiment At 65.6 This Quarter Inaugurates Brophy As Eighth President The New York State Index of Consumer Sentiment was 65.6 in the third quarter of 2026, down 0.9 points from the second quarter, according to the Siena Research Institute. The state index was 17.5 points above the national index of 48.1, which declined 1.4 points. New York’s current conditions index fell 0.8 points to 61.0, while the measure of future expectations fell 1.0 point to 68.6. New York’s overall index remained below the breakeven point between optimism and pessimism for the seventh consecutive quarter. Compared with the third quarter of 2025, the overall index fell from 68.3 to 65.6. The current conditions index fell from 67.8 to 61.0, while the future expectations index was unchanged at 68.6. Consumer buying plans for major purchases were mostly steady from the second quarter. Plans to buy an automobile were 20.6%, down 0.2 percentage points, and plans to buy furniture were 29.5%, down 0.3 points. Plans to buy consumer electronics fell 2.6 points to 44.1%, while homebuying plans fell 0.5 points to 10.2%. Plans for a major home improvement increased to 27.2% from 23.9%. Compared with last year, most buying plans were within 1 percentage point of prior levels, except major home improvements, which rose from 23.3% to 27.2%. Grocery prices remained the expense most often cited as having a very or somewhat serious impact on respondents’ financial condition, at 77%, down from 78%. Utilities were cited by 72%, unchanged from the previous quarter; housing by 70%, up from 69%; and gas by 64%, up from 63%. Entertainment and
streaming services were cited by 48%, unchanged, and cell phone costs by 38%, down from 40%. Fifty-three percent of New Yorkers said monthly living expenses for food, utilities and housing were having a very or somewhat serious impact on their financial condition, unchanged from the prior quarter. Twenty-one percent said all six measured monthly expenses — food, gas, housing, utilities, entertainment and cell phones — were weighing heavily on their finances, down from 24%. The Siena University Poll was conducted Sept. 1-Oct. 3, 2026, among 808 New York state residents. Of the respondents, 382 were contacted through a dual-frame landline and cell phone mode, including 159 who completed the survey by text to web, and 426 were drawn from a proprietary online panel, Cint. Telephone sampling used a stratified dual-frame probability sample of landline and cell phone numbers. Data from collection modes was weighted to match New York state population estimates from the Census Bureau’s 2023 U.S. American Community Survey on age, region, race and ethnicity, and gender. The sample also was weighted to current party registration patterns using New York State Board of Elections data. The poll has an overall margin of error of plus or minus 3.8 percentage points, including design effects from weighting. Sampling error is one of multiple potential sources of error in public opinion polling. Provided by Siena Research Institute; edited for style and length. Details at http://www.siena.edu/sri/ cci
Hudson Valley Community College formally installed Dr. Michael S. Brophy as its eighth president at an Oct. 13 ceremony at the McDonough Sports Complex Field House in Troy. Dr. Brophy took office Aug. 1, 2025, bringing more than 35 years of higher education leadership experience. He previously served as president of Hilbert College, Benedictine University and Marymount California University. The ceremony included remarks by SUNY Chancellor Dr. John B. King Jr. and college and regional leaders, as well as an address and piano performance by Dr. Brophy. The college recorded its fifth consecutive year of enrollment growth. It expanded access to SUNY’s Advancing Success in Associate Pathways program, serving more than 300 Hudson Valley students. During his first year, Dr. Brophy established the President’s Advisory Council, recruited leaders in several administrative areas and led a workforce development study examining Capital Region employers’ needs. The college finalized a facilities master plan and advanced the 125,000-squarefoot Applied Technology Education Center, which is scheduled to open in spring 2028 and expand training in advanced manufac-
Dr. Michael Brophy, eighth president of Hudson Valley Community College in Troy, New York. Courtesy HVCC
turing and skilled trades. The Hudson Valley Community College Foundation purchased the Massry Center for the Arts in Albany, aided by a $1 million Massry family pledge. Provided by Hudson Valley Community College; edited for style and length.
2 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2026
9 Broad St. Glens Falls, NY 12803 (518) 581-0600 • Fax: (518) 430-3020 • www.saratogabusinessjournal.com Editorial & Advertising: HarryW@saratogabusinessjournal.com Press Releases: pressreleases@saratogabusinessjournal.com Publisher & Editor Harry Weinhagen Editor Emeritus Rod Bacon Sales and Customer Service Harry Weinhagen Mary Longley Production Manager Graphic Precision Contributing Writers Susan Campbell Lee Coleman Carol Ann Conover Ann Donnelly Paul Post
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Personnel Briefs
Fenimore Asset Management, an independent investment advisory firm based in New York’s Capital Region and manager of the FAM Funds family of mutual funds, has hired Shikha Garg as an Investment Research Associate. Garg conducts company-level research and evaluates businesses to support the construction of equity portfolios. Before joining Fenimore, Garg was a Private Equity Intern at Scava Capital, an Equity Research Intern at Fenimore Asset Management, and an Associate for Investment Research Solutions at Fidelity International. She holds a Bachelor of Management Studies in Finance from the University of Delhi College of Business Studies and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Provided by Fenimore Asset Management; edited for style and length.
Saratoga Business Journal is published monthly, the second week of each month, by Weinhagen Associates, LLC and mailed to business and professional people in Saratoga County. Saratoga Business Journal is independently owned and is a registered tradename of Weinhagen Associates, LLC, 9 Broad St. #7, Glens Falls, NY 12801 (518) 581-0600. Saratoga Business Journal is a registered tradename in New York. Saratoga Business Journal has been founded to promote business in Saratoga County and to provide a forum that will increase the awareness of issues and activities that are of interest to the business community. Subscription price is $25.00 per year. Third class postage paid at Glens Falls, New York. Rights to editorial content and layouts of advertising placed with Saratoga Business Journal which are the creative effort of its contractors, and printing materials supplied by Saratoga Business Journal are the property of Saratoga Business Journal and may not be reproduced by photographic or similar methods, or otherwise, without the specific authorization of Saratoga Business Journal.
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The Wesley Community announced that Marianne Barker has been appointed to its Board of Directors in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. A longtime Saratoga Springs resident, Barker is the founder of Impressions of Saratoga and Dark Horse Mercantile, two downtown retail businesses. Barker has experience in business management, customer service, marketing and community engagement, along with a history of volunteer service and board leadership. She has served as chair
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of Discover Saratoga and on boards of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority and the Saratoga Springs Special Assessment District. Most recently, Barker served as a member of The Wesley Foundation 2026 Toasts and Tides Gala Committee. Barker was recognized in 2025 as a New York State Senate Woman of Distinction recipient. Provided by The Wesley Community; edited for style and length. *
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Roohan Realty has added Bridget Naughton as a licensed real estate salesperson. Naughton is a lifelong Saratoga Springs resident and a 2020 Boston College graduate with degrees in mathematics and secondary education. She previously interned with Roohan Realty’s marketing department. Her mother, Kate Naughton, is the firm’s top-producing agent. Naughton spent five years teaching mathematics in Boston before returning home to be closer to family. She will teach eighth-grade math at Stillwater while working in real estate. She said she hopes to build relationships with clients and help families find homes. Outside work, she enjoys baking, skiing and crafting. Founded in 1969, Roohan Realty has more than 50 licensed agents and serves residential and commercial clients from 519 Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. Provided by Roohan Realty; edited for style and length.
