Category Archives: New Businesses

By rachel Phillips
Dog Haus Biergarten, known for hotdogs and beer, has opened at 7 Southside Drive in Clifton Park.
According to the company, they serve a variety of nitrate-free, hormone-free and antibiotic-free meats. Along with their seven craft hotdogs, the restaurant also serves sausages, burgers and chicken sandwiches, with beer and shakes. Plant-based burgers and sausages from Impossible Foods and Beyond Meat are also on their menu.
The restaurant was founded in 2010 by Hagop Giragossian, Quasim Riaz and André Vener in Pasadena. Calif. The Clifton Park store is one of more than 30 locations across the country, with another 10-plus in development. The local branch is also one of the largest locations in the country, with 20 team members, and a 2,600-square-foot building, according to the company.

Lola Saratoga, a boutique offering a finely-curated selection of high-end accessories and specializing in authentic pre-owned and vintage designer handbags, opened a second storefront at the outdoor lifestyle shopping center in Stuyvesant Plaza, Albany.

By Rachel Phillips
After throwing the idea around for several years, two local union officers decided to try their hand at running their own plumbing business.
C&L Mechanical Corp. is a veteran-owned business that specializes in the piping industry from residential plumbing and HVAC systems, to industrial and commercial piping system installations. Nelson Charron and Dan Levo, who have a combined 40 years of experience between them, launched their business in September.
Based in Moreau, the business services Northeastern New York, from Albany to the Canadian border. Services include plumbing system installations and repairs, backflow prevention, residential and industrial steam and hydronic heating system installation and repairs, fabrication as well as weld inspections. The company is also signatory with Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 773 in Glens Falls to provide manpower when needed.
Charron said the personal approach he and Levo take for each project makes their business stand out among their customers.

By Rachel Phillips
A new Five Guys restaurant is open in Malta.
Located at 4 Kelch Drive the restaurant takes up 2,600 square feet and employs 30 people.
Since its opening, owner Tejraj Hada said business has been good, exceeding expectations.
Hada, a resident of Guilderland, is the owner of RSVT Holding LLC, a franchisee of Five Guys Enterprises LLC, and opened his first Five Guys location in Niskayuna in 2005. Hada has been in the restaurant industry for 14 years and now owns 22 Five Guys locations in the Capital Region and Central New York.
The Five Guys franchise was founded by Jerry and Janie Murrell in 1986 in Washington, D.C. The company has over 1,500 locations across the U.S. and abroad.

By Jill Nagy
When the Night Owl, a cocktail lounge and night club in Saratoga Springs, opened Oct. 5, people were lined up in front of its 17 Maple Ave. location, waiting to get inside, recalled owner Matt Pedersen.
“It was a wonderful party, an amazing turnout,” he said.
He described Night Owl as a “cozy cool cocktail lounge,” serving carefully crafted mixed drinks from 7-10 p.m. Then, the DJs arrive and the dancing begins.

by Andrea Palmer
CRAFT on 9, a brew pub and restaurant has moved from South Glens Falls to 7 South St. in downtown Glens Falls and has expanded its business..
The building was purchased about a year or so ago by Chris Patten, and completely renovated. There are about 18 new apartments upstairs. The building is also home to Hometown Cigars & Lounge at 278 Glen St.
Rob Murphy, owner of CRAFT on 9, and Bill Dingman, general manager, met when they worked together for many years at Bistro Tallulah in Glens Falls.
“When we were designing the place, we wanted to separate sections for dining and for the bar. So we designed the whole front area with the purpose of being a bar and lounge,” Murphy said. “We put the big windows in to keep the place open. Then we invested in a lot for the dining room in the back, apart from the bar area. We think it will be super beneficial to people who just want a drink. We’ll have a smaller, condensed menu with less entrees and more bar fare,” said Murphy.

By Rachel Phillips
Inspired by the cosmopolitan atmosphere and economic growth in the Saratoga area, Corinth native Michael Siska recently opened a barber shop in the Saratoga area to cater to businessmen and professionals.
Siska’s Barber Shop, at 148 South Broadway in Saratoga Springs, has already begun to attract clients looking for an upscale experience, he said. Siska, along with two other barbers, offer services such as general men’s cuts, gentlemen’s cuts, business cuts, eyebrow trims and hot towel shaves. Clients are also offered complimentary espresso and coffee, beer, red and white wine and even hand-rolled cigars.

By Rachel Phillips
While Saratoga Springs has many tattoo studios, an experienced local tattoo artist Bridget Punsalang felt that Clifton Park offered a market waiting to be served.
Because it was close her home and where her children attended school, she felt Clifton Park was the place to stake her claim. She opened Bittersweet Blackbird in Parkwood Plaza at 1758 Route 9 in Clifton Park, after running the numbers and determining it was time to launch her own studio.

by Andrea Palmer
A new beauty salon has opened at 125 Main St. in South Glens Falls.
Danielle Kresge began taking clients at Elle Salon in August and had a soft opening on Sept. 7. A grand opening will be held Nov. 2 from noon to 6 p.m.
“It’s something I’ve wanted to do my whole life, since I was a kid,” said Kresge. “My aunt had a salon and I grew up around that environment. I always had a fascination with hair. I went to beauty school right after high school, and have been doing it ever since.”
Kresge has been in the industry for nine years, most recently working at a salon in Saratoga Springs.
“I knew I wanted to do my own thing and create my own environment, where clients could feel relaxed. I wanted to create a space where I could give each client individual attention and care,” said Kresge. “I want a calm and relaxing atmosphere.”
Kresge moved to the area in 2018 from Florida, to be close to family. She is originally from Scranton, Pa., and currently lives in Glens Falls.