Downtown Gloversville
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Events in Downtown Gloversville
This Week's Happenings in Downtown Gloversville
Coming up in Downtown Gloversville:
Glove Cities Yoga, 24 Prospect Ave., will host “Yoga for Every Body” class on Dec. 3 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Another session will also be held on Dec. 3 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Fee: $15. Register and prepay: https://app.ubindi.com/Laurie.Freeman
The Glove Theatre, 42 N. Main St., will show the film “I, Tonya” (Rated R) on Dec. 4 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Free. Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market, 30 N. Main St., will host open mic night on Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m.
The Friends of the Gloversville Public Library will host “The Dreamcatchers” in concert at the library, 58 E. Fulton St., on Dec. 5 at 3 p.m. Limited seating so registration is required at the Event located on the Calendar at https://gloversvillelibrary.org
The Glove Theatre, 42 N. Main St., along with the Caroga Arts Collective: Caroga Lake Music Festival, will present “A Very Vivaldi Christmas Carol” on Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. Tickets: https://ticketstripe.com/vivaldixmas
Schine Gallery, third floor of Schine Memorial Hall at 40 N. Main St., continues to host the “Schine on the Holidays 2024” exhibit with hours on Dec. 6 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Glove Cities Yoga, 24 Prospect Ave., will host “Yoga for Every Body” class on Dec. 7 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. Fee: $15. Register and prepay: https://app.ubindi.com/Laurie.Freeman
Park Terrace Express will be held at Park Terrace Elementary School, 50 Bloomingdale Ave., on Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ($10/person or $35/four people as all proceeds are donated to the GESD backpack program).
Gloversville Recreation Commission will host the Gloversville Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting on Dec. 7 starting at 5 p.m. The parade route will begin at the intersection of North Main and 8th Avenue and will end on South Main Street at Forest and Vine streets. Walk over to Wandel Park on Spring Street and Elm immediately after the parade for the Christmas tree lighting.
Upstate RC and Hobbies, 91 N. Main St., will host Santa on Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Photos: $10 for a 4x6 and $5 per extra photo.
Schine Gallery, third floor of Schine Memorial Hall at 40 N. Main St., continues to host the “Schine on the Holidays 2024” exhibit with hours on Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The Glove TheatreThe Glove Theatre, 42 N. Main St., shows the film “The Wizard of Oz” on Dec. 8 at 2 p.m. for free to celebrate the movie’s 85th anniversary screening.
Micropolis Cooperative, Inc.., 30 N. Main St, continues the exhibit “Holiday Show” and the sculpture exhibit, “World of Possibility” continues at Karpeles Museum, 66 Kingsboro Ave. Western Square Dance lessons are happening at The Shoeleather Express, 31 Spring St. on Thursdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. through December 19. Cost is $10 per person.
Watch "Wizard of Oz" on the Big Screen at The Glove Theatre
Follow the Yellow Brick Road on Dec. 8 at 2pm to The Glove Theatre for a special free matinee showing of the 1939 classic film "The Wizard of Oz."
2024 marks the movie's 85th anniversary -- with the opening of the movie "Wicked" (a prequel to the Wizard of Oz), it seems fitting to revisit the 1939 classic on our big screen (many of us have only seen this spectacular movie on television), according to a release from The Glove Theatre.
Did you know that many of the brick buildings in Gloversville are yellow? There also used to be yellow brick roads in Gloversville back in the day.
Did you know that one of the Munchkins (the “Mayfield Munchkin,” Margaret Cynthia Nickloy) was born in Mayfield in 1902.
She was invited by then theater manager, Lou Hart, to take part in the Gloversville/Glove Theatre premiere of the Wizard of Oz. Margaret appeared on The Glove's stage and described her filming experience. Come to The Glove Theater Museum (located next to the theater) to see Magaret's picture and to learn more.
Visit Santa in Downtown Gloversville
Santa will be in Downtown Gloversville on certain dates during the holiday season. Santa Sightings include the following:
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Park Terrace Express, Park Terrace Elementary School, 50 Bloomingdale Ave., which is held on Dec. 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, and 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Ride the express, make reindeer food, create ornaments, and more. ($10/person or $35/four people as all proceeds are donated to the GESD backpack program).
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Gloversville Parade and Tree Lighting on Dec. 7: Parade starts at 5 p.m. with Santa as a guest and he will go the tree lighting immediately following at Wandel Park.