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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2026 • 3
Ward Family Opens Saratoga Marble Company New Country Toyota Plans Major Expansion In Wilton After Decades In Stone Industry And Renovation Of Its Wilton Dealership
The Ward family, from left, Zavry, Jim, Brianna and Bryant, has launched Saratoga Marble Company in Wilton, drawing on more than two decades of stone industry experience and family expertise. BY CAROL ANN CONOVER When the Ward family opened a stone business of their own this year, they didn’t start from scratch. They started with more than two decades of relationships and hands-on experience. Jim Ward, his wife, Brianna, and their sons Bryant and Zavry have launched Quarry Collective, doing business as Saratoga Marble Company, a natural stone distributor and slab showroom at 1 Commerce Park Drive in Wilton, just off Exit 16 of the Northway. The family planned a soft opening for Oct. 19. The family had talked “for about 10 years about doing it on our own,” Jim Ward said, but the timing didn’t line up until earlier this year. Bryant had graduated, and Brianna, who had opened her own business before, was ready to retire from her hair salon and bring that startup experience to the family venture. Jim Ward entered the industry more than 21 years ago after moving back to the area from Boston. He learned it from the supplier side while building ties with fabricators, installers, kitchen dealers, builders and architects, even training on the fabrication floor to understand their work. In 2017, he opened a local branch for his former employer. “I’m not necessarily a salesperson. I feel like I’m more of a consultant,” he said. “I’m friends with the people I do business with.” That mindset carried into how the Wards raised their sons. “We’ve always encouraged our kids to kind of bet on themselves,” Jim Ward said. Zavry tagged along on sales calls as a boy, with simple instructions: “If they ask for two, you’re trying to sell them six.” Bryant, who earned a degree in entrepreneurship from Elon University in December 2024, spent high school and college summers driving a forklift in the warehouse where his father worked. About 18 months ago, he partnered with a urethane manufacturer to develop Top Guard LLC, a protective film for marble and other delicate stone. Marble contains calcium, so acidic spills can leave a textured, discolored etch. “People love marble, but once they hear about sometimes the probability of that happening, it kind of turns them from it,” Bryant Ward said. According to Bryant Ward, the film is applied after installation and is designed to prevent etching and staining, resist UV yellowing and impacts, and repair light surface scratches when
Courtesy Saratoga Marble
heated. Ward said the film fully cures in 24 to 48 hours. Bryant Ward has also done restoration work for Adirondack Trust Co., and Top Guard LLC offers a certified sealing program with a warranty for other natural stone. Zavry, studying business and supply chain management, will handle overseas purchasing with quarries. Jim and Brianna Ward will run operations at the showroom, and Bryant will be what his father calls “the new face of the company.” The market is shifting, too. Antidumping and countervailing duties have applied to certain Chinese quartz surface products since 2019. A four-year federal tariff-rate quota system for covered imported quartz surface products took effect Aug. 15, 2026. In its first year, the system generally imposes a 25% duty on imports within quarterly quotas and a 50% duty on imports exceeding those quotas, with exemptions for certain countries. “As the months go by here, the quartz pricing is going to increase significantly,” Jim Ward said. The company will carry quartz and porcelain, but its focus is natural stone, hand-selected on trips as far as Brazil and Italy. The family has also gone into the mines in Danby, Vermont, home of the world’s largest underground marble quarry, to choose slabs. “We’re going to be the closest supplier of Vermont Danby anywhere,” Jim Ward said. “Getting a slice of earth to be able to put in your home, there’s nothing like it,” he said. The building, a former metal fabrication shop, has two 10-ton overhead cranes, which free up the floor space forklifts would need so more full slabs can be displayed. The location also gives buyers from Lake George, Lake Placid and Vermont a closer option. For now, the family does everything, including deliveries in a red flatbed they call “Big Red.” They plan to hire front-end staff and a truck driver as the business grows and to join the Saratoga County Chamber. The goal is a personal experience over sales volume. “We can help their kitchen feel like home,” Bryant Ward said. For the family, the mission is simple. “Bringing Earth’s art into people’s homes is what really we want to do,” they said. Hours and contact information will be posted at www.SaratogaMarble.com.
BY ANN DONNELLY New Country Toyota is preparing for a modernization project that will consolidate operations into a single, updated facility designed to improve customer service and expand capacity in Saratoga County. The dealership, located off Interstate 87 at Exit 15 in Wilton, plans to break ground in the spring of 2027 on a comprehensive overhaul of its mechanic and body shop facility. Project managers expect to complete construction by the end of 2027, with full operations transitioning into the new space in early 2028. New Country Toyota General Manager Joe Crisafulli said the development will transform the property’s current layout. The dealership currently operates across separate structures: a sales showroom and service drive-through waiting area on one side of the parcel, and a separate mechanic shop, body shop and parts department two buildings over. “We kind of have a funky little setup here,” Crisafulli said. “We’re actually going to be renovating that building, tearing down a small portion of it to update it and put all the departments under one roof down there.” The finished facility will encompass about 34,300 square feet, creating a modern operation under one roof designed to streamline dealership workflow and improve the customer experience. “It’s going to be a completely new building like most of the newer Toyota dealerships,” Crisafulli said. “Toyota’s been a great partner to us over the years. We’ve been a dealership here in the Saratoga area for quite some time — it’s got to be about 40 years now — and we want to bring the customer experience up to the next level to what a buyer expects these days.” The project will upgrade amenities across all operational areas, including fully air-conditioned technician service bays. “Unfortunately, our buildings are a little outdated,” Crisafulli said. “We’re going to have some new amenities here, especially in the technician service areas where it’s going to be fully air-conditioned to give everybody just a
better experience all the way around.” The dealership currently employs 50 to 55 people. Management plans to hire more employees ahead of the opening to ensure new personnel are fully trained once construction finishes. “We expect to not only increase our sales but also our service business as well, to be able to have the capacity to service more vehicles on a daily basis,” Crisafulli said. “I’m hiring everybody from salespeople to technicians right now, even valets just to park cars. I have ads posted all over the place, and I’m hiring as many people as I can get at this point.” “With the new building, Toyota’s going to give us extra allocations,” Crisafulli said. “They’re supporting us as well to grow the business and service the area.” New Country Toyota operates as part of the Saratoga Springs-based New Country Motor Car Group, an independent automotive group with 29 locations across six states. The Cantanucci family owns the group, which is headquartered on Broadway in downtown Saratoga Springs. “We’re not a company that’s corporately owned by some company out of Texas,” Crisafulli said. “We’re based right here out of Saratoga, and the Cantanucci family grew the dealerships around this and expanded from our local area here outward.” The Wilton project follows recent investments by New Country Motor Car Group across the Capital Region, including new Lexus and Porsche facilities in Latham. “I’ve been able to walk through both those dealerships to kind of get a feel for what’s going to be here, and it is just night and day,” Crisafulli said. “Everybody in this building is so excited for it and can’t wait.” New Country Motor Car Group owns the land housing the Wilton dealership complex. While parent company leadership holds longterm redevelopment plans for parcels next to the Toyota property, dealership management said decisions about neighboring structures rest with corporate leadership.
