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

April 5, 2013 By

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...]

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Hotel operators want to see more bed tax revenue spent on promotion

December 8, 2012 By

Thomson

While the boom in Jefferson County occupancy tax revenue is seen as good, some hotel owners and operators think local government should spend even more of that money on tourism promotion rather than save it for a rainy day.

Ronald G. Thomson, owner-operator of Captain Thomson Resort, the Alex Bay Lodge and Uncle Sam Boat Tours, Alexandria Bay, said it doesn’t make sense to sit on the revenue because the goal of promotion and advertising is to spend a dollar to bring in 10.

“When times are tough, that’s the time to spend even more,” Mr. Thomson said. “What you’re looking at is not a shortfall but an excess of funds — that’s a nice problem to have.”

Mr. Thomson, who is also the town of Alexandria Occupancy Tax Committee chairman, as well as a member of the 1000 Islands International Tourism Council, said tourism is the biggest industry in the county, though it’s sometimes hard to quantify. The amount of revenue the occupancy tax brings in is an easy way to see the net economic benefit to the region.

[Read more...]

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Dark Island Spirits distillery coming in spring to Alexandria Bay

December 5, 2012 By

ALEXANDRIA BAY — Dark Island Spirits distillery will open this spring at the former Muskie Lounge, 42 Church St.

Envisioning the site as a destination for tourists and boaters, Roger R. Reifensnyder, Hammond, plans to retrofit the 1,200-square-foot lounge into a distillery and construct a 1,200-square-foot restaurant, which will expand the building, on a neighboring lot.

The distillery operation will be fueled by grain harvested from an 85-acre farm Mr. Reifensnyder owns in Hammond. It will produce flavored vodka, bourbon and other artisan liquors. To add local flavor, he plans to buy strawberries, cranberries and blueberries from area farmers.

“What we wanted is a walk-to destination,” Mr. Reifensnyder said. “I’ve been to a variety of wineries and tasting rooms that have a social atmosphere, and we thought this particular property in the Bay seems to fit.” [Read more...]

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What’s happening here?

November 11, 2012 By

The outer walls of Price Chopper are taking form as construction continues at the plaza off Route 12 in the town of Alexandria. When complete at the end of April, the store will boost the Schenectady-based chain’s count to 132. Photo by Amanda Morrison.

Price Chopper, Alexandria Bay

Location: Route 12, Alexandria

Size: 31,600 square feet with a 2,500-square-foot covered outdoor area

Cost: $7.6 million

Environmental:
Designed to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification

Estimated completion: April 2013

Local jobs: Several dozen construction jobs. Approximately 130 employees when open, mostly part-time but some full-time.

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Alex Bay Price Chopper scheduled to open at the end of April

October 13, 2012 By

This 3-D rendering shows the Alexandria Price Chopper’s exterior design.

ALEXANDRIA BAY — The new Price Chopper under construction near Interstate 81 is set to open at the end of April as a 24-hour grocery store.

Price Chopper Supermarkets CEO Jerel T. “Jerry” Golub said the new store on Route 12 in the town of Alexandria — the company’s third supermarket in Jefferson County — at 31,000 square feet will be smaller than Watertown’s but the first Price Chopper of its kind.

“We are extremely excited to be in Alexandria Bay,” Mr. Golub said at a groundbreaking ceremony Friday.

[Read more...]

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Ribbon cutting for new Alex Bay shopping center set for Oct. 12

October 9, 2012 By

ALEXANDRIA BAY — There will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Route 12 shopping plaza just off of Interstate 81 in the town of Alexandria at 11 a.m. Friday.

Town of Alexandria’s Planning Board Chairman Thomas Mitchell said the developer — Blue Properties of Tampa, Fla. — aims to complete the construction and open a Price Chopper next spring. Further details on the Price Chopper will be announced Friday, he said.

The other tenants are unknown but the plaza will have a total of five storefronts, and the developer had mentioned its plans for two additional projects in front of the stores.

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Study: 31% of vehicles crossing TI Bridge carry an electronic pass

August 21, 2012 By

ALEXANDRIA BAY — Nearly one in three vehicles that cross the Thousand Islands International Bridge carries an E-ZPass, according to a recent study.

Robert G. Horr III, executive director of the Thousand Islands Bridge Authority, said the 12-month “tag-penetration study” found that 31 percent of all vehicles that drove past the bridge toll booths were equipped with some form of electronic pass — with E-ZPasses making up 98 percent of that.

“The penetration rate is a little higher than expected. When we started the study, we guessed around 20 percent,” he said. “We’re kind of on the fence on where to go from here.”

Around 2 million vehicles, including passenger cars and trucks, cross the bridge annually. The study was initiated last May by TransCore Inc., Middleburg Heights, Ohio.

[Read more...]

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Newly renovated Bonnie Castle Resort & Marina’s grand reopening is Saturday

July 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

ALEXANDRIA BAY — Once one of the most popular resorts along the St. Lawrence River and a pride of the community, Bonnie Castle Manor and Marina has been slowly deteriorating since its prime in the 1980s.

But the four family members who bought the 31 Holland St. resort from the former owner, Donald E. Cole, in May are determined to bring back that heyday glory to Alexandria Bay and are inviting the public to their grand opening ceremony Saturday afternoon.

“The Garlocks and Lozos, we hope to bring the heartbeat back to the Thousand Islands,” said Cathy Fiacco-Garlock, Alexandria Bay, co-owner of Bonnie Castle along with her husband, Craig S. Garlock, her sister Cindy M. Fiacco-Lozo, and her husband, Robert M. Lozo.

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