GANSEVOORT — Horse racing brought them here, but family allowed them to thrive.

Compadres Diner, which recently celebrated its three-year anniversary, is owned and operated by the Garcia family. Dad Marino was an exercise rider for horse trainer Chad Brown. Mom Rosa practically runs the place. Daughter Diana, who graduated from Saratoga Springs High School just five years ago, handles all the paperwork. The youngest daughters lend a hand when they’re not in school, often giggling, dancing, and having fun while they work, according to Diana.

“We’re a little bit of a crazy family, but we always have a good team and we’re always together,” Rosa told Saratoga TODAY. “Some customers say they don’t see those things often because families go different ways, not together.”

The Garcias got their start by accumulating restaurant experience (Diana was a cashier at Hattie’s Chicken Shack and Rosa worked at the Route 50 Diner) and by selling street corn and tamales at St. Clements Church. 

The family was interested in starting a business, but the pandemic derailed their plans. When they later saw the property at 666 Saratoga Road available, they took the leap.

Initially, the plan was to focus primarily on Mexican cuisine. But when the Garcias met Sergio Felix, a chef who was adept at making both Mexican and American dishes, they decided to create a blended Mexican-American menu. Today, some of their most popular offerings include amigos omelettes (which include chorizo, green peppers, and pepperjack cheese), breakfast burritos, and chorizo benedict (poached eggs with chorizo and avocado, covered in hollandaise). Compadres also has a loyal contingent of tamale addicts. 

“People love the tamales here,” Diana said. “They’re like, ‘These tamales are just different from anyone else’s.’ We have regulars that come for just tamales once a week or twice a week. It’s a long process, it takes a little bit of work. But people say it’s the best tamales they’ve ever tried.”

The diner also boasts a couple Saratoga celebs among its fans. Chad Brown has held multiple events there, including an end-of-the-season celebration for backstretch workers. Pat Fleming, the host of the “Another Day, Another Diner” video series, told Saratoga TODAY that Compadres was “one of my favorite diners of all time.” Fleming has been to more than 100 diners, including many throughout the Capital Region.

Next up for Compadres: a Mother’s Day celebration featuring mariachi bands, and (hopefully) the addition of margaritas to the menu. Until then, the Garcias will continue running the place as a close-knit family business.

“We enjoy ourselves here,” Diana said. 

BALLSTON SPA — The Ballston Spa Business & Professional Association (BSBPA) invites local business owners, professionals, and community members to attend its March Networking Breakfast on Tuesday, March 3, from 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. at the National Bottle Museum, located at 76 Milton Avenue in Ballston Spa.

The monthly Networking Breakfast provides an opportunity for attendees to connect with fellow business and community leaders. Guests can enjoy light breakfast fare and coffee while building relationships and sharing updates about their organizations.

Following the networking portion of the morning, participants can take part in a guided tour of the museum’s collection of more than 3,000 hand-blown glass bottles. The tour will highlight the early history of American bottle manufacturing—an industry that predates automation and relied entirely on craftsmanship.

The cost to attend is $10 with advance RSVP to info@ballston.org, or payment may be made at the door. The event is open to the public, and BSBPA membership is not required to attend. Those interested in attending may pre-register by emailing dana@ballston.org. More information is available at www.ballston.org.

BALLSTON SPA — Front Street Deli announced earlier this month that Kim Tribley would take over the business as its new owner.

The eatery had previously been owned for 21 years by Matt Hall and Chris Fignar. Jan. 30 was the duo’s last day as owners.

Tribley has owned the nearby Coffee Planet since 2018.

“This opportunity means so much to us, and we are truly honored to continue the legacy of such a well-loved local business,” Front Street Deli said in a Feb. 3 Facebook announcement. “We want to extend a heartfelt thank you to Matt and Chris for their 20+ years of dedication, hard work, and success in building Front Street Deli into what it is today. Their commitment to the community has not gone unnoticed, and we are grateful for the strong foundation they have created.”

The announcement also stated that updates and reopening details would be forthcoming.

“This moment is filled with gratitude and reflection as we think about the many changes we’ve witnessed and the wonderful village we’ve had the privilege to grow alongside,” Hall and Fignar wrote on Jan. 29. “We have full confidence in the new owners and wish them nothing but success as they carry Front Street Delicatessen & Pizzeria forward. We know they will continue the tradition of care and quality that has defined this place.”

GREENFIELD CENTER — Twin Leaf Farms will host a special New York State Maple Weekend event on March 21 and 22.

The family-friendly event will include a $5 pancake breakfast, guided farm tours, live maple-making demonstrations in the sugarhouse, local vendors, and live music.

New York State Maple Weekend is a statewide event that provides an opportunity for the public to visit local sugarhouses and experience firsthand how pure New York maple syrup is made. Guests can learn about the traditions and modern processes of maple sugar making, explore working farms, and taste maple products straight from the source.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — At a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony hosted by the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce, Spring Back Chiropractic celebrated the expansion of its space and services offered at 28 Clinton Street in the Spa City.

Spring Back bills itself as a patient-centered clinic that evaluates each person through a holistic lens. Each treatment combines spinal adjustments, therapeutic exercises, nutritional recommendations, and educational tips tailored to each individual. More information is available at www.springbackchiropractic.com.

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Saratoga Arms Hotel has officially opened its new onsite restaurant, Three Daughters Kitchen & Cocktails, following a soft opening in January 2026. 

The signature restaurant is now fully up and running with new Executive Chef Alexander Kollar at the helm. 

Three Daughters Kitchen & Cocktails is the first branded restaurant to debut at Saratoga Arms Hotel since it opened in 1999. Under the same leadership as the hotel, Three Daughters is owned and managed by the Smith family, who has owned and operated various lodging properties and restaurants in Saratoga Springs for more than 50 years. 

The restaurant’s name honors the three daughters of owner Kathleen Smith and her late husband Noel. Today, their daughter Amy Smith is a co-owner of the property alongside her mother.

While Saratoga Arms has been known for its breakfast, it has historically only been available to hotel guests—until now. Under its new name and culinary leadership, Three Daughters will be open to the public. The restaurant will also serve a year-round cocktail hour service in the parlors around the hotel’s fireplaces in the winter and on the property’s iconic Saratoga wraparound porch during the summer racing season.

The Three Daughters menu, which changes with the seasons, includes a variety of sweet and savory options including egg-based dishes utilizing local farm brown eggs, freshly baked goods, seasonal fruits, yogurt, and more. There are also some off-the-menu specials, which will rotate frequently, crafted by Chef Kollar. Kollar has been with Saratoga Arms Hotel since 2023 and was recently promoted to the executive chef position. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has infused his own personal culinary style into the Three Daughters menu, drawing from his experience cooking out west in Napa Valley and experimenting with new ingredients.

Three Daughters is open seven days a week, serving breakfast from 7:30-10:30 a.m. Monday through Friday and 7:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. It is also open for cocktail hour, serving a selection of craft cocktails, beer, wine, and chef-driven small plates from 4:30-9:00 p.m. daily. To learn more or to make reservations, visit www.threedaughterssaratoga.com.