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4 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2026
Entrepreneurial Women Saratoga Springs Artist Licenses Whimsical Queensbury Developer Builds Rental Portfolio Designs to National Consumer Companies And Pursues Downtown Housing Conversion BY ROD BACON A Saratoga Springs woman has used her artistic talent to build a business creating designs for prominent companies around the world. Since 2021, Dominika Godette has provided original designs for products ranging from fabrics to greeting cards to home decor. Her clients include American Greetings, T.J. Maxx, Wilson Jeux, PicCollage, Hawthorne Supply Co. and Orange Circle Studio, among others. Godette makes her work available to clients in two ways. As a licensing artist, she creates marketable designs for her portfolio. When a client selects one, she licenses it for a specific period. When the license expires, the rights revert to her, and her name remains attached to the artwork. “I do a lot of drawings that can recall memories of holidays, things like little villages that could end up on a Christmas product,” she said. She also does commissioned work for companies that request specific motifs. She submits preliminary sketches and, once they are approved, provides the finished design. In that case, the company owns the rights to the artwork. “Right now I’m working on Fourth of July prints for a company that makes paper products for parties,” she said. Her fees range from $500 for a simple design to nearly $6,000 for a complex one. She primarily markets her work online, but she has gained significant clients through trade shows. “When I first started my business I posted some of my work on Instagram thinking it wouldn’t go anywhere but a company reached out to me and licensed some of my work,” she said. “Then, in 2023, I attended a licensing trade show in New York City where big companies would buy artwork for their upcoming seasons. I got T.J. Maxx and other clients there.” She said that show was replaced by DesignBLOC, a smaller event that still offers opportunities to meet potential clients. She also participates in online trade shows. “I think the trend is moving toward online trade shows,” she said. Born in the Czech Republic, Godette grew up surrounded by art books and hands-on artistic work. Her father, Karel Hrubes, is a painter and fine art restoration expert who still lives in Cesky Krumlov, the medieval town where she grew up. “My father studied painting and restoration at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague,”
Dominika Godette, Saratoga Springs artist and illustrator, licenses designs to brands. Saratoga Business Journal
she said. “There were always lots of books on art in our house and I loved watching him work. He encouraged me to become an artist.” She earned a degree in art history from Charles University in Prague. She met her husband, Brad Godette, in Prague, where he was teaching English. They married in 2015, and their children, Barbora and David, were born there. The COVID-19 pandemic prompted a move to London in 2020 and then to Saratoga Springs, Brad’s hometown, in 2022. Godette also has contributed to two books by local authors. Shortly after moving to Saratoga Springs, Godette was approached by Jilly Sansone, an occupational therapist and yoga and mindfulness meditation teacher, to illustrate a book. Sansone had been telling her younger students stories during special Christmas yoga classes and wanted to publish them. She asked Godette to create illustrations for young readers. The resulting book, published in 2023, is “Santa and Rudolph’s Yoga Adventure.” It encourages readers to practice yoga poses and exercises to improve focus and strength. It is available at Northshire Bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Walmart and online. “It was really exciting and fun,” Godette said. “We’re actually working on a new book called ‘I’m Here,’ a meditation book for children.” She also created the cover for “On This Continued On Page 5
BY CAROL ANN CONOVER In 2009, Andrea Harwood charged $18,500 to a credit card to buy a single-wide trailer in serious disrepair. Newly a single mother of two young children, she had lost her home and was struggling to finish college with little money. The trailer stood on its own tax parcel rather than a rented lot, giving her reason to believe the property could retain its resale value. Harwood saw potential in a property others might have passed over. “And I knew I could make it decent,” Harwood said. She replaced rotted subflooring, repaired burst pipes, patched a roof and taught herself to tile. “This experience solidified within me that I could figure anything out, no matter what, and that renovating distressed properties is not only very doable, but very satisfying,” she said. That first renovation launched a real estate business that now owns rental properties across Warren, Washington and Saratoga counties. Based in Queensbury, Casa Bella Development LLC focuses on attainable rental housing and the rehabilitation of existing properties. In 2012, Harwood bought another home through a pre-foreclosure short sale, renovated it with help from her children and rented out the first property. “I was hooked,” she said. Harwood built the portfolio as a sole proprietor before establishing the LLC in April 2026. After working as a financial adviser and in retail banking, she moved into the real estate business full time in January 2023. “My highest personal value is autonomy,” she said. “I work very, very hard and I had no interest in dedicating my intense work ethic to someone else’s vision.” Her commitment to housing is personal. Harwood spent much of her childhood homeless, living with her mother and younger sister in a car, tents and shelters in Southern California before the family traveled across the country in a small motorhome. At 16, she secured her own place in South Carolina while working full time and attending high school. “If you do not know where your next meal will come from and do not know for sure if you have a safe place to sleep at night, it is extraordinarily difficult to focus on anything else in life,” she said. She later served seven years on the board of the Open Door Mission, a homeless shelter and soup kitchen, and three years as vice president of a Habitat for Humanity board. She also worked for Habitat for a year as director of development and site acquisition. “It is not lost on me that the work I find the most meaningful is work that solves the most critical problems of my childhood self,” she said.
Andrea Harwood, owner of Casa Bella Development, renovates rental properties across the region. Courtesy Carol Ann Conover
Casa Bella targets workforce housing. Harwood generally sets rents just below market rates, using the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s annual Fair Market Rent report as a benchmark. She also performs much of the renovation work and has financed her projects independently. “I have done all of my own renovation work with my own two manicured hands, have financed all of my projects by myself and have built this modest real estate portfolio myself,” Harwood said. “Yet I get chronic questions and assumptions about having a husband or boyfriend who is doing all the manual labor and heavy lifting.” Her advice to women considering real estate development or investment is emphatic: “DO IT.” “It is my absolute favorite get rich slow scheme,” she said. Among Casa Bella’s current efforts is the rehabilitation of an older multifamily property into five new apartments intended for households earning 80% or less of area median income. The project has partial support from a state housing grant. Harwood expects to complete the work in early 2027. “I am excited to be able to provide beautiful brand new apartments at a rate that moderate and lower income renters can reasonably afford,” she said. Harwood is using subcontractors on the project for the first time while continuing to carry out much of the work herself. She plans a community showcase once the apartments are complete. Continued On Page 5
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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2026 • 5
Clifton Park Entrepreneur Expands Grit Fitness Through Group Training Model BY SUSAN ELISE CAMPBELL A new coach-led adult fitness center, Grit Fitness at 1208 Route 146 in Clifton Park, suggests there is plenty of room for an independent fitness business by opening with 250 presale members and growing to more than 400 total members in six months. Founder Lynsey Abbale has been coaching for 20 years, and Grit is her first wholly owned business. She said her strategy of selling advance memberships is one that some larger franchises use when launching a new location. “Being a coach in the area for so long, I had a group I could potentially pull from to create some excitement and buzz,” she said. Abbale’s plan was to offer a guaranteed discount price to the first 100 spots given away or sold before the grand opening. These “founders” can renew every four weeks at $120 and the rate remains “for life,” said Abbale. They also enjoy the advantage of booking one day in advance. “These sold within six minutes of announcing the launch,” she said. “In fact, it crashed our web site.” Abbale honored pre-sale pricing for 150 spots instead. “This wasn’t on my Bingo card for opening up my business, but it was unbelievable,” she said. After that cutoff, the fee increased to the grand opening price. Abbale said she researched different pricing models and opened with 250 members. Standard pricing has applied since then, but Abbale said there is a discount for buying a full year of group fitness in advance instead of paying as they go. Membership has reached 465, which includes sales of packages of eight classes. Grit Fitness is a place to take group classes with people who share goals of getting stronger, increasing their mobility, and living longer. “I’ve been an athlete all my life, and as we age and move differently our fitness goals can change,” she said. “I couldn’t find a gym offering the pain-free performance workout I was looking for, so I decided to create it.” Grit’s functional fitness classes combine a range of strength, mobility, and cardiovascular training, so it is “well rounded,” Abbale said. “Cardio is an important component for a person’s independence and longevity.” Members are 35 to 45 years old on average, and people of all ages and ability levels are welcome. Abbale has enrolled a few high school students, but a 14 or 15-year-old must
