BALLSTON SPA — Speckled Pig Brewing Company has continued to expand its offerings, celebrating the opening of its rooftop bar and patio in mid-June.
R.J. Elliott, a partner at Speckled Pig, said opening the rooftop “was always a goal,” noting the plans were taken into consideration when initially renovating the interior.
“When we started renovating downstairs, we framed it up and were ready to go to build on top of it,” said Elliott. “We made sure that everything was structurally sound to go up another story.”
This allowed construction to move quickly, with Elliott saying the patio took just over a month to complete.
“It was really quick,” Elliott said. “We framed out most of it in a weekend, and then did some finishing touches. But it didn’t take much longer than a month to go from no rooftop to having customers.”
“We wanted to obviously maximize the potential for the summer,” added Larry Heid, a partner at Speckled Pig. “Hopefully in the fall, we’ll put down some propane heaters for little fire pits. … Probably cap out at a Halloween party.”
The patio has become a popular spot, with Elliott saying it tends to fill up at the same time as the brewery’s interior.
“This is actually kind of proving to be the late-night hangout spot,” said Heid.
“Even when it’s raining, people are up here under the umbrellas,” added Elliott. “It’s been crazy.”
The patio was designed with a more modern look than the brewery’s interior, which Elliott said is by design. It offers views of downtown Ballston Spa, overlooking the intersection of Milton Ave and Washington St.
The brewery has recently begun offering hard seltzer slushies made from their own seltzers, brewed in-house with a variety of flavors. They offer eight beers upstairs in addition to the 12 options offered inside.
“A couple of the beers overlap, but there’s also stuff that you only get upstairs too,” Elliott said. “Lighter beers, stuff you want to enjoy out in the sun.”
The partners said it has been rewarding to see the community response since opening the patio.
“The first impression is really cool,” said Elliott. “Everybody has the same reaction when they walk up. … You don’t expect to see this up here.”
CLIFTON PARK —The Board of Trustees of the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library has announced the proposed 2024 budget, to be voted on by Library tax district residents. The total tax levy is $5,103,252 and is New York State tax cap compliant. The total 2024 proposed budget expenditure is $5,173,635.
The Library Budget Vote and Trustee Election will be held Thursday, Sept. 14 at the Library.
Registered voters, both renters and property owners, living in the Library tax district are eligible to vote. Voters must be registered at least 30 days prior to the vote. Absentee ballot applications are available.
Those who are unable to vote in person on Sept. 14, can fill out an application online at www.cphlibrary.org or at the Library. Residents of Clifton Park will also vote on two trustee positions, vacancies created by the expiring terms of two incumbents. There are currently no expiring Halfmoon trustee positions.
For more information about the budget or the trustee candidates, the public can attend a Budget Information Session at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 7 at the Library.
The Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library, located in Southern Saratoga County, provides materials, programs, and services to the residents of Clifton Park and Halfmoon. The Library at 475 Moe Road in Clifton Park and can be reached by phone at 518-371-8622 and online at www.cphlibrary.org.
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Planning Board has received plans for what could become the city’s first licensed cannabis dispensary.
A special use permit application has been filed for Reverie Dispensary, which would be located at 95 West Ave, occupying approximately 2,200 square feet in the West Hill Plaza.
According to the New York State Office of Cannabis Management’s website, the Capital Region currently has recreational dispensaries in Albany, Schenectady, and Rensselaer.
Reverie is set to be run by Jody Cracco, her daughter, Brittany Cracco, and Marcy Leventhal, who brings significant experience in the regulated cannabis industry.
The Cracco family also runs Dairy Haus and Doggy Playcare, two businesses located next door to each other on Maple Ave. Brittany Cracco said she has been long-time friends with Leventhal, and initially reached out to her for advice on infusing cannabis into ice cream.
“When I called Marcy to kind of poke at her vast wealth of knowledge, she told us about the application process and what the qualifications were,” Brittany Cracco said. “Between my mom, Marcy, and I, we qualified, and we went for it.”
Leventhal said she has 20 years of industry experience and has worked in 22 states, having operated a dispensary in the Bay Area of California, and also having worked as a consultant and for a cannabis advisory firm.
“So I’m very familiar with the licensing and application process, which we’re going through right now,” said Leventhal. “We’re really excited to curate a shop with my knowledge of the industry and their knowledge of Saratoga to make, hopefully, one of the premier shops in the state.”
