Champion boxer starts club

Gordon N. Griffith paints the inside of the old Balmat school Tuesday at Route 812 and County Route 24. Mr. Griffith is turning the old school into a boxing and wrestling club. Photo by Melanie Kimbler-Lago/Watertown Daily Times.

BALMAT — A two-time New York State Golden Gloves heavyweight champion is starting a boxing club in the former Balmat school.

“For a boxing gym, it’s absolutely beautiful,” said Gordon N. Griffith. “We’re close to being ready to open the club up.”

The club will be for anyone who wants to learn how to box or train. [Read more...]

Kingston entrepreneur shuttles Canadians to malls, airports

Shuttling Canadians across the border to malls and airports is a Kingston businessman’s ambition.

Shuttle Kingston, hatched by Dilip K. Ranchod three weeks ago, offers daily charter trips to the Salmon Run Mall and Destiny USA in Syracuse. The shuttle also offers trips to Hancock International Airport, Syracuse, and will soon make stops at Watertown International Airport. Northern New York residents may also use the service to travel to Kingston. [Read more...]

Overcoming family biz challenges

Depending on what sources you refer to, 80 percent to 90 percent of all businesses in the United States are family owned. I think that trend holds true locally and may even range toward the higher percentage. The fact that the majority of our business community consists of family-run ventures doesn’t mean that being in the family business is easy. In fact, many entrepreneurial families will be quick to tell you that working with family is rewarding, but can also be challenging. [Read more...]

Reh Center honors Waddington businessman

Mark Scott, Waddington town supervisor and owner of Artworks Creperie, 2 Main St., Waddington, will receive Clarkson University’s Reh Center for Entrepreneurship’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award April 19 at the annual Entrepreneur Recognition Dinner. Photo by Jason Hunter/Watertown Daily Times.

WADDINGTON — From its walls peppered with paintings and watercolors by local artists, to its Black Forest crepe topped with chocolate mousse and maraschino cherries, Artworks Creperie, 2 Main St., has become a unique stop for travelers along Route 37.

Although owner Mark Scott is not an artist, he does recognize the importance of investing in local talent — be it the three employees who craft his crepes or the dozens of artists whose works line the walls of his restaurant and gallery. [Read more...]

Behind a big name: With national brands, family hardware stores flourish

Michael H. Stratton, left, is owner and partner in Stratton Hardware with his father, Michael S. The elder Mr. Stratton signed a contract with True Value in 1991. Photo by Justin Sorensen/NNY Business.

The allure of shopping local is being able to buy from your neighbors.

But many consumers enjoy the safety of name-brand, trusted products. To capitalize on both, many family-run hardware stores operate under the larger banner of nationally recognized companies.

ACE Hardware and True Value are two examples of national corporations that boast thousands of shops across the country that are owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. [Read more...]

Small Biz Startup: Massey Ranch

Shawn Massey holds jugs of his Massey Ranch maple syrup at his property in the town of Watertown. Photo by Amanda Morrison/NNY Business.

THE INITIAL IDEA

When Shawn E. Massey purchased approximately 220 acres on the Combs Road in the town of Watertown in 2009, he knew it wouldn’t be long before he turned it into something.

Given that he’s had entrepreneurial blood in his veins since birth, Mr. Massey, president of Massey’s Furniture Barn, Arsenal Street, Watertown, has a hard time sitting still.

After his house was built in 2009 on the property, Mr. Massey founded Massey Ranch, a hobby farm, you-pick pumpkin patch and maple syrup making operation, last year.

“It was humble beginnings and it’s all a labor of love,” Mr. Massey said about Massey Ranch. “I have all this land and I knew I wanted to do something with it to keep me busy but that would also be to the benefit of the community. The ranch does that.”

TARGET CLIENTELE

“Families and children, most definitely,” Mr. Massey said about his target customer.

Massey Ranch offers you-pick pumpkins in the late summer and fall months and tractor rides around the property, including a visit to the pond, which are aimed at bringing together families and getting them outdoors. A giant sand pile near the parking lot ensures that kids will go home just a little dirty from their day on the ranch.

“Another major customer is the soldiers and their families from Fort Drum,” Mr. Massey said. “They don’t always get to see the country and go for wagon rides. They are always overwhelmed by how much fun it is and they don’t have to go that far, or even pay a lot of money.”

THE JOURNEY

As if running one of Watertown’s longest-standing locally owned furniture stores for more than 15 years wasn’t enough to keep him busy, Mr. Massey decided to fill his free time at Massey Ranch by constantly adding to it.

“When I bought the property I had a vision to do something there, but I wasn’t sure what the best thing to do was,” he said.So he built a hay barn and began a hay baling operation. Last year he baled more than 5,000 bales of horse hay, which he sold to local farmers. During last year’s maple syrup season he decided to tap 200 trees and see where it led him.

