UPDATE: Here's the full story from Paul Post. The doors closed at 8 p.m. last night and haven't reopened, employees are waiting to be paid. Read the full story here.

Last week we reported that Beverly's Cafe was closing (it did, on Sunday), today we bring more bad news for breakfast: Saratoga Diner is apparently closed.
We got a call from a (former) employee this morning advising us to get to the South Broadway location right away. She reported that staff arrived to find the doors locked and that several waitresses were outside waiting to be paid.
Reporter Paul Post is tracking this story down right now and we'll have much more to report shortly.

— Emily Donohue

The Russo planning to open a restaurant on Broadway got in touch with us and we have more details on the new restaurant.

Russo’s Restaurant and Bar — Italian-American eatery — is slated to open in March at 390 Broadway.

Click here to read the full story.

Common Thread Saratoga is moving their business from 55 Beekman St. to 508 Broadway, the former Nikita furniture store location, and next to Elizabeth's, which is planning to open the weekend of the Flurry Festival (Feb. 17 to 19). 

The business was located on Broadway two years ago, at 482 Broadway, and was called Saratoga Needle Arts. 

Owner Ashley Gardner said she is "very excited to capture all of the foot traffic from the City Center and the people that come to Saratoga. They didn't make it over to Beekman Street, even though I love Beekman Street."

Gardner also added that Common Thread will offer classes in knitting, crochet and spinning. They will also have drop-in classes and four "semester" classes that will be announced once every three months.

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Michelle LaLonde of Mimosa's is planning a soft opening on Feb. 3 and a grand opening from 4 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the store's new location at 489 Broadway.

The opening party will also feature a 10x10 event showcasing artwork that is 10" by 10" or smaller and costs $100 or less.

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The Saratoga Traveler has moved to a new location at 6 Phila St.

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Mohr's Service Center, at 239 Washington St., is continuing their construction for a new automatic car wash. Directly across from Clean2O. They are planning to open in March.

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For Earth's Sake has opened their doors at 120 West Ave, Suite 102, next to the Fortunate Cup Cafe. The store is bright and beautiful with a variety of selections from food and vitamins/supplements to cosmetics to skin care and more.

Erica Miller

Photography Supervisor

@togianphotog

Since Brindisi’s restaurant started looking for buyers in November, people have been wondering what might be taking its place. (Editor's note: Another hat tip to Saratoga Idiots, you guys are all over the downtown restaurant scene) 

We called Louis Brindisi to see if he had sold, and while he hasn’t confirmed the sale, it seems there may be something to rumors of a new restaurant named Russo’s moving in. (Editor's note: In a text to a Saratogian staffer this morning, Andy Brindisi, Louis' son, did confirm the sale)

Though some may recognize the Russo name from the popular Amsterdam eatery, don’t get the two confused. Amsterdam restaurant owner Mike Russo is emphatic that the Saratoga eatery will have no association with his establishment — besides the name, which he is not pleased to be sharing in the first place.

“I’m the original Russo,” he explained in a phone interview. “I own the Russo’s in Amsterdam. We’ve been here for years. It’s not the original Russo’s that’s opening there, it’s a lost family member.”

Russo did not give the name of the family member in question, but maintained that the two businesses are not, and will not be, related in any way. “They’re going to name it Russo’s, but it’s not part of the original,” he said.

Are you the other Russo? We want to talk to you about your plans, email news@saratogian.com.

Dave Zecchini, owner of DZ Restaurants, confirmed via a voice mail this afternoon that he plans to turn 384 Broadway into a Mediterranean bistro and tapas bar. (Credit goes to Saratoga Idiots for breaking this story last week)
The sale of the property is not yet final, a closing is scheduled next week. The building used to house Raina's boutique and Pizza on Broadway.

Table Hopping's Steve Barnes spoke to Zecchini who said he traveled to Spain last month for research (nice work if you can get it) and hopes to hire a chef from Spain. 

This story was just updated: We'll hopefully have more on this later today, here's the story we've got right now.

Emily Donohue

Here's an update:
The new restaurant will be called Boca Bistro (boca is mouth in Spanish, ours are watering) and might be open as early as May.

Zecchini and his wife Roslyn, who is executive chef for Forno and Pasta Pane, went to Barcelona in part to "immerse themselves in the culinary culture, to truly bring the authenticity of the food and culure to the new restaurant,” Nancy Bambara, DZ Restaurants director of operations, told us.

I drove past the building formerly known as Shoe Depot on my way to work today and saw workers taking down the sign, the end of an era.

Apparently they're doing the work because Frivolous Gal has officially moved in. Welcome to Broadway, Frivolous. May luck be in your favor, 2011 has been a tough year for Broadway's businesses.

Here's the story on the Shoe Depot closing, if you're interested.

-- Emily

UPDATE: The owner of the building, Calvi, just returned an earlier call we placed to him to say the building has not yet been sold, the sale is not finalized.

Reporter Lucian McCarty and photographer Erica Miller just got back from Broadway where there's been another business shake-up.

Raina's and Pizza on Broadway are both out -- their building at 384 Broadway may be purchased has been purchased. The owner of Raina's confirmed that DZ Restaurants is the purchaser (well, she said it was Chianti's, but of course we know that DZ owns Chianti's, Forno and Pasta Pane).

Lorri Birmingham, owner of Raina's, says she plans to move just down the street into the former home of Zola Kids. No word on if or where Pizza on Broadway will find a new home.

Someone who answered the phone at DZ Restauants, but clammed up when she realized she was talking to a reporter, said a DZ is planning a new restaurant for the location.

What do you think? What kind of restaurant would you like to see in that primo location on Broadway? I'm getting hungry just thinking about it... or maybe I'm a bit overdue for lunch.

We'll have more on this later today, here's the story we've got so far. 

-- Emily

Man, I hate this. We said goodbye to another business Saratogian business reporter last week. Suzanna Lourie has left the newsroom and is embarking (soon) on a new career teaching in Costa Rica.

So, until we hire a new reporter (Interested? Send us your resume!) this blog will be on a bit of a hiatus. Assistant Managing Editor Betsy DeMars and I are going to try to throw as much news as we can in here, but please bear with us.

If you've got business news tips, please send them to news@saratogian.com.

Also, you can still follow Suzanna on twitter, @SuzannaKLourie. Hopefully she'll have another blog on our site soon, chronicling her adventures abroad.


Thanks for reading,

Emily Donohue
Online Editor