come with a parent, she said. The oldest member so far is a 76-year-old woman, who is “absolutely incredible.” When Abbale’s career took an entrepreneurial turn, she knew she was entering a male-dominated industry. “Women have been the more frequent group class participants but the classes are typically run by men,” she said. “But the tide is changing,” said Abbale. “Around here there are fitness centers and yoga studios by women who are breaking the mold.” Abbale said she thinks of herself as “a business owner, not a woman with a business.” She said being a woman in the industry is, on balance, “neither an advantage nor a disadvantage” from a business standpoint. For female clients, however, she understands how a woman’s physiology changes with age. She also embraces the challenge “to design workouts that a male could get stronger with,” she said. “I can carry a certain level of empathy. People don’t realize that empathy and strength are synonyms, not opposites,” she said. Abbale knew that staffing the fitness center would be challenging but underestimated the importance of hiring the right people, she said. “As you build your reputation in the early months, the most important need is finding people who align with your goals and vision,” she said. “Being professional, being on time, and doing things right are the standards and culture we are holding to.” “Over the years so many different mentors have made an impact on who I am as a human, which is exactly what I try to bring into my business,” she said. “The best advice I have gotten from these individuals as I was opening Grit Fitness was to trust my instincts.” The staff includes a full-time coach, a fulltime studio manager, and four part-time coaches “who are compassionate people who do this because they love it,” she said. They have backgrounds in physical therapy, medical sales, and real estate. Members come for coaching and workouts and leave feeling energized and supported, she said. “I think every single person at Grit feels a sense of family where the walls block out the problems outside and inside there is no pressure or stress,” she said. “You can’t manufacture genuine friendships and community.” Fitness is a “giant” industry and Abbale said advice varies on how to “live well, move
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Spot: Saratoga Springs,” a book by her mother-in-law, Carol Godette, published in 2024. It compiles observations and insights the author gathered while writing On This Spot, a column in Simply Saratoga Magazine. Godette plans to finish the book she is working on and may illustrate another. She
also wants to expand into drawings and paintings for home decor. “I really enjoy what I’m doing, though,” she said. “The projects are a lot of fun and offer me a lot of flexibility and creativity. For more information about Dominika Godette Illustration, visit dominikagodette.com.
Rental Portfolio She sees opportunity across the region in twoto eight-unit Class B multifamily buildings, which she believes could appeal to renters seeking alternatives to higher-priced luxury units. She believes that “when times get tough and people need to reduce their living costs, replacing Class A luxury rent with Class B ‘regular person’
rent is a very logical choice that I believe many people will make in the next few years as we all tighten our economic belts.” “I have predicted 25 of the last 2 recessions, so take everything I say with a grain of salt,” she joked. Rising acquisition costs have led to more rejected offers, but Harwood continues to look for opportunities to expand. She hopes to develop a 25- to 40-unit apartment complex and is considering the potential of an older commercial building.
well, and be healthy,” a goal she pursues in business and life. She helps clients navigate that confusion, she said. “You have to know your business and trust that there’s a reason you stepped into the space,” said Abbale. “Grit has exceeded any
expectation I had for it.” A mother in her 40s, Abbale wants to be a good example to her two children and let them know “there’s nothing you can’t do because you watched Mom do it.” Learn more at gritfitnessny.com.
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6 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2026
Adirondack Mechanical Adds Shop Capacity Business For Good Foundation Strengthens As Industrial Service Business Expands Pitney Meadows Food As Medicine Program BY ROD BACON A company that has provided high-quality industrial maintenance services to clients in the Capital Region and beyond for 30 years has expanded and relocated to Pruyns Island in Glens Falls. Business partners Nicholas Waite and Davis Turner purchased Wilton-based Adirondack Mechanical Services in 2023 and operated at its Commerce Park Drive site until last May. “We were growing rapidly,” said Turner. “We had seen growth of twenty percent to thirty percent year over year since we acquired the business and the building we were operating in was pretty much at maximum capacity.” Turner explained that they wanted to add a fabrication shop, but their 7,500-squarefoot building could not accommodate it. The Pruyns Island building has 33,000 square feet, and the fabrication shop has been operating for several months. The shop is not running at full capacity because they are waiting for major equipment to arrive, which they anticipate will be within a month or two. Then they will be able to manufacture a variety of custom products for clients. “With industrial maintenance you go to a lot of places and they need catwalks or ladders made, as well as structural steel or custom fabrication of pressure vessels. And we’re a subcontractor for a company that manufacturers large lifting beams,” Turner said. Turner noted that the owners of the Pruyns Island building were extremely cooperative and credited listing agent Mark Levack of Levack Real Estate with making the transition go smoothly. As a union shop, the company generally employs about 20 skilled craftspeople. Its welders are certified by the American Welding Society (AWS) and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), focusing on structural steel, pressure pipe and vessel welding.
Brad Cheuvront, a millwright at Adirondack Mechanical Services, torch cuts steel rebar. Courtesy Adirondack Mechanical Services
“There are busy seasons when we ramp up to double or triple our usual number of employees,” said Waite. Improvements to the fabrication shop are ongoing. Concrete work is underway in preparation for installation of a 10-ton crane. The owners did all the work themselves except the electrical work, which they contracted to Cohoes-based Mackey Electric. According to Waite, a significant benefit of the move is faster project turnaround because the additional space has allowed the company to be more organized and efficient. He noted that they have maintained established project costs. “We have not increased our rates,” he said. “As far as costs to our customers are concerned, nothing has changed.” The new facility has allowed the company
The Business for Good Foundation (BFGF) announced a $20,000 donation to Pitney Meadows Community Farm to double the capacity of its farm-based Food as Medicine residential program. The initiative pairs fresh, locally grown produce with nutrition education for high-need residents across Saratoga County. BFGF focuses on workforce innovation, housing attainability and economic mobility. The Pitney Meadows grant follows support for Wildwood Foundation, CAPTAIN CHS and the SEAT Center, the launch of a workforce innovation initiative, and the appointments of Capital Region leaders Ellen Sax (BST) and Charles Pinckney (M&T Bank) to its Board of Directors. The donation supports the second year of Pitney Meadows’ residential pilot across Stonequist Apartments, RISE Riverview Apartments and RISE Dominic Hollow Apartments. During a six-month season running through November 2026, residents receive free weekly deliveries of produce sourced from Pitney Meadows and regional farms, along with cooking and nutrition classes. “True health equity is a direct driver of economic mobility,” said Maire Masterson, Executive Director of the Business for Good Foundation. “When families face systemic barriers to
fresh food and nutrition education, it impacts their ability to work, learn, and thrive. Our donation to Pitney Meadows is about helping create access for our neighbors to build long-term health and financial stability.” The residential program builds on the Food as Medicine initiative’s clinical work in Saratoga County. The clinical and residential programs purchase produce from more than a dozen local farms and producers, including Featherbed Lane Farm, Juniper Hill Farm and Essex Food Hub. “This funding allows us to meet a level of community need that continues to grow,” said Brooke McConnell, Executive Director of Pitney Meadows Community Farm. “Every resident deserves reliable access to nutritious food and the knowledge to use it well. This support lets us deliver both, with dignity, at the scale our community needs.” The Business for Good Foundation is based in New York’s Capital Region and works on economic access, workforce innovation, housing attainability and community development. Pitney Meadows Community Farm works to grow food, community and connection and to educate about the natural world in Saratoga Springs. Provided by Business for Good Foundation; edited for style and length.