Brittany Cracco said Reverie will look to highlight local farms and manufacturers, saying, “There are a lot of farms really close.”
“That’s what I would love to bring to the community, is the community’s product,” said Brittany Cracco. “That is going to be a really big part of it for me, is bringing in our local farmers and manufacturers.”
“To be able to sort of close the loop, so that we’ve got local people buying from local farmers at a local dispensary, is a really exciting prospect to us,” added Leventhal, who noted that Reverie will also carry additional outside brands that “appeal to the masses.”
The application describes the location as a “conditional adult use retail dispensary,” and states that it has been approved by the New York Office of Cannabis Management, but must receive special use designation from the City. The Saratoga Springs Planning Board is set to discuss the application at its meeting on Aug. 3, according to a posted agenda.
The group said they are aiming to open by the end of August if their application is approved.
“Obviously, being compliant and following their processes is really important to us,” said Leventhal. “… Not rushing it just to get open, but rather, getting open in a responsible way is important. But with that said, we’d love to capture some of the seasonal travelers in Saratoga. We’re going to hustle as hard as we possibly can to get open by the end of August, provided we get the approval at the Planning Board on August 3.”
Jody Cracco emphasized the importance of supporting local, and said she hopes Reverie will feel “comfortable” to its customers.
“We want them to come in and feel so comfortable in our place,” said Jody Cracco. “We want it to be a great experience.”
“Walking into a dispensary, it can be overwhelming,” said Brittney Cracco. “You don’t really know the product, and you may want to ask questions, but you may feel like it’s not your place to ask questions, or a little silly. We don’t want that. We want it to be a comfortable environment, and we want people to know the same people that are serving you your ice cream cones are the same people that are serving you over at the dispensary.”
Jody Cracco said the three partners are “really excited.”
“It’s been great,” said Jody Cracco. “And to be the first to open, we are so honored to be able to, hopefully, say that.”
“I’m really excited at what we’re going to be able to do,” added Leventhal, citing her background in the cannabis industry and the Cracco family’s background in operating businesses. “I would encourage everyone in the state to come check us out when we open.”
BALLSTON SPA — After 15 years in Ballston Spa, Russell’s Deli has been listed for sale.
Operated by Russell and Judy Shapiro, the deli initially opened at 303 Milton Ave in 2008, according to their website. Russell Shapiro said that while the business has been very successful, the couple is looking to “slow down.”
“It’s just time,” said Shapiro. “I’m not going to fully retire, but I want to slow down.”
He emphasized that although they are selling the property, Russell’s Deli will remain open until it is sold.
“We are not closing,” Shapiro said. “This is not shutting down. We are open. When we sell it, we sell it.”
The current location is the fourth Russell’s Deli, with Shapiro saying two locations were formerly operated in Pleasantville, and another in White Plains. The couple eventually moved with their three children, leading to the Ballston Spa location.
The deli is listed for $599,999, Shapiro said. He noted it is “a great location,” on Milton Ave at the edge of downtown Ballston Spa.
“We sit 20 feet from the street, and it’s the main thoroughfare in and out of Ballston Spa,” said Shapiro. “It’s a great location for somebody to continue with our deli or whatever they see fit to do.”
Shapiro said the past 15 years have been “very busy,” with the couple noting that they have made many friends in the community through the deli.
“We’ve made lots of friends and relationships,” Shapiro said. “We’ve seen other people and their kids grow up that were coming in here in their strollers and car seats, and now they’re married. … It’s pretty cool. We’ve made a lot of relationships.”
“A lot of people are pretty sad that we’re selling the place, but again, we keep telling them, ‘We’ll be here until we sell it,’” he added.
“Our customers have become our friends. They’re not just customers,” added Judy Shapiro. “I think we are unique in that way. You don’t just walk in here to get a sandwich. You have a conversation, and we actually genuinely care about our customers. And they care about us. It goes both ways. It’s been a wonderful relationship.”
Those interested in inquiring about purchasing the deli can contact the deli at russellsdeli1@gmail.com, said Shapiro.
MILTON — A new restaurant and bar has opened its doors in Milton, with the Milton Tavern launching a soft opening on Wednesday.
