Saratoga Army and Navy moving down the road

In case you missed the massive yellow sign in the window of Saratoga Army and Navy Outfitters, the store is moving Aug. 1 from the corner of Broadway and Ellsworth Jones Place down to Exit 15, where it’ll share a plaza with Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries. The move will double the store’s size to 3,000 square feet.
“Our customers have been begging us to do this forever,” said owner Brett Reihs, who opened the store 12 years ago. The majority of customers who shop at his Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park and Niskayuna stores are contractors seeking work clothing, boots and other gear, he said, and the shop at |516 Broadway is inaccessible to many of them who live on the outskirts of town.
The much-anticipated move will allow Reihs to clear out old inventory and offer more of a selection at the new store.
“The economy isn’t as bad for our business as it is for some businesses,” Reihs said. “Guys have to have work clothes.”


B’Spa’s Midtown Wine now carries fair trade spirits

What’s a fair trade? Good wine for a good cause.
Since May, Midtown Wine and Spirits in Ballston Spa has been carrying two lines of certified fair trade wine from Argentina: Ecologica and Santa Florentina, which owners Jim and Pat Dorey buy from an Elmira distributing company.
Store manager Judy Pecoraro said the store’s move follows in the footsteps of many businesses in the village, as the Ballston Spa Village Board of Trustees passed a resolution to go fair trade just last year. Ballston Spa is the only town in New York state that is registered as fair trade, Pecoraro said.
The sale of the fair trade wine supports fair labor conditions for the farmers who produce it, a fair price for local consumers, direct trade and environmental sustainability.
“It’s only fair that people are ensured fair wages — we get fair wages,” Pecoraro said. “We want to help our community do its part in contributing to global fairness.”
Find out more about fair trade at http://transfairusa.org.

Spa City Cupcakes expands sweet offerings

As it marks its first birthday, Spa City Cupcakes is evolving into more than a one-stop shop for those with a sugar craving.
Owners Rachel and Joe St. Martin recently moved the shop a few doors down to a bigger location in the Downstreet Marketplace on Broadway, which affords them the space to expand their offerings and their purpose.
“We wanted to create a place where people could come here and sit down and enjoy a cupcake and a drink,” Rachel St. Martin said.
In addition to a variety of new cupcake flavors like coffee, root beer float and strawberry banana, the shop now offers stuffed Rice Krispie treats, chocolate chip cookie sandwiches and gobs (otherwise known as whoopee pies). A French press service is coming to the menu soon, too. And, four friendly new employees are on hand to assist customers in flavor selection, the St. Martins said.
Wi-fi access, atmospheric music and expanded seating are all the more reason to stop and smell the frosting in the cheerful bakery/café. Really hard-core cupcake fans might be interested in new merchandise like originally designed T-shirts, artwork and mugs all featuring the trademark treat.
In their effort to use customer feedback to grow their business, the St. Martins also do catering, host birthday parties and plan to offer baking classes for kids ages 5 and up this fall.
“We want to be part of the community,” they said.
Summer hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Call 321-0758 or check out the Web site (currently under construction), www.spacitycupcakes.com.