to serve existing clients more efficiently and explore other revenue streams. Turner said cement and aggregate work, along with grinding processes for lime, zinc and graphite mines, represents approximately 60% of revenue. The company also works in the paper industry, with Finch Paper a longtime client. The hydroelectric industry is another significant source of income. Recently, one of the gates at a local hydroelectric facility opened, causing the river level to fall rapidly. Adirondack Mechanical technicians responded and resolved the issue. “It was a problem with the hydraulics and we got it under control quickly,” said Waite.
Since the move to Glens Falls, Turner has been working with representatives of Great Escape Theme Park and exploring other similar venues. “We’re getting a significant amount of work from theme parks,” said Waite. Waite and Turner plan to continue exploring additional business opportunities. “Nick and I are young and ambitious, and wherever the path leads neither one of us is ready to take our foot off the gas,” said Turner. “We’re always asking each other, ‘What’s the next big thing? What are we going after?’” For more information about Adirondack Mechanical Services, visit adirondackmechanical.com.
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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2026 • 7
SPECIAL SECTION
SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL
Commercial Real Estate Regional Commercial Real Estate Brokers Green Springs Capital Group Expands See Resilience Despite Market Uncertainty Redevelopment Work Beyond Saratoga
The 165 High Rock Ave. property in Saratoga Springs, recently sold for $1.15 million, now houses Max Level Fitness & Athletics as brokers report resilience across the regional commercial market. BY ROD BACON The war in Iran, rising interest rates and a recent increase in the Federal Reserve’s benchmark interest rate are prompting some businesspeople to postpone major commercial property investments, but regional real estate professionals remain optimistic about the local market. Tom Roohan, president, broker and owner of Roohan Realty in Saratoga Springs, said the right inventory is key to an agency’s success. His firm currently has a broad mix of commercial properties and commercially zoned land for sale or lease. Three months ago, he sold a property at 165 High Rock Ave. to Nate and Tonya Robinson for $1.15 million. They established Max Level Fitness & Athletics there. He noted, however, that the area lacks available multifamily homes. “If young people want to buy a multifamily home so they can live in part of it and rent the rest that’s a positive economic plan,” he said. “But there are not enough two-family or four-family homes in the area.” Roohan said there have been more 1031 exchanges than in the past. The tax strategy allows
Courtesy Roohan Realty
investors to sell business or investment property and reinvest in a similar property while deferring capital gains taxes. Tom Savino, an associate broker at Albanybased CBRE Upstate NY, said the commercial real estate market has pulled back somewhat. Leasing remains steady, but buyers are cautious. “We had a fair amount of momentum in the first quarter coming into summer. It seemed that people had more confidence to move forward. But once the war broke out and interest rates and costs rose they became nervous about pulling the trigger,” he said. Interest rates on conventional commercial mortgages in October 2025 ranged from 6.1% to 7.2% for fixed terms. The reported current range is 6.38% to 7.66%. Multifamily and apartment rates increased the most, from 5.5% to 6.2% a year ago to 6.44% to 7% for conventional or agency-backed financing. Savino said he has a “mixed bag” of properties for sale or lease. Interest in undeveloped land also has slowed. Savino said freestanding buildings are in demand in Saratoga County because few are availContinued On Page 11
BY PAUL POST Saratoga Springs-based Green Springs Capital Group bought 178-180 Maple St. for $619,000 and is completing the $5 million conversion with a $1 million state Restore NY grant and $1.4 million in state and federal historic tax credits. Glens Falls’ revitalization is reaching the East End, where a historic 1920 brick warehouse is becoming 20 market-rate apartments at Maple and Rail, at Maple and Cooper streets. “Locally, Glens Falls Industrial Development Agency approved a tax PILOT (payment-in-lieu-oftaxes) along with mortgage recording tax and sales tax exemptions. This project doesn't happen without that support,” said Jeff Keado, the firm’s capital and investor relations director. Brothers Brian and Gregory Green founded Green Springs Capital Group in 2015. Partners Matthew Guidarelli and Matthew Crudo round out the firm’s leadership. Crudo also is CG Construction Group’s chief executive officer. “We've done 21 projects over 11 years, mostly in Saratoga Springs,” Keado said. “They include The Ridge at 182 Excelsior, a 42-unit development that preserved an 1883 farmhouse and carriage house; and Annandale Mansion, a 16-unit historic redevelopment near Skidmore College. We're also converting a 52-unit motel in Valatie into apartments.” “And yes, we're committed to Glens Falls,” he said. “Our next project there is 34 apartments across four Victorian-era homes, and we're actively looking at more.” Rents will start around $1,300. A model unit is expected to be ready for showings by mid-November. “We should be substantially complete by the end of this year,” Keado said. “Then it’s just finishing touches. We’ll have people moving in, in early 2027. They're aimed at people who want quality housing within walking distance of downtown, which is in short supply in Glens Falls.” Green Springs’ construction arm, CG Construction Group, is handling the work. The company built Glens Falls Hospital’s new emergency department. The developer hopes to attract nurses and other medical staff. Most units are two-bedroom and come furnished with kitchen appliances, a washer and dryer, a full bath and ample closet space. High ceilings, exposed brick and hardwood hallway floors are among the features. Apartments occupy the basement and both floors.