The Milton Tavern is located at 430 Geyser Rd. The building, which is the former home of Jay’s Bar and Grill, was taken over by current owners Micah Henzel and Joseph Muia III in March.
Henzel formerly worked as a sous chef at Nanola in Malta and Henry’s Tavern in Ballston Spa, while Muia III spent a decade working at Dozer’s Bar and Grill in Milton. Now, the two are combining their experience into a new venture.
“So I’ve got the restaurant experience, Joey’s got the front-of-house experience,” said Henzel.
It is the first venture as owners for the pair, who “gutted” the restaurant during renovations, Henzel said.
Henzel, who also owns MJG Construction Group, said the bar has new tables and chairs, and a newly renovated kitchen, patio, and bathrooms.
“The only thing that stayed is the original bar,” Henzel said.
The renovations moved quickly, with Henzel saying they initially entered the space in March.
“I was here 12 hours a day for pretty much three months,” Henzel said.
Henzel said the Milton Tavern will offer 14 beers on tap, as well as selections of wine and bourbon. Their food offerings include a variety of New England bar pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and wings. The tavern also serves nachos, chips and dip, salads, soup, and a variety of entrees, including grilled hanger steak and grilled marinated chicken breast according to their menu.
Henzel added that the bar will be “neighborhood-friendly,” also offering a kids’ menu.
“We’ve got prosecco on tap, so we think that’s going to be a big seller,” said Henzel. “We’re going to have a claw machine for the kids, and dartboards. It’s going to be a nice neighborhood place.”
The Milton Tavern will be open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays and Mondays, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Henzel also said they will consider adding a brunch option “when football season starts” in the fall.
Henzel, who is an area native and also said he worked at restaurants such as Longfellows and Olde Bryan Inn while growing up, said it is meaningful to establish a business in the community.
“It’s great.” Henzel said. “I love Saratoga. It’s my favorite town in America.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — Green Mountain Electric Supply is looking to purchase a building in the W.J. Grande Industrial Park to serve as its New York headquarters, according to an application filed with the Saratoga County Industrial Development Agency.
The company is seeking to acquire 10 Skyward Drive, which is currently home to SKS Bottle and Packaging, to serve as its headquarters for the company’s New York management and finance team, and a warehouse for electrical materials and supplies, according to a submitted project description. The building is 143,000 square feet, the documents state.
Green Mountain Electric Supply is a “wholesale supplier of electrical supplies” and has 16 branch locations and two distribution locations in New York, the documents state. Based in Colchester, Vermont, they currently have Capital Region locations in Albany and Queensbury, according to their website.
Green Mountain is seeking tax exemptions from SCIDA for sales, real property, and mortgage recording taxes. Over a five-year span, the company would receive an estimated $91,000 sales tax exemption, an estimated $105,000 mortgage recording tax exemption, and an estimated $1,366,408 real property tax exemption, according to the documents.
The company is being represented by Jeremy H. Speich of Harris Beach PLLC in Albany. Green Mountain would pay $14 million to acquire the building, and approximately $18.2 million in total, the documents state.
At their meeting on July 11, the industrial development agency voted unanimously to move the application to a public hearing.
WHITE PLAINS — Trailways of New York announced on July 5 the immediate addition of new service to and from Montreal, PQ, in the wake of Amtrak’s suspension of service.
“With air travel snarled by equipment, weather and personnel issues and Amtrak suspending service – we felt the right thing to do was to add service effective immediately,” said Nick Crist, Trailways of New York Vice President of Operations and Safety, in a press release.
The additional service brings Trailways of New York’s total number of daily trips to and from Montreal, PQ to ten. Six daily trips will allow travelers direct service leaving Montreal, PQ to:
• Plattsburgh • Glens Falls • Saratoga Springs • Albany Airport • Albany Downtown • SUNY Albany • Catskill • Kingston • New Paltz • New York • Ridgewood, New Jersey
MILTON — A new restaurant in Milton, Neighborhood Kitchen, opened in March, offering a variety of Italian-American takeout options and emphasizing a “neighborhood feel.”
Neighborhood Kitchen offers takeout and delivery, with customers ordering by phone, in person, or online. The restaurant opened in March at 312 Rowland St, and is operated by partners Chip and Wendy Lawrence, and Brian Donaldson, who is also the head chef.