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Upstate RC and Hobbies, 91 N. Main St. on Dec. 8, Dec. 14, Dec. 15 and Dec. 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. There is a $10 fee for a 4x6 picture and $5 per extra photo.
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Fulton County Museum on December 14 at 10:30 a.m. Hear some of Santa’s favorite stories and enjoy hot cocoa and holiday treats. Free! This event is sponsored by the Fulton County Board of Supervisors and Fulton County Historian's Office.
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The Glove Theatre, 42 N. Main St., on Dec. 15 from noon to 3 p.m. Bring your family and meet the man, the legend himself, Mr. Claus, and his whole family a once-per-season photo-op with them, yourself, and your little one for that special holiday memory you will all cherish forever. Take part in The Glove Theatre’s lobby tree lighting, sing some Christmas carols with The Clauses, and stay for a short, surprise holiday movie afterwards! Concessions and holiday hot chocolate selections will be on sale! Photos with Santa will begin promptly at noon and run til approximately 3.00pm. Please bring YOUR OWN camera, smartphone, or other recording device for your pictures.
Did You Know?
Did you know there are two new businesses in Gloversville?
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Plaza Deli Plus is located at 50 Church St. and is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
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Fresh, owned by Kenneth Brooks, is now open at 10 S. Main St. and sells new and slightly pre-loved footwear. Hours are Mondays through Fridays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Did you know that Margaret Cynthia Nickloy was born in Mayfield in 1902 and after a brief stint in the circus as “Princess Marguerite,” she was cast in “The Wizard of Oz”? According to an article hanging in The Glove Theatre Museum (located at 42 N. Main St.), she was invited by the then theater manager Lou Hart to take part in the Gloversville premiere of the movie at the Glove Theatre. She came and appeared on stage to describe her filming experience. A picture of her also hangs at the museum, located next to the theater at 44 N. Main St. She returned to Gloversville where she passed away in the early 1960s. She was buried in the pauper section of the Gloversville Prospect Hill Cemetery. To find her grave, enter the “Emerald Forest” of greenery at the end of Pearl Street and walk the path to the accessible area where you can find her headstone near a tree.
Congrats to Cravings Bakery and Cafe, located at 47 Cayadutta St., for winning the 2024 Readers' Choice Award by the Leader-Herald-Recorder newspapers for best bakery!
Did you know The Glove Theatre is 110 years old? Built in 1914, it began presenting Vaudeville shows, and operas. In the 1950s, the 800-seat theatre presented motion pictures and was the largest movie house in Fulton County. Also in the Century Plus Club are Rossbach Shoes (1922), Bowman’s Meat Market (1922) and Palace Diner (1923). Castiglione Jewelers, 25 N. Main St., will celebrate 100 years soon as it was founded in 1929.
Did you know the Fulton County Museum, 237 Kingsboro Ave., is on the Haunted History Trail of New York State? Learn more at hauntedhistorytrail.com/explore/fulton-county-historical-society
Did you know Gloversville High School alumnus Eric Vetro is a Hollywood vocal coach to the stars? His clients include Ariana Grande. He recently donated a $15,000 scholarship to GHS and Kendra Breton, the first recipient of Vetro’s scholarship, to pursue music education at Roberts Wesleyan University in Rochester. An article on Eric, his life in Gloversville, the influence of The Glove Theatre on him and more can be found online at the Times Union newspaper.
Did you know Gloversville and our glove-making history were mentioned in a recent New York Times article? “How a Book About Gloves Inspired a Masterpiece by Philp Roth” by Sam Grahm-Felsen can be found in the “What to Read” section at www.nytimes.com
Did you also know that gloves are being made in Downtown Gloversville? SAMCO is located at 8 E. Fulton St. (the former Leader-Herald building) and as an apparel manufacturer, they also create military leather gloves.
Did you know that 44 Lakes Customized Gifts and Decor, located at 15 N. Main St., won a Daily Gazette Best of the Best People's Choice Awards?
Did you know that Wishes N Dreams Past N Present, 11 W. Fulton St., was showcased as the Fulton-Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting and “welcome to the neighborhood” ceremony for the new business on Sept. 27? The shop sells jewelry, hand bags, clothing, pens, homemade soaps, décor and more!
