Category Archives: New Businesses

By Maureen Werther

After four successful years in business, 23rd and Fourth Interior Design studio and showroom has moved to a new location at 130 Excelsior Ave. in Saratoga Springs.

Formerly located in Franklin Square, the mother/daughter ownership team of Janet Longe and Jamie Davies said that it was time to expand into a larger space.

“We were busting at the seams and we were also looking for a space that gave us more visibility,” said Davies.

Originally, Longe and Davies had considered building their own space. They were in the process of looking at plans for a 6,000-square-foot showroom and studio when Davies happened to drive by the building on Excelsior Avenue that was recently completed by Bonacio Construction.

Davies said that she might have missed out on it if she, her husband, and their two young children had been at her parent’s summer house on Brandt Lake.

“Usually, we are all up there every weekend during the summer. My mom finally said that she needed a weekend without all of us there,” she said, laughing. “So, instead, I was home in Saratoga on a Saturday, and I decided to go to the Farmer’s Market.”

That is when Davies drove by the property. The ceiling-to-floor glass windows had just been installed and Davies said there was something special about the look of the building. It wasn’t as big as they were looking for, but when they went to see it, Davies and her mother were both sold.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Upstate New York, football season and wings. It’s a winning combination that the new Wings Over Saratoga owners counted on.

Joe Hill and his son, Tanner, have been running the wing restaurant for over a month and Hill said they are excited about the initial response.

“Thing are going really well. Of course it’s football season, so with wings and football, you can’t go wrong,” said Hill about the weeks leading through the Super Bowl.

Hill said Tanner worked with the previous owner for 10 years as assistant manger and when they were ready to go into a different direction and sell the business, they looked to his son.

Hill said he went into business with his son after working in the building trade sector for over 30 years. He was considering different business options, but eventually felt that working with his son would be a positive experience.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

For over 10 years, Vinny Frederico and his staff have been serving many loyal patrons from Saratoga County at Vinny’s Barber Shop in Malta.

Spinning off of that success, Frederico opened a second Vinny’s Barber Shop location at 57 Railroad Place in Saratoga Springs last month. He said the decision was one that was a long time coming.

“For a very long time I thought about opening up a downtown Saratoga location. With the business district, college, and track season, that area needs a barber shop,” said Frederico.

He said even though the Railroad Street location is not far from Malta, he felt bad for his Saratoga customers who had to get on the Northway and drive for a haircut.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Alaturco Mediterranean Grill owner Rauf Ziya wasn’t sure how well his restaurant would do, but months after the grand opening, he happily reports that the Clifton Park restaurant is exceeding his expectations.

Ziya said the Clifton Park Center location on Clifton Country Road has been a huge asset to his Turkish cuisine business.

“It has been wonderful, it truly has,” said Ziya.

Ziya said that the food they serve in his 2,600-square-foot restaurant is much more than just a meal. Ziya describes each dish as a craft that tells a story of Turkish heritage. The lunch and dinner selections also are all accompanied by unique Turkish wine selections, as well as domestic drink options.

By Maureen Werther

Reading Autumn Wright’s resume before visiting her hair and beauty salon, one  might have a hard time believing that she is a licensed cosmetologist.

This Marine Corps veteran, who specialized in driving 22.5- ton hydraulic trucks in Iraq, also loves doing hair and makeup and does so at Seraphina Divine Beauty in Ballston Spa.

After graduating from Ballston Spa High School in 2005, Wright enrolled in the Marine Corps. As she headed out to boot camp, the former high school cheerleader’s parents didn’t think she would last more than a week.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Augie’s Family Style Restaurant in Ballston Spa will be expanding into Saratoga Springs  early next year.

Augie’s Family Style To Go will open at 223 Lake Ave. From ready-to-heat and eat meals to desserts, the new location will serve as a convenient stop and shop for those seeking fresh Italian food.

Augie’s owner, Augie Vitiello, said he was hoping to hold out a little on the announcement of the Saratoga business, but people began to talk and ask questions about it. He said for years patrons have said they would love a second location with a take-out option.

By Jill Nagy

The Floor Store is back and in a new location after a five-year hiatus.

Owner Paul Mastroieni was working in the financial field after giving up a six-store group of flooring outlets in 2011.

“I hated finance,” he said, and so he is back in his previous business with a store at 7 Kendall Way in Malta, part of the Shops of Malta near Exit 12 of the Northway.

By Maureen Werther

Halfmoon Wine and Liquor store opened in November in the Crescent Commons shopping plaza.

The store is located at 1471 Route 9, just south of Grooms Road in the town of Halfmoon.

By Jennifer Farnsworth

Saratoga native Brandon Bogardus is adding his name to the roster of local of financial advisors under the Edward Jones Financial  umbrella.

A 2012 graduate of Saratoga High School, Bogardus will officially be an Edward Jones advisor early next year,  after completing an intense training course that will allow him to offer a variety of financial planning tools to area residents.

Bogardus said the business will focus on five specific client needs; preparing for retirement, living in retirement, paying for education, planning an estate and preparing for the unexpected.

Lisa Bernunzio, left, and Jennifer Marshall own and operate the Moxie on Maple.©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com

The Moxie on Maple is a new salon to open in the Spa City at 19 Maple Avenue.

Co-owners Jennifer Marshall and Lisa Bernunzio have been involved in the industry for several years. Bernunzio lived and worked in New York City, attending the Carsten-Aveda Institute and working as a hair stylist. Marshall is from the local region and has worked in salons in the area.