Author: Jonathon Norcross

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Stroll through the grounds of the Saratoga Race Course on a balmy summer afternoon, and amidst the ballyhoo and thundering of hooves, your nose will likely catch the scent of floating, dissipating cigar smoke.

The enjoyment of premium cigars (handcrafted, artisanal cigars as opposed to mass-produced products) has long been a staple of horse racing. That’s partly why the Saratoga area has more than a few cigar lounges with stocked humidors offering celebrated brands like Arturo Fuente, Davidoff, and Rocky Patel.

Of course, no matter how elegant or meticulously rolled these sticks might be, they are still tobacco products that pose potential risks to smokers (The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warn that “cigar smoke contains toxic compounds and chemicals that can cause cancer”). Thus, New York State slapped a 75% tax on the wholesale price of cigars and other tobacco products in an attempt to discourage their use. This tax is the second-highest in the country (after Utah), and local cigar shop owners say it’s hurting their mom-and-pop businesses.

Kathleen Kelly, the president of the New York Cigar Association and the owner for more than three decades of Queensbury Cigar and Pipe, said this tax burden has made it difficult for new shops to open, especially because cigar aficionados can purchase less expensive products online or in a neighboring state with lower tax rates (Pennsylvania doesn’t have a tax on cigars, New Jersey’s rate is 30%, and Connecticut has a 50-cent cap).

“Cigars are more than just cigars,” Kelly said, referring to the economic impact of the hundreds of premium cigar shops in New York.

“We can’t compete with the online [stores] because of that 75% tax,” said James and Sons Tobacconists’ Kyle “Moe” Kommer, who has both a store in downtown Saratoga Springs and a booth at the racetrack. “Especially as manufacturers increase their prices, that just puts us further and further away.”

Kelly said her organization has spoken with a number of state legislators, such as Senator Jessica Ramos, who represents parts of Queens and is currently running for Mayor of New York City. Ramos is the sponsor of the bipartisan Senate Bill S4413A, which would create a flat tax cap of 50 cents on premium cigars. A similar bill in the Assembly (A3376A) was sponsored by Carrie Woerner, who represents Saratoga Springs. A 50-cent tax cap, Kelly said, would help increase “fairness” and “level the playing field.”

“Losing a small business, any small business, is a tragedy, given how important they are to their respective communities and to the [state] economy,” the New York Cigar Association says on its website. “Our members all want to pay their fair share, but a 75% tax rate is not fair and if we can’t make a change, more shops will close.”

Another piece of legislation, sponsored by Assemblyman Philip Ramos (no relation to Jessica) would allow cigar lounges to serve alcohol.

In total, the bills are designed to help support struggling small businesses that, in addition to selling their wares, also have a strong social component.

“You create a family in a cigar lounge,” Kelly said. “It means a lot to people.”

Stop by the family-owned James and Sons on Broadway, and you’ll likely see what Kelly means: friends, strangers, and solo smokers all enjoying each other’s company in a laid-back setting.

“Guys go out on their boats together, vacations, have dinner together all the time,” Kommer said. “That’s what’s nice about it. That sense of community, everyone just kind of takes care of each other and hangs out and becomes lifelong friends.”

A short walk from James and Sons is the former home of the Adirondack Cigar Shoppe on Putnam Street, where locals used to pass the time together enjoying cigars and watching football. The now-empty store could be a sign of what’s to come.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Purdy’s Discount Wine & Liquor in Saratoga Springs recently announced on social media that it would be expanding with a new wine-tasting area and an “even bigger selection of wines.”

“Stay tuned for more details, and stop by soon to check out the progress,” the company said.

Purdy’s has had a presence in the Spa City since 1960. The 15,000-square-foot space includes 9,000 products. The store also sponsors the summer music stage at the Saratoga Race Course.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Nothing Bundt Cakes, a specialty cake franchise with more than 600 locations nationwide, has come to Saratoga Springs.

The new shop, which took over the former Edible Arrangements location at 6 Lowes Drive near the Wilton Mall, is spearheaded by Colonie native Melissa Gleason, who said she fell in love with bundt cakes after her mother-in-law sent her one.

“I got to try, for the first time, white chocolate raspberry, which I absolutely love, and that kind of sold me,” Gleason said.

