A counter top builder, two restaurants, a retail store, and a ceramics studio, all have plans in the works to open for business soon in the City of Amsterdam.
At last month’s Amsterdam Industrial Development Agency meeting, the board approved a $40,000 loan to EK Granite Stone. The company builds granite, marble, and quartz counter tops and was previously based in Latham, but lost their building to a fire. The company then purchased property at 53 Edson Street, site of a former car wash business, at the recent city auction. The company plans to build a 1,200 square foot building on the property for their operations, and renovate the existing building to house a showroom.
At the same meeting, AIDA also approved a 1 year, $750/month lease with a restaurant named Our Picnic Basket which plans to open a cafe/deli in the agency-owned building at 44 Main Street. The owners could possibly open in June.
At last month’s planning board meeting, a representative of Bohler Engineering presented plans to build a Dollar General store at 201 East Main Street, site of another former car wash business. Plans call for demolition of the old building, new construction and landscaping. In response to concerns brought up by several members of the community, the company agreed to construct a chain-link fence separating the store’s property and an adjacent parking lot owned by Calvary Assembly of God Church, in order to prevent litter blowing onto the lot or foot traffic from crossing the lot. However, the planning board approved the site plan without making the fence a requirement.
Scott Keller and Linda Fountain also presented a plan before the board to open a ceramics studio at 20 Hibbard Street. They plan to renovate the existing building and offer the use of a kiln and work space to artists, as well as provide retail space to sell ceramic items.
The planning board also approved a plan submitted by Robert Zyzes and Rick Insongna who hope to build a 2,000 square foot restaurant facility near the south entrance of the Mohawk Valley Gateway Overlook pedestrian bridge and next to the United Welding building. The partners plan to rent the building out to a restaurant operator. Insongna said they are open to any type of restaurant business at the facility, but expect it to be light-fare cafe.
