From The Book House relocating to a new storefront at Stuyvesant Plaza to new hotel opening in Schenectady, here’s business-related news from across the Capital Region in brief from February:
The Book House moves to a new storefront at Stuyvesant Plaza
On Feb. 5, a human chain of volunteers formed a book brigade to move the books at The Book House of Stuyvesant Plaza to its new location down the sidewalk.
The woman-owned, independent bookstore of 50 years moved from its current space between Bountiful Bread and Apple Barrel Home + Pantré to a space between Sur La Table and Athleta – the same space the bookstore previously occupied nearly 40 years ago. The store opened at its new space on Feb. 10. Hundreds and hundreds of books neatly organized by genre sit displayed at the new location, lit up by the store’s warm lighting.
“This is our third move, so third time’s a charm,” owner Susan Novotny told the Times Union in October, when the move was first announced. “(This shows) you can go home again.”
The new space is 4,000 square feet, the same size as its previous space, Novotny said. At the new location, The Little Book House, the bookstore’s children’s area, is located more toward the front of the store rather than at the back of the store, where it was located at its previous location.
New hotel opens in Schenectady’s Mohawk Harbor
On Feb. 25, the Hyatt House hotel opened on the north side of Mohawk Harbor in Schenectady.
The new hotel features 100 guest rooms, including 51 apartment-style suites with fully-equipped kitchens, living rooms and bedrooms, according to a news release. Amenities include a 950-square-foot event space and 24-hour fitness room and market. Its opening marks the third hotel on the Mohawk Harbor casino site.
“We want every guest who walks through our doors to feel at home while comfortably maintaining their everyday routines throughout their stay,” general manager Jason Hayes said in the news release. “Whether guests are visiting for a short trip or an extended stay, we know Hyatt House Schenectady will provide a seamless travel experience that will make people feel right at home.”
Rotterdam cornhole facility partners with local professional
The Boardroom & Lounge, a cornhole facility located at 1002 Wedgewood Heights in Rotterdam, has partnered with American Cornhole League professional and Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk High School senior Cameron Dambrioso.
On Feb. 18, Dambrioso offered his first cornhole lesson at The Boardroom & Lounge, said co-owner Karie Countermine. He runs a twice-a-month youth clinic on Sunday mornings and adult and youth private lessons on Monday and Friday evenings, Countermine said.
“He’s looking forward to introducing the growing sport to youth and being a mentor to the kids,” Countermine said. “He has such a love for the game and will be a great role model for the kids. For us, we hope to incorporate the youth into our facility and give them something new and fun to do while providing a safe and fun environment for them to grow and make friends.”
Colonie cigar shop celebrates 30th anniversary
On Feb. 1, Habana Premium Cigar Shoppe in Colonie celebrated its 30th anniversary with music, complimentary cigars, hors d’oeuvres and more.
The shop was founded by Scott Bendett in 1996 “with just 15 boxes of cigars and a dream,” a news release reads. It grew into a shop that sells not only cigars but also pipes, pipe tobacco and related items.
“These last 30 years have been incredible. I’m extremely proud of what we’ve built and deeply grateful to everyone who helped make Habana what it is today. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our team – especially, Alex Waters – and the unwavering support of our customers and community,” Bendett said in the news release.
This article originally published at Business Roundup: The Book House moves, new hotel opens in Schenectady.