Maple and Rail in Glens Falls is being converted into 20 historic market-rate apartments. Saratoga Business Journal
“Working with an old building, it’s a fight to the end, making all the mechanicals and architectural plans line up and work. That’s been the hardest part,” said Trevor Barcomb, on-site construction manager. “But these units came out fantastic. It was in rough shape when we first started. I’m amazed at how good it looks in here.” A former side garage is slated for commercial space, potentially a coffee shop or brewery, “something that could act as a nice little amenity,” Keado said. “This is a full historic rehabilitation, so every scope of work was coordinated with the State Historic Preservation Office and the National Park Service.” “We look for buildings other people pass on,” he said. “This one had no income and significant capital needs, but it sits in the First Ward, a corridor the city has formally designated for redevelopment.” The 16-member East End Rising steering committee, formed early this year, is seeking entry into the state’s Brownfield Opportunity Area program, which could provide economic development funding and technical assistance. The property abuts The Shirt Factory on Lawrence Street, home to dozens of studios and small businesses. Rock Hill Bakehouse & Café operates in a Shirt Factory annex. The Shirt Factory’s Thursday evening summer Continued On Page 11
8 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2026
Salt Summit Brings Leaders Together To Pioneer Bank Adds HR Consulting Services Address Road Safety And Water Quality To Help Businesses Manage Workforce Needs BY ANN DONNELLY Regional municipal leaders, business representatives, federal officials and state lawmakers gathered Thursday, Oct. 8, 2026, at the Crowne Plaza Desmond Hotel for the 11th annual Salt Summit. Hosted by the Lake George Association and Lake George Waterkeeper, the inaugural statewide event addressed rising chloride levels in municipal and private drinking water supplies, infrastructure damage and winter supply chain volatility across New York state. Local officials from Saratoga and Warren counties emphasized that protecting environmental assets such as Lake George and Saratoga Lake does not require compromising public safety during winter weather. “We collectively face what I see as a triple mandate,” said Dr. Brendan Wiltse, president and CEO of the Lake George Association. “We have to maintain safe roads in the wintertime. But, at the same time, we also have to protect the environment, and we need to ensure the public’s right to clean water, whether that’s in a municipal system or in a private system.” For local municipalities, balancing tight operating budgets with environmental stewardship presents financial and logistical hurdles. Town of Wilton Highway Superintendent Mike Monroe highlighted the operational strains small towns face when navigating seasonal salt supply delays and rising material costs. “For the town, our storage capacity is only about 1,200 tons,” Monroe said during a panel on supply chain resilience. “So for me, when I hear there’s a shortage coming with 14 plow routes and 240 miles of road that we have to plow, my only option is to revert to mixing with sand, to stretch out what we have, and to make sure that our brine tanks are full.” To scrape pavement more efficiently and reduce chemical use, Monroe explained that the town retrofitted all 14 of its plows with liveedge blades this year. However, he emphasized that adopting further measures, such as computerized precision calibration, requires significant upfront capital, noting that plow costs have risen from $280,000 per truck five to six years
ago to $380,000 today. At the conclusion of the summit, WIT Advisers, a training and advisory firm specializing in sustainable winter management, honored Monroe for his leadership in advancing sustainable winter maintenance practices in the town of Wilton and across the region. In the private commercial sector, regional hospitality businesses near Lake George are leading voluntary salt-reduction efforts. Jennifer Clark, safety coordinator for the Fort William Henry Hotel & Conference Center, detailed how the 18-acre resort property at the southern end of Lake George shifted away from heavy salting. “We’ve been doing brining for the last five years,” Clark said. She noted that the property now tracks application rates three times daily and uses live site cameras. “I have tracked how much salt we’ve used. We reduced 500 pounds,” she reported. Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner discussed the need for regional intermunicipal cooperation and state capital support, citing water bodies in her district such as Saratoga Lake and Cossayuna Lake. “Saratoga Lake is at the heart of my district and it’s surrounded by a state road and five municipalities have a piece of this,” Woerner said. “So we really need those five municipalities and the state to be working together to come up with a solution, not just for the ring road, but for the feeder roads.” Woerner emphasized that state assistance must align highway infrastructure funding with environmental goals. “It is really a resource, and giving municipalities and counties the capital to buy the new equipment that they need, operating dollars to train their operators, all of that is very expensive,” Woerner stated. “I think all of this requires not a state standard, but a conversation between all of the parties who have responsibility.” Summit organizers urged local governments, commercial applicators and state lawmakers to build a statewide coalition ahead of the 2027 legislative session.
1 6 YEA RS · L O C A L
BY ANN DONNELLY When business owners sit down with their bankers, conversation often turns from credit lines and cash management to the complex dayto-day operational hurdles of managing people. To address those nonfinancial pressures, Pioneer Bank has established a human resources consulting division designed to deliver fractional expertise, project-based compliance support and workforce management to regional employers. The initiative is part of the institution’s broader effort to evolve beyond a traditional community bank into a comprehensive financial and business services platform. “Business owners today are balancing evolving regulatory requirements, changing workforce expectations, and the everyday challenges of running a business,” said Thomas L. Amell, president and chief executive officer of Pioneer. “Our HR Consulting division gives them access to experienced professionals who can help navigate those challenges, so they can confidently stay focused on growing their business. It’s another way we’re expanding how we support our clients beyond traditional banking.” The service officially launched in August 2025 after business banking clients repeatedly expressed that workforce management was a significant operational hurdle. “The reason that we launched this practice was our business banking customers were sharing with our bankers that aside from financial services needs, their biggest next concern for their business was the people matters, the people operations,” said Miriam Dushane, vice president of human resources consulting at Pioneer. Dushane, who previously was managing partner of Alaant Workforce Solutions, brings 30 years of staffing and workforce management leadership to the role and leads a dedicated consulting team of seven professionals. The group is supported by Pioneer’s corporate HR infrastructure, bringing total available staffing resources to 15 professionals. Businesses do not need active commercial accounts or banking relationships with Pioneer to use the consulting services. Pioneer’s HR consulting division works with companies ranging from five employees to several hundred or more across sectors including manufacturing, professional services, construction, technology, health care and nonprofit organizations. The HR consulting services focus on providing flexible, fractional human resources management without requiring companies to take on full-time administrative overhead. “We provide fractional human resources ex-
Miriam Dushane, vice president of HR consulting at Pioneer, leads its new advisory team. Courtesy Pioneer
pertise,” Dushane said. “If a business needs an HR expert on a part-time basis, that’s what we would do for the business.” The division handles projects such as employee handbook creation, learning and development programs, compensation benchmarking, workplace investigations, talent acquisition support and leave management outsourcing. While Pioneer does not sell proprietary payroll platforms or operate a professional employer organization (PEO), the team assists clients in selecting, integrating and operating payroll software. For larger organizations with established internal human resources departments, Pioneer serves as an on-demand auxiliary team. “It could be us supporting an HR department that already exists for a larger business,” Dushane said. “Think of it as supplemental support. Instead of a company hiring another person for their team because they temporarily have more work, they could hire us to take some of the workload off their plate.” As businesses expand across state lines or manage distributed teams, multistate employment compliance has emerged as a major challenge for growing firms. “A lot of times employers don’t realize the complexities of the other states,” Dushane explained. “Even if it’s a remote employee that works from home in Massachusetts, they are still considered a multi-state employer.” To help regional executives evaluate their risk Continued On Page 10
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SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2026 • 9
Shadow AI Creates Hidden Security Risks Saratoga Hospital Launches $22 Million As Employees Use Unapproved Technology Campaign To Build Moser Center For Aging BY DAVID ANDRADE Right now, across your organization, employees may be copying and pasting sensitive corporate data into unvetted, consumer-grade large language models. This isn't a hypothetical risk; it is a potential vulnerability already affecting businesses. We call this "Shadow AI," and it represents a significant blind spot in modern information security management systems (ISMS). When teams bypass official procedures and governance channels to use personal AI accounts for company work, they expose businesses to potential liabilities. The core risks extend beyond data leakage, which may not be apparent to employees. Some of these exposures include: Business Data Exposure: Proprietary source code, intellectual property, financial projections and strategic business plans entered into public models may be retained or used by a vendor, depending on the tool and its settings. AI Hallucinations: AI may produce inaccurate or misleading information that appears factual. If left unchecked, these errors can influence decisions and create confusion. Unapproved Actions: AI tools can take actions, such as sending emails and updating records. Without proper oversight, mistakes can affect customer relationships and ultimately a company's reputation. Compliance Violations: Entering personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI) into unsanctioned tools may raise compliance concerns under laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), as well as security standards such as ISO 27001. Maintaining Control of Company Information: Internal teams may lack visibility into where corporate data resides and how it is processed, complicating third-party risk management. Why an Outright Ban Will Backfire AI use presents a challenge for businesses. When faced with these risks, the immediate instinct of many chief information officers and IT directors is to issue blanket bans on generative AI tools. However, employees also want speed, answers and results, and prohibition rarely equals prevention. When you ban AI, you don't necessarily stop its use; you may drive it underground. Employees have experienced productivity gains from these
David Andrade, president of StoredTech advises businesses about risks from unsanctioned AI tools. Courtesy StoredTech
tools and may seek workarounds to maintain that efficiency. This pushes AI use beyond the reach of security controls, transforming a manageable operational risk into one that is difficult to see. "Banning AI is not an answer, any more than banning Excel would be." A Better Approach The objective should not be to stifle AI adoption but to bring it into a governed, secure and managed framework. By offering approved tools and clear guidelines, businesses can maintain visibility and control while capturing AI's productivity benefits. StoredTech works to reduce the friction that drives employees toward consumer tools. Our approach aims to help organizations improve workplace productivity without sacrificing governance and risk management. Does Shadow AI Already Exist Within Your Business? The longer Shadow AI goes unmanaged, the greater the potential risk to an organization. Businesses should review which AI tools employees use, what information they share and what safeguards are in place. Consult your IT professional to assess current practices and establish appropriate policies, approved tools and oversight.