Did you know a podcast that is on 50 platforms worldwide is recorded in Gloversville? Located at 29 W. Fulton St., MindShift Power Podcast is hosted and created by Fatima Bey and is “for teens, about teens, and anyone who works with teens.” Learn more at fatimabey.com/podcast
Did you known that Adirondack Exotics is moving to a new location? The new address will be 110 South Main St.
Did you know that Golden Garden Parties is located in Downtown Gloversville at 34 N. Main St. and you can reserve their indoor space for private events or photo shoots? Visit their website https://www.goldengardenparties.com/ for details.
Did you know that Upstate Coffee is produced in Downtown Gloversville? Headquartered at 34 W. Fulton St., it can be found locally to purchase at Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market and now you can also purchase when traveling in several other states at The Fresh Markets. Congrats on your business growth!
Did you know that Gloversville Family Dentistry, located at 22 1st Ave., is a part of The Family Dentistry Group of New York and they won a Top Workplaces Award 2024 by the Times Union? The award is presented to the top workplaces in the Capital District. Congrats!
Pegasus Digital Media, owned by Greg Hitchcock, is in the Purple Glass Healing Arts building at 64 E. Fulton St and recently participated in the NYC Chamber Business Expo in September. Call: 406-630-2102 Email: greghitch66@gmail.com Web: www.pegasusdigitalmedia.com
Office space is available at Purple Glass Healing Arts building at 64 E. Fulton St. Information and tours: email info@purpleglasshealingarts.com or call (518) 224-2583.
Congrats to the newest team member at SW the Spa, located at Fremon St. Mickecoll Sanoguet is a massage therapist. Call: 518-773-3992 Email: sherry@skincaretherapy.net Web: sw-dayspa.com
Downtown Gloversville News
Discover the latest developments that are occurring in Downtown Gloversville.
Media Inquiries: (518) 725-7700
SUNY Albany Graduate Students Tour DRI
On October 18, 2024, several MRP students in SUNY Albany’s Department of Geography and Planning visited Gloversville and took a walking tour of Downtown to view the projects under the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant.
Through the organizing of Fulton County Planning Department and Fulton County Center for Regional Growth, they had the opportunity to walk on construction sites at St. Thomas Square and Schine Memorial Hall after learning about the DRI’s planning and application process from Mayor Vince DeSantis.
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NYS Baseball Hall of Fame Hosts Summer Induction Ceremony
GLOVERSVILLE – The New York State Baseball Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF), located at 45 Harrison St., honored and inducted three baseball players on Aug. 31, 2024. The inductees were George Joseph Burns (1910-1927), John Henry "Zip" Northrup and Ed "the Glider" Charles (1962-1969). The summer celebration and induction ceremony is held every August as the NYSBHOF highlights the lives of exceptional people who brought honor to the game. Mike Hauser gave the induction speech for his grand uncle George Burns. George played 15 years in the Major Leagues and then called Gloversville home for the last 40 years of his life. Ed Charles’ son flew in from Kansas City, along with family who flew in from Colorado, to give his father’s induction speech as well as reciting poetry that Ed wrote. "The Glider" was the starting third baseman of the WS Champion 1969 NY METS. John Henry Northrup played for the NY CUBAN GIANTS from 1906-1910, playing all 9 positions on the field. He played exclusively for NYS teams, Weedsport Watsons, Batavia, Buffalo, Syracuse and others from 1900 to 1933. Irene Zahos delivered the induction speech and Don Northrup did the panel discussion
New Architect Firm to Design
The Glove Theatre’s DRI Project
GLOVERSVILLE - The Glove Theatre, located at 42 N. Main St., will head architectural firm Thayer, Wilson, and Riley at the helm of their renovation project that was awarded $2 million through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant program and another $2 million through Restore NY.
The firm specializes in the restoration, renovation and adaptive reuse of existing and historic buildings.
The planned work will expand audience capacity and enhance its ability to host diverse performances, including musicals, plays, dance parties, and music events.
Renovations to Main Street Buidling Will Bring Restaurant to Downtown
GLOVERSVILLE - Downtown Gloversville has been watching Dan Lentini and Lauren Day renovating 33 N. Main Street this summer.
As the couple worked, they have discover a beautiful glass storefront facade and tin ceilings inside the former Johnson & Murphy store.
They are working on bringing their building back to historic glory and will open a new restaurant inside with an estimated timeline of the Christmas season.
Powerhouse Boxing & MMA