Chip Lawrence said he and his wife Wendy grew up in Milton, and have “fond memories” of visiting Mary’s Country Store, which formerly operated at the location.
“It was this iconic little country market, before the big supermarkets, and certainly before Milton was developed,” said Lawrence. “We have fond memories of penny candy, and Hershey’s ice cream. Just going there for market stuff.”
Neighborhood Kitchen is open seven days a week, offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. The restaurant offers a variety of breakfast sandwiches, and serves sandwiches, salads, and smaller portions of pastas and main dishes at lunch, Lawrence said.
The main dishes include a variety of offerings such as chicken parmigiana, chicken and filet involtinis, pork pinwheel, and more. One dish, Chicken Luisa, is named in honor of Luisa Cirelli, the former owner of Villa Luisa, who Donaldson had worked for.
“Brian worked for her 20 years ago, and learned a lot of his culinary skills from her,” said Lawrence. “That dish is paying homage to Luisa and her family.”
The restaurant also features a variety of pastas, such as gnocchi bolognese and short rib ravioli, as well as additional offerings such as a crispy chicken sandwich and a variety of salads. The restaurant offers family-style meals and catering, with Lawrence saying they have catered “a lot” of graduation parties, and will cater a wedding next month.
The restaurant does not have indoor seating, but has set up several picnic tables outside. Neighborhood Kitchen is also working on putting together ‘track packs,’ picnic-style lunches customers could bring along during a visit to the Saratoga Race Course, said Wendy Lawrence.
The restaurant delivers to a roughly five-mile radius, Chip Lawrence said, stretching into downtown Saratoga Springs, Ballston Spa, and into Galway and Greenfield. They also feature a small market section, which offers selections of candy and market items in a nod to Mary’s Country Store.
“We were bringing that Mary’s Country Store piece back from when we were kids,” Lawrence said. “The kids would ride their bikes there. … That’s bringing back that neighborhood experience.”
The Lawrences own The Basin Grill in Schuylerville, and formerly ran Circa ‘21 at McGregor Links Country Club in Wilton. Donaldson had worked for the Lawrences at The Basin Grill, and had partnered with the pair to run Circa ‘21, Lawrence said.
Donaldson had the concept for Neighborhood Kitchen, described by Lawrence as “higher-end Italian-American takeout,” in the works for roughly a decade, and eventually found the former Mary’s Country Store location on Rowland St.
“We’ve done restaurants for 30 years, but this is a whole new concept,” said Lawrence.
The building had sat vacant for a number of years following the closure of Bongiorno’s Pizzeria. The Lawrences and Donaldson purchased the building in April 2022, and after renovating the space, officially opened in March of this year.
Lawrence gave credit to Town of Milton officials, saying they were “such great partners” throughout the process.
“The Town of Milton, from the supervisor to the building department, they were so supportive,” Lawrence said. “Now we’re open, it’s been very well-received. It’s just nice seeing Brian’s passion bleed right through.”
Four months in, Lawrence said the restaurant has already begun to receive regular customers, and emphasized the goal of providing a “neighborhood vibe.”
“We’ve got so many regulars,” said Lawrence. “We’ve got a ton of support from customers who visit. … That’s what we want, that whole neighborhood vibe.”
Lawrence said Neighborhood Kitchen is working to carry produce and products from local farmers, noting that eggs for their breakfast sandwiches are from Thomas Poultry Farm in Schuylerville.
In the future, Lawrence said the group would consider potentially opening additional locations in other Saratoga County communities.
“We want it to have that neighborhood feel,” Lawrence said. “It’s been very well-received. … It’s so rewarding to see.”
A giant chess set on the outdoor patio at Cookies & Cream and Finishing Touches in Malta.
MALTA — Doug Dockendorf and Shelly Walker initially purchased the Wiggins-Collamer House in Malta in 2020 as the new location for Finishing Touches Home Decor, Walker’s interior design, home decor, and gift company.
They redeveloped part of the building to an ice cream shop called Cookies & Cream, serving customers outside through windows. The ice cream options were expanded the following year, and a coffee bar was added last May.
Now, they have expanded their offerings yet again, introducing a variety of gourmet fudge, truffle, and chocolate products from Chocolate Moonshine.
“There’s nothing like this anywhere around,” said Dockendorf. “We’ve got, pretty much, four businesses in one. We’ve got Finishing Touches, which is the gift store and interior design, we’ve got Cookies & Cream, which is the ice cream, we have the little coffee bar, and then we have now, all the truffles and fudge.”
Dockendorf described Chocolate Moonshine’s products as “a visual experience.”
“It is truly the finest chocolates in the world,” said Dockendorf. “And when I say that, I mean that. It’s just amazing.”
Chocolate Moonshine’s truffle bars are made with Belgian chocolate and a milk chocolate ganache inside, Dockendorf said, and hand-painted with cocoa butter. They also offer gourmet fudge, chocolate-covered turtles, pretzels, and more.
“They make great gifts, great presents,” Dockendorf said. Unless you buy them online, you can’t get them locally. So we added that in.”
Cookies and Cream’s chocolate is located inside across from the coffee bar. The coffee bar opened last year, offering a variety of products including lattes, cappuccinos, espressos, affogato, iced coffee, and organic tea.
“It was supposed to just be a little self-serve coffee station, and it turned into everything,” Walker said. “Which is good, because we sell a lot of lattes, cappuccinos, and espressos.”
The coffee bar also offers a selection of baked goods from The Sugar Fairy Bakes, which recently opened a location in Malta, with Dockendorf saying supporting other local businesses is “what we’re all about here.”
The historic Wiggins-Collamer House was built in 1835 and was formerly used as Malta’s Town Hall, according to information on the Town of Malta website.
The building borders Collamer Park, and features a large outdoor space and patio that Dockendorf and Walker are supplementing with improvements and additions such as a redone lawn, a tent, bathrooms, seating areas, and a variety of outdoor games.
“We put a chess set in, a big, outdoor chess set, which is awesome,” said Dockendorf. “Everybody’s out here every day playing it.”
Dockendorf emphasized his goal of creating a space where people can spend time outdoors, and said that the community response so far has been “unbelievable.”
“We’re trying to create something for the town, for Saratoga, and for the surrounding areas, to make it something special,” said Dockendorf. “Everyone is so excited about it. And we’re excited too, because we want them to come, and have fun with it. It’s not just about us. It’s about getting to know everybody in the town.”
“It’s not just a place people come, get ice cream, and then leave,” Walker added. “They can sit and hang out with their friends, and chat. The kids are going wild out there, running from one thing to the other.”
Dockendorf said he hopes for people to “spend time and hang out” in the park and its adjoining spaces. “I want them to come sit on that picnic table for a couple hours,” said Dockendorf. “Let them have fun. Let them enjoy the park. … I think it’s a wonderful place to spend time.”
Collamer Park also includes a basketball court that adjoins the property, and Dockendorf said he is planning to convert a large bush on the property into a ‘kids zone.’
“I saw a couple kids run in there one day,” Dockendorf said. “I looked in there, and it’s all these vines in there and stuff. So we’re going to make it a kids’ zone. We have lots of kids here, every day. It’s getting busier every day. We love it.”
Dockendorf said since opening, the interactions with the local community have been “the best part about it.”
“We’ve got some wonderful people that work for us,” Dockendorf said. “We’ve got great neighbors and great customers. It’s just amazing. For Shelly and I, it’s the best thing we’ve ever done.”
SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Brilliant Group, owned by Annie & Andrew Brill, has acquired The Saratoga Winery, the group announced in a press release.
The Saratoga Winery is a winery, restaurant, event, and live music venue. It was formerly owned by Tara and Rich Nimmo.
“We are very excited to start this next chapter of our lives and of the business,” said Brilliant Group president Annie Brill in the release. “The Winery is an institution in Saratoga. We feel honored to be at the helm and to purchase a restaurant with such great notoriety and reputation.”
Ms. Brill is the general manager of The Saratoga Winery, and Mr. Brill is a sales manager at Mazzone Hospitality. They have a combined 35 years of industry experience, the release states.
“Saratoga has such a great restaurant scene with loyal customers who love to support great local businesses,” Brill said. “We already have a great thing going at The Winery. Andrew and I are not looking to reinvent the wheel here, but to elevate the food, drink, and overall customer experience. We are also excited to bring our extensive background in events to The Winery and offer even more public and private events to our customer base.”
This is the company’s first restaurant acquisition. The release states that The Brilliant Group’s mission statement is “to offer unique and exceptional hospitality experiences to a local audience.”