Saratoga Hospital announced Sept. 29 a $3 million leadership gift from the Robert and Lisa Moser Family Foundation to establish The Moser Center for Successful Aging and Wellness, a center for coordinated care, services and support for older adults, their families and caregivers. The gift and the center’s name were announced at a Saratoga Hospital press conference marking the public launch of a $22 million capital campaign. Early donors committed nearly $9 million during the campaign’s quiet phase. “The Moser Center for Successful Aging and Wellness has long been our vision, a place where older adults and their families can receive coordinated care, guidance and support to help them remain healthy, active and independent,” said Jill VanKuren, President and CEO of Saratoga Hospital. “We are incredibly grateful to the Robert and Lisa Moser Family Foundation for its generosity and belief in this vision. This gift brings us an important step closer to making it a reality.” “Having grown up in this community, I am overwhelmed with pride to see this project come to life,” said Dave Collins, Chair of the Saratoga Hospital Board of Trustees. “The Moser Center is more than a medical building. It is an investment in our community. This leading-edge opportunity extends well beyond Saratoga, investing in our community and the people who call it home. The standing-room-only crowd here today demonstrates the strong support of our stakeholders.” The Moser Center will bring health care, wellness, rehabilitation, prevention, education and other resources together in one location. This multidisciplinary approach will help older adults throughout the Saratoga region remain healthy, active and independent while providing
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families and caregivers with a trusted source of guidance and support. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to understand that our parents and grandparents are aging too,” said Emery Moser, daughter of Robert and Lisa Moser. “The people who have cared for, taught and supported us throughout their lives will eventually need our care. We want to help ensure that older adults across the Saratoga region have the care, resources and support they need to remain healthy, active, and independent.” The Moser Center advances Saratoga Hospital’s commitment to anticipating and meeting the community’s evolving health care needs. Tony James, Executive Vice President of Strategy Transformation and Corporate Development, spoke on behalf of the Albany Med Health System, saying, “One of the strengths of our health system is the ability to combine the deep community connections and expertise of our member hospitals with the resources and capabilities of the broader system. Saratoga Hospital knows this community and what it needs, and our role as a system is to help support ambitious projects like this and make those visions possible.” By bringing specialized care and supportive resources together under one roof, The Moser Center will expand access to comprehensive services for the region’s growing older adult population, close to home. Campaign Co-chairs Bobbi Jo Lucas and Colleen Carlson announced the campaign’s public phase at the press conference. Saratoga Hospital Foundation will continue partnering with individuals, families, businesses and community organizations to raise the remaining funds needed to bring The Moser Center to life. Provided by Saratoga Hospital; edited for style and length.
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10 • SARATOGA BUSINESS JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2026
Code Blue Shelter Continued From Page 1
before launching the public phase demonstrates the extraordinary commitment already behind this project. Now, we are asking the entire community to help us carry that momentum across the finish line.” The project follows years of collaboration among Shelters of Saratoga, Saratoga County, the City of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County Capital Resource Corporation, community partners and private supporters. Shelters of Saratoga has provided Code Blue services for more than 11 years and has held the formal Saratoga County contract for the program since 2017. Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett (Clifton Park) said, “Today marks a major milestone in Saratoga County’s project to establish a permanent Code Blue shelter. With this project, we are planning for the future and creating the opportunity for a more consistent, coordinated, cost effective, and accessible response for our most vulnerable neighbors when winter weather be-
comes dangerous. On behalf of the Saratoga County Board of Supervisors, I thank the Capital Resource Corporation and Shelters of Saratoga for their partnership.” Anthony Morelli, Chair of the CRC, said, “This groundbreaking is the culmination of years of collaboration and persistence. The Capital Resource Corporation is proud to have played a role in bringing the County, Shelters of Saratoga, and our community partners together to help create a permanent, sustainable home for Code Blue and better serve our most vulnerable neighbors.” The new shelter is expected to open in November 2027. Shelters of Saratoga is accepting outright gifts, multi-year pledges and other campaign commitments. Naming opportunities are available for select rooms and program spaces. More information is available at www.codebluesaratoga.org. Shelters of Saratoga has served individuals experiencing homelessness in the Saratoga region since 1991 through outreach, shelter, supportive services and housing-focused programs. Provided by Shelters of Saratoga; edited for style and length.