With her kids in school, Gleason decided the time was right to open up her own business. So in 2017, she opened Nothing Bundt Cakes’ first shop in New York State in Albany. Three years later came a location in Clifton Park. Now there’s one in Saratoga. Another outpost in North Greenbush is next on the agenda.

“Albany really took off. We’re actually still one of the biggest bakeries in our region. It just kind of encouraged us to open up more stores to spread it out and take some pressure off that bakery,” Gleason said.

The Saratoga bakery had a soft opening in late March, and is now officially celebrating its launch with a series of events this weekend. Friday, April 11 is both the official ribbon cutting and AIM Services Benefit Day, when 20% of sales will be donated to an organization that supports people with developmental and intellectual disabilities. On Saturday, April 12, the first 50 guests age 18+ will receive a Free Bundtlets for a Year punch card valid for one personal-sized Bundtlet per month for 12 months.

Nothing Bundt Cakes is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit nothingbundtcakes.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Convention and Tourism Bureau (commonly known as Discover Saratoga) is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, but that doesn’t mean its eyes are solely focused on the past. The organization is using popular forms of new media (such as a podcast launched last year and partnerships with social media stars) to help bring tourists to Saratoga County.

The “Destination Saratoga” podcast, hosted by Discover Saratoga’s vice president of marketing and communications MacKenzie Zarzycki, has thus far showcased local luminaries from institutions like Caffe Lena, Hattie’s, the Saratoga Arms Hotel, and Putnam Place. Zarzycki has also interviewed Brit McAdams, the director of “Paint,” a dramedy starring Owen Wilson that was shot primarily in Saratoga Springs; and Cate Masterson, director of the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (Masterson’s episode is set to premiere on April 11).

“I run into people occasionally in town, and people are recognizing [the podcast] and talking about it,” Zarzycki said. “We’re starting to have sponsors come to us now which is really exciting, especially since we’ve only been live since January.”

The podcast kicked off with a live episode shot on the front porch of the Saratoga Arms during the New Year’s Eve celebration downtown. Other (pre-recorded) episodes have been hosted at the Bright Sighted podcast studio, at Caffe Lena, and at the National Museum of Racing.

Zarzycki said that Discover Saratoga started the podcast so that stories about the community could reach both locals and visitors alike.

“My goal is to bring in different folks within the community who can tell stories, insider stories, talk about hidden gems, and share different experiences that locals and visitors might not be familiar with,” Zarzycki said.

Zarzycki also said she’s also working on a Belmont-themed episode that will hopefully feature some big names and drop right before the racing festival begins on June 4. One dream guest Zarzycki would like to get on the pod is Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy, a frequent Saratoga Race Course visitor who is currently building a home on Fifth Avenue that borders the Oklahoma Training Track.

“He’s a huge supporter of Saratoga,” Zarzycki said.

Last year, Discover Saratoga was named the county’s official Tourism Promotion Agency. This meant that the organization shifted its focus from planning events to promoting any and all travel to Saratoga County. Thus, Discover Saratoga has been working with influencers within both traditional media and social media to try to draw attention to the area.

“It’s so hard to dictate exactly what [social media influencers] are going to post and what they’re going to share, but overall I feel like they cover 90% of the itineraries we create,” Zarzycki said. “All in all, I think their videos have been the most successful for us in terms of reach and engagement. Every time they post a video of their point of view or a day in Saratoga Springs, we seem to get a lot of viewers and a lot of new followers.”

In its first year as an official Tourism Promotion Agency, Discover Saratoga’s marketing efforts have reached over 13 million potential visitors, the agency said. Those visitors typically come from within a 3-hour radius of the Spa City. Top markets include the New York metropolitan area, Boston, Syracuse, Burlington, Rochester, Philadelphia, and Buffalo.

Next up for Discover Saratoga is the Belmont on Broadway celebration, which includes a free concert performed by a headlining act that will be revealed at a City Hall press conference on April 10. But the event isn’t just for incoming visitors hoping to catch a Triple Crown winner.

“We look at it as an opportunity to give back to the local community, to thank them for embracing the influx of tourists during a busy time,” Zarzycki said.

For more information on the “Destination Saratoga” podcast, or to watch episodes, visit www.discoversaratoga.org/destination-saratoga/.