By Christine Graf
Stewart’s Shops has announced plans to spend $50 million to construct new stores and replace smaller, older stores with shops that include more space for prepared foods and coffee.
All new stores will have expanded parking lots and gasoline services, and some will include beer caves, the company said.
The new stores will be located in 11 counties including Albany, Saratoga, Oswego, Rensselaer, Oneida, Warren, Columbia, Essex, Clinton, Ulster, and Orange .
According to company spokesperson Erica Komoroske, the new locations will average 3,750 square feet in size and cost between $2.5 million and $3 million to construct. Fifteen new stores are slated for 2019, and stores in Clifton Park, Mechanicville, Oswego, Yorkville, and Brunswick have already been completed. The company hopes to finish work on the remaining 10 stores by the end of the year.
Stewart’s also has major remodels planned for several existing locations.
Commercial Real Estate Strong In Saratoga; Retailers Are Seeking Small, Workable Spaces

By Maureen Werther
Saratoga County is one of the fastest growing counties in New York state and the commercial real estate market is more than holding its own, according to local real estate agents.
Commercial real estate markets, like other markets, tend to be cyclical in nature. One of the challenges for businesses looking for a prime location is making sure they can access skilled workers.
“We are seeing business across all the service sectors. They are never going away … Food service businesses, hair and nail salons, spa and massage studios. We also have a lot of medical companies going into retail spaces, such as urgent care facilities,” said Alex Kutikov, principal, broker and partner of RedMark Realty in Clifton Park.
Saratoga County Residential Real Estate Sales Are Expected To Thrive In Foreseeable Future

By Maureen Werther
Anyone who has ever worked in real estate knows the adage, “All real estate is local,” which means that what is happening in other parts of the country is not necessarily indicative of what is currently happening, or what is likely to happen over time in this market.
Take the economic downturn of 10 years ago, for example. While in other parts of the country real estate markets took a nosedive that lasted for a long period of time, the local market did not feel the recession as badly and it recovered more quickly.
Karen Charbonneau of the Saratoga Home Team group agrees with the adage. She has been in real estate for 24 years. Originally from Massachusetts, she has been working with buyers and sellers in this region for the last eight years.
Local Opportunities For Negotiating Leases On Commmercial Properties Appear Strong

By Alfred Testa
Regardless of whether commercial property owners have one or multiple properties, are looking to acquire new property, or renovate or develop new space, financing is always an integral part of the process.
In Saratoga Springs, continued growth downtown is bringing more residential development and mixed-use spaces. In Glens Falls, old spaces are becoming new again as a resurgence in millennials is driving new demand.
Whether your focus is on multi-family housing, self-storage, mixed-used properties, office space or retail, the opportunities for commercial property acquisition remain strong. But without a good relationship with a commercial banker, getting through the process can be very challenging.
Michaels Group To Start Site Work This Fall On 49-Unit Subdivision In Town Of Moreau

Courtesy The Michaels Group
By Jill Nagy
Michaels Group Homes plans to begin work this fall on a new 49-lot subdivision at the intersection of Fort Edward and Bluebird roads in the town of Moreau.
The development, called Winterberry, will consist of ranch-style and two-story homes on lots of approximately half an acre each, according to the company
Luke Michaels, principal at Michaels Group Homes in Malta, said he expects to begin work on roads and utilities this fall and have a model home ready to open in the spring. The exact layout of the subdivision has not been determined nor have prices for the homes, he said.
Scott Varley Real Estate Team To Move Into Building On Broadway He Purchased In June
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Local real estate broker Scott Varley will be moving his sales team sometime early next year. After having purchased 378-382 Broadway in Saratoga Springs in June, Varley and his team are now getting closer to moving their office to that location.
The move will be just across the street from his currently leased space. Varley said the move will allow them to create a space that is unique and reflective of the business. The four-story brick building is located across the street from Saratoga Stadium restaurant, Fingerpaint headquarters and the Adelphi Hotel. Owning something downtown, Varley said, is something he has thought about since first getting into the business.
Amedore Homes Plans To Build Townhome Complex In Stillwater Totaling 76 Apartments
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Amedore Homes is in the final stages of getting a project approved with the village of Stillwater.
The company has plans include to construction townhomes and two retail properties on land at Route 423 and Route 9P.
John Bossalini of Amedore Homes said he plan calls for 19 multi-family buildings consisting of a total of 76 two-bedroom townhomes. He said the homes will have two bathrooms, laundry hookups, a kitchen, den and an individual garage.
Business Report: Tips For Negotiating Commercial Leases

By Jennifer Tsyn
Whether your business is just starting up, expanding or relocating, a key concern for most businesses is finding the right space. That process can be fraught with difficulties, especially when it comes to negotiating the lease.
Most landlords will present prospective tenants with a draft lease that is very favorable to the landlord. This means that when negotiating with the landlord, it is easy for tenants to overlook issues that may cause problems in the future.
Here are some of the key issues a new tenant should consider when reviewing a draft lease for commercial space include:
West Ave. Shopping Plaza Sells For $4.3M In Busy Local Commercial Real Estate Market

By Liz Witbeck
As Saratoga Springs expands with businesses and homes, companies are looking outside of downtown for places to build. Developments on West Avenue are among growing areas in the city.
Lookout Saratoga LLC recently purchased a strip mall at 60 West Ave. in Saratoga Springs. The plaza contains approximately 30,000 square feet of commercial space.
60 West Avenue LLC purchased the former G. Heath King furniture store within the strip mall in 2007 and renovated it into its current condition—a 30,000-square-foot shopping plaza.
The new owner, Lookout Saratoga LLC, is an independent investor with some similar properties in the Capital District .
The plaza sold for $4.3 million, according to real estate companies involved in the transaction.
Revised MLS Service Pays Royalties To Real Estate Agents That List Their Properties

©2017 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Susan E. Campbell
A Multiple Listing Service provides up-to-date databases of properties for sale that those in the real estate industry use and rely on regularly.
Sellers get maximum exposure to a regional market of prospective buyers. Buyers get quick, and free access to listings and have an easy way to refine searches and make comparisons.
Brokers who help one another sell properties are ensured of receiving a commission for their role in a successful transaction.
Locally, it is taking on a new twist.
But Stuart Thomas of Reality Realty of Saratoga, a director of the Saratoga Schenectady Schoharie Association of Realtors Inc., said he had an issue for decades that he and some of his long-time associates have recently resolved.
Thomas has taken the lead in creating a new kind of MLS, called First Choice MLS. He said it is the first known service that monetizes an MLS. It becomes a source of income for real estate professionals, even if the properties they list don’t sell during the six-month contract period.