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The Brook Tavern Changes Hands As New Owner Pledges To Maintain Its Local Charm BY ANN DONNELLY When Giuseppe Mola stepped through the doors of The Brook Tavern on Union Avenue, he was not looking to overhaul a Saratoga Springs staple. He was looking to protect it. “I love the place for what it is,” Mola said. “You walk through the door and it’s like your best friend is coming. It literally is like a place where everybody knows your name, like on Cheers.” Mola, a seasoned restaurateur born into the hospitality industry in the Puglia region of southern Italy, recently acquired the tavern from longtime owners Bob Lee and his family, who also operate The Wishing Well in nearby Wilton. Having frequented both establishments as a patron after relocating his family to the region, Mola developed a relationship with Lee that eventually paved the way for the ownership transition. For Mola, the acquisition marks the latest chapter in an international career spanning four decades. Growing up in Noicattaro, a town near Bari, Mola started out washing dishes and waiting tables at his family’s cafe. His career later took him through Paris, New York City trattorias, largescale corporate restaurant management across the United Kingdom, and multi-unit oversight near Times Square in Manhattan. Before moving to the Capital Region, he successfully bought and turned around a failing Italian restaurant in the West Ashley neighborhood of Charleston, South Carolina. Despite his extensive background in high-volume and corporate dining, Mola’s vision for The Brook Tavern centers on stability, local connections, and traditional hospitality rather than aggressive corporate expansion or trendy gimmicks. “Where do I see The Brook Tavern going? I like the fact that the Tavern offers top quality,” Mola said. “What I would like for The Brook Tavern is to stay what it is right now. This way you can come. You can have good food, good quality, and then when you leave, you’re just like, ‘You know what? I had a meal, and I don’t feel like I have to go and get a second mortgage.’” Maintaining consistency has been Mola’s top
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Giuseppe Mola, new owner of The Brook Tavern in Saratoga Springs, stands by its sign. Courtesy Ann Donnelly
priority since taking ownership. He retained the entire front-of-house and back-of-house staff— losing zero employees during the transition—and preserved the existing menu, pricing structure, and supplier network. To keep food quality high and costs manageable, Mola relies on strong relationships with localized vendors and small butchers for signature offerings like the tavern’s beef cuts, pork chops, and burgers. “You need to have your small butcher that knows what you’re requesting,” Mola explained. “The butcher knows what I need, and you can pick up the phone and talk. I don’t mind if it’s 50 cents more, as long as I can manage the increase. But we haven’t touched the price, so we’re not going to touch the price for as long as we can.” While Saratoga Springs experiences significant tourist surges during the summer racing season, Mola emphasizes that the backbone of The Brook Tavern remains its year-round local clientele. “We are completely different. We don’t work with a lot of tourists. We work with locals.” Mola said. “They know what they’re going to get.” That commitment to local regulars extends to maintaining direct human communication. Rather than relying solely on automated online reservation systems or automated phone prompts, Mola encourages customers to call the restaurant directly. Mola said, “Every inquiry that we get through the website about bookings and things, we say, ‘Please give us a call.’ Because when you can talk to the person, which is becoming almost impossible to do, especially with AI, then you can ask them questions. I think that’s going to be unique.” Located at 139 Union Ave., The Brook Tavern currently operates five days a week, offering full table service, bar seating, and outdoor porch dining, with future plans under consideration to expand service to Sundays as staffing permits. More information on menu offerings and hours can be found at https://www.thebrooktavern.com/. For Mola, taking over the historic establishment is less about reinventing the wheel and more about sustaining a community gathering place. “At the end of the day, everybody needs to leave happy,” Mola said. “My goal is for you to leave and you have just what you wanted.”
Pioneer
Continued From Page 8 exposure, Pioneer offers a complimentary service termed an “HR Health Check.” “We discuss what they currently have in place within their organization,” Dushane said. “It’s an opportunity for a business to understand if they are in compliance or not, and what they would need to do to make sure that they are, and stay, in compliance. It’s completely free, with no obligation to ever work with us in a paid capacity.” Through hands-on advisory services, Pioneer continues to strengthen its position across Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties and throughout the nation. For more information on Pioneer’s HR consulting services, visit pioneerny.com/hr-consulting.
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able. He sees weakness in warehouse, distribution and industrial properties. He has retail space on Broadway in Saratoga Springs that is not yet vacant. “I’ve gotten a lot of inquiries on that,” he said. “There aren’t many choices downtown so when something comes up it gets a lot of attention.” In contrast to Saratoga Springs’ relatively tight market, Glens Falls is seeing significant growth, said Bob Sears, an associate broker at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Blake, REALTORS. “Both Glens Falls and Queensbury have substantial growth,” he said. “There is also growth in Hudson Falls, although it’s not as strong. Properties are less expensive there so people are coming into that area because they can make good investments.” Sears said companies including Bonacio Construction and Patten Property Development are renovating older buildings in Glens Falls. “People want to be downtown because of the convenience of being within walking distance of restaurants and retail shops,” he said. Sears said less inventory is available than even two years ago. He attributed the decline to uncer-
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music and food events draw hundreds. Maple and Rail sits amid that activity. “I’m really pleased and excited to see Green Springs nearing completion of their mixed-use conversion of this long-vacant building,” said Jeff Flagg, Glens Falls director of economic development. “In addition to providing important new housing stock, this project anticipates the larger scale redevelopment that we hope and expect will come in the wake of the East End Rising planning process, which is itself nearing completion and will guide the city in identifying and providing resources for underutilized facilities throughout the First Ward.” “The Maple and Rail building is a key anchor in the reimagining of the neighborhood, given its close proximity to downtown as well as other East End anchors like The Shirt Factory, Hyde Museum and East Field,” he said. Last spring, Glens Falls High School students proposed converting a long former brick railroad building at 160 Maple St. into an open-air market. The seniors’ college-level public policy proposal is not a
Halloween
Continued From Page 1 “People often ask how we predict Halloween trends,” said Kym Sarkos, Spirit Halloween executive
tainty about how the economy will perform over the next two or three years. Despite reduced commercial inventory, Sears said several office spaces are available for lease and a few office buildings are for sale on Bay Road. Queensbury also has retail space for sale or lease in prime locations. Craig Darby, an associate broker at CBRE Upstate NY, sees strengths and weaknesses in the Glens Falls commercial market. He said the industrial segment is “slightly off,” while the office segment has improved from a year ago. “People are checking and double checking where the economy is going, not sure what will happen in the mid-term elections,” he noted. “Having said that, I think there was more uncertainty last year in the office segment because people were unsure whether they should grow or downsize.” Darby said Glens Falls’ economic outlook is improving. He cited improvements on South Street and more people choosing to live in the city. Darby cited a fully renovated building owned by Brad Bovee at 419 Dix Ave. in Queensbury as an example of activity in the area. The building is available for lease and is considered a “flex building” because it can accommodate commercial or industrial uses. planned project. They did not develop it with property owner Finch Paper Co., which uses the building for storage. If pursued, the idea could boost the East End economy. Students based their design on Jean-Talon Open Market in Montreal’s Little Italy, a destination for local produce, specialty foods and artisan goods. The market’s vendors sell fruits, vegetables, flowers, meats, cheeses and baked goods near shops and eateries. The students also proposed lighting, seating, street trees and stormwater management elements. Warren County Economic Development Corp. President Jim Siplon said the East End represents the “next wave of opportunity for the city,” following the revitalization of South and Glen streets. Siplon serves on the East End Rising steering committee. “We’ve been identifying parcels that are prime for redevelopment and have several active inquiries from entities that are looking at the East End as a place to either build or relocate a business,” he said. “This particular project promises to provide housing that’s aligned with the architecture and aesthetics of that part of town.” vice president. “The reality is we're watching them develop all year long. From blockbuster entertainment and gaming to social media and nostalgia, our team is constantly tracking what's capturing attention so we can be ready with the looks fans want most.”
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Available Commercial & Residential Properties We’d like to promote your commercial or residential property. Call us, 581-0600.
12 CLARK STREET, SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY 12866
Located in the heart of Saratoga Springs, this fully renovated 4bedroom, 3.5-bath home offers 2,684 square feet of timeless charm and modern comfort. Just minutes from Broadway and within walking distance of the historic Saratoga Race Course, it features a beautifully appointed kitchen with wet bar and butler’s pantry, hardwood floors, a gas fireplace, and a spacious primary suite with vaulted ceilings and a custom walk-in closet. Extensive updates throughout, a private yard, and a charming front porch complete this exceptional downtown property.
Kate R. Naughton | Associate Real Estate Broker | (518) 441.8527
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