“My dad tapped trees when I was younger,” he said of his experience with maple syrup production. “I was small at the time but I remember there being a sugar shack and a turkey fryer that he’d use to try and make syrup.”

This year, Mr. Massey tapped more than 500 maple trees and built a sugar shanty on the property, opening just in time for Maple Weekend in March. In the future, he hopes to tap more than 700 trees.

“We sell the maple syrup in a little cottage we have on the property,” he said. During the maple season he also is offering Amish baked goods and other treats for sale, including honey harvested from his own bees on the ranch.

Continuing with the ranch’s evolution, Mr. Massey will turn his property into a year-round destination. He said he does it for the love of being outdoors and seeing families enjoying themselves.

“[The ranch] is my hobby, it’s what I enjoy doing,” he said. “I’m not in it for the money really, I charge for pumpkins during the you-pick season, but it’s nothing meant to make me rich. The Furniture Barn pays my bills and with [the ranch] I try to give back a little.”

IN FIVE YEARS

Though one may think that Mr. Massey is content with his you-pick pumpkins, tractor tours, honey and maple syrup production and hay baling operations, he’s not.

“I planted grapes three years ago and should get my first harvest this year,” he said. “They take time to get established and grow. We will see how they mature, whether we turn them into wine or just sell a grape crop.”

This spring, Mr. Massey is planting 10 acres of raspberry plants as well, in hopes of having an offering of locally-grown fruits in coming years.

All of the excitement doesn’t reside only at Mr. Massey’s newest venture; there are some interesting plans in the works for his furniture business as well.

“[Massey’s Furniture Barn] is not going anywhere,” he said. “It’s been in business for more than 50 years and we’ve got some big plans coming up in the near future in terms of expansion. But I can’t talk about any of that yet.”

Kyle R. Hayes is associate editor of NNY Business. Contact him at 661-2381 or khayes@wdt.net

Keeping it in the family: Many north country business owners passing the torch to their offspring

Scott and Kelly Skinner and their daughter, Katie Skinner Youngs, in an aisle at their store. Photo by Amanda Morrison/NNY Business.

Operating a family business can be challenging and rewarding, yet at times, stressful and frustrating.

In many cases, families have to develop some type of “system” that allows them to work together during the day and still be talking to each other at night.

Several north country family businesses have not only made it work, but have been pretty successful at it. [Read more...]

A brother business: For Matotts, Computer Guys are all in the family

From left, Chris J., Ben M. and Kyle R. Matott, own The Computer Guys in Canton and Potsdam. The three brothers manage the firm that their father, Wendell L. “Lee” Matott, started in 1996. Photo by Jason Hunter/NNY Business.

Tech and text are the two things that bring together the Matott brothers each day.

Kyle R., Christopher J. and Benjamin M. Matott are just doing what they know best, and following in their father’s footsteps. However, as their business, “The Computer Guys,” a two-store family-owned computer repair and textbook sales operation in Canton and Potsdam, continues to grow, they are looking toward the future for new opportunities. [Read more...]

A proud tradition: Fourth generation takes reins at Croghan Meat Market

John M. Campany and daughter Blaine E. stand behind the meat counter at Croghan Meat Market. Ms. Campany is purchasing the market from her parents, becoming the fourth-generation family member to produce Croghan Bologna. Photo by Justin Sorensen/NNY Business.

One of the north country’s most tightly guarded recipes is now in the hands of a new generation of family at Croghan Meat Market.

Blaine E. Campany, whose great-grandfather, Elmer “Buddy” Campany, purchased the market and the original recipe for Croghan Bologna in 1919, recently took the reins as general manager at the century-old store in the heart of the village’s downtown.

Ms. Campany, 23, is buying the business from her parents, plant owners John M. and Charmaine V. Campany. The move comes at a historic time for the Lewis County favorite as 2013 also is the market’s 125th year in operation, the past 94 by the Campany family. [Read more...]

State, Alcoa strike deal to keep 900 jobs, low-cost power

Alcoa employees listen to U.S. Senator Kristen Gillibrand during a press conference at Alcoa Massena Operations, East Plant. Senator Gillibrand was promoting Made In America Manufacturing Act, legislation to help bolster high-tech manufacturing in the North Country. Photo by Melanie Kimbler-Lago/Watertown Daily Times.

Alcoa has committed to investing $42 million to modernize its Massena aluminum production facilities, preserving 900 jobs for the north country, in a deal with the state that guarantees a long-term supply of low-cost electricity from the New York Power Authority.

The critical development, announced by Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo at the close of business Friday, was met with enthusiasm and a huge sigh of relief from community leaders who had been anxiously awaiting Alcoa’s decision as a Sunday deadline approached. The official announcement is scheduled for today in Massena. [Read more...]