By Christine Graf

Local entrepreneur John Bardino has expanded his shipping business brand with the opening of his newest business, Saratoga Crating.

He opened the new shop after his Mail Center USA pack-and-ship company, also in Clifton park, was hired to ship items that were sold at the Jim Taylor auction in Gloversville. That October auction included a collection of 131 classic vehicles, as well as tables full of automobilia—collectibles related to classic cars.

“It was a $21 million auction, and they called on us to pack and ship a lot of the stuff. It took two and half months, and there were some large neon signs and a lot of other things that needed to be crated rather than corrugated (packed in a box),” said Bardino. “So, we just ventured into crating right then and there. I hired my first subcontractor—a builder—and we started building the crates.”

Saratoga Crating operates out of Mail Center USA’s location at 641 Grooms Road in Clifton Park. Bardino also owns Saratoga Classics, an online used auto parts retailer, as well as Milton Pack and Ship at 15 Treible Ave. in Ballston Spa.

By Paul Post

When Bob Blais—Saratoga Springs native and graduate of Saratoga High School—took the office of village of Lake George mayor there was only one special event in Lake George, a weekly Tuesday night band concert.

Now there’s an endless variety of year-round attractions such as Americade motorcycle rally, Adirondack Nationals car show, Ice Castles and a full lineup of events at Charles R. Wood Park’s Festival Commons like the Adirondack Wine & Food Festival and numerous concerts.

Together they draw tens of thousands of visitors to Lake George each year, which drives the local tourism economy. But without Blais’ leadership, it may not have been possible.

“People say, ‘How come you’ve been mayor for 52 years?’ It just takes me longer,” he said. “But I like to think when we get it done, we do it right.”

Blais’ career as America’s longest-tenured mayor is scheduled to end March 31 when his retirement takes effect. But his contributions to the area’s economic development will be felt for many years to come.

“His greatest attribute is his clear passion for the area,” state Sen. Dan Stec said. “It comes through in everything he says and does. Any time you talk to Bob Blais you can see this true love of Lake

The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce  is now accepting nominations for the 2023 Joseph Dalton Community Service Award.

The winner will be honored at the Chamber  annual gala on May 11. 

Nominations should be emailed to Todd Shimkus, Chamber president, at tshimkus@saratoga.org no later than Friday, March 24.

“Each and every day, we experience what it’s like to live in a thriving community thanks, in part, to individuals and organizations who work tirelessly to make Saratoga County one of the best places to live, work, and play,” said Shimkus. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to recognize a few select individuals who have made a remarkable commitment to our community.”

The award was created by unanimous vote of the Chamber board of directors in 2017. It  recognizes and honors Joseph Dalton, who served as president of the Chamber from 1970 to 2010. During his tenure, the Chamber’s membership, influence, and impact grew significantly as a direct result of Dalton’s leadership, passion, and commitment to establishing Saratoga County as a great place to live, work, and play.

Past recipients include Steve Sullivan (2018), Tom Roohan (2019), John Munter Sr. (2020), Julie Stokes (2021) and Cliff Van Wagner (2022).

By Jill Nagy

Eddie F’s New England Seafood, a Saratoga Springs mainstay, opened a second restaurant,  in Clifton Park on Feb. 1. 

The new outlet, at 1742 Route 9, is three times the size of the Saratoga restaurant and more of a conventional sit-down restaurant. The Saratoga restaurant, at 119 Clinton St. remains open.

In Saratoga, Eddie F’s specializes in what owner Eddie Fazzone calls “summer food.”  In fact, in the past, he has closed during December and January. 

Specialties at his restaurants include lobster rolls, fried fish, clams and similar seafood with most customers buying their food to take out. Orders can also be placed online at eddiefs.com. He offers gluten-free fried seafood, coated in corn flour. The regular fried items are lightly floured with no bread crumbs, he said. Most dishes come with a choice of onion rings or French fries.

During the Saratoga Race Course summer season in July and August, Fazzone operates a walk-up stand at the track.

by Jill Nagy

When Adam Foti’s PDT Marketplace opens later this month, it will be “not like any supermarket you have ever seen,” he said.  

The market, in the former Price Chopper store at 55 Railroad Place in downtown Saratoga Springs, will have seven aisles of groceries surrounded by prepared foods, flowers and plants, a variety of personal care and household products. It will also have a bar and places to sit and eat.

PDT stands for Pomme de Terre, translated on the PDT Marketplace website as “apple of the earth,” but more commonly, a potato.

Foti combines his skills and experience as a trained chef with what he has learned in more than 20 years in corporate retail. 

He describes the atmosphere of his business as having a “French and Italian feeling.” To produce that feeling, he had the building completely gutted and renovated.

“We just kept the shell of the old store,” he said. Bonacio Construction did the work, guided by ABN Design.