Glens Falls Chronicle Serving the Glens Falls/Lake George region; Warren, Washington and northern Saratoga counties since 1980
Growing hotbed of entrepreneurs in GF
By Gordon Woodworth, Chronicle News Editor
Exchange Street in downtown Glens Falls is on the rise, with an established and growing cluster of locally owned businesses and eclectic entrepreneurs.
Ann Parrish has two new tenants at the pre-Civil War building she owns at 16 Exchange Street and where for 15 years she has successfully operated her Milk & Honey clothing and gift boutique.
She rented an upstairs office to Kate Austin-Avon, who runs her Advokate web design and social media company there.
And in early October, Cristina and Nicole Laubenheimer will move their Juicin’ Jar business from South Street into the back restaurant space formerly occupied by Celia’s Table. They plan an expanded menu.
“We have a great mix of energy and creativity here,” Ms. Parrish said of the neighborhood. “We’re a family of entrepreneurs who sincerely care about each other and the success of our businesses.”
Next-door, George Normandin bought 18 Exchange Street, the former Loomis & LaPann building, in 2014. His advertising agency offices are upstairs, and Tim Reed operates Reeds decor and antiques shop on the ground floor.
Across the street is Matt Funiciello’s Rock Hill Bakehouse Café at 19 Exchange. He opened in October 2003 and bought the building in 2011.
Mr. Normandin said, “What I love most about our neighborhood is that we all share a similar creative vision for what this street and city can be in the next 5 to 10 years. We do have different views on things going on in the world and despite our different views, can have a coffee and discuss them cordially and share perspectives. It’s a very special little place.”
Mr. Funiciello, the current Green Party candidate for Congress, said, “It’s very telling that there is not a franchise of any kind on Exchange Street and that there probably never will be. I love the individuality and creativity each of us seem to bring to work every day.”
Mrs. Austin-Avon said, “I’d love to see that alterna-Glens Falls come to life with murals, cobblestones, and a marketplace like Church Street” in Burlington, Vt.
She said, “There’s a solid group of restaurants, merchants and offices there. Were there funds for it, I’d love to see it become the entrance to downtown from the Bonacio project” — the mixed use development going up across Hudson Avenue.
Farther down Exchange Street, toward Glen, are the restaurants Davidson Brothers and 190 Grille, also locally owned.
Mr. Normandin and Mr. Reed have floated the idea of transforming part of the city’s small parking lot next to Rock Hill into a pocket park with a gazebo, trees and perhaps a small performance stage.
Mr. Funiciello goes further.
“Hopefully we can someday disallow traffic on Exchange Street and put a pocket park where the Exchange parking lot currently sits. That would be amazing and it would attract so many more visitors to our beautiful downtown.”
Mr. Reed said the proximity to Rock Hill and Milk & Honey drew him to his space, “and George seemed like a great guy to rent from. He’s very enthusiastic regarding the arts, and creativity in general.”
Cristina Laubenheimer said their relocation of Juicin’ Jay was set in motion when Mrs. Austin-Avon mentioned the vacancy in the Milk & Honey building.
“We are so excited to become part of the street and be closer to the ever-growing downtown,” she said. “I see so much potential in the people and businesses in this community we are so excited to be a part of. This is a big step, and a very exciting step, for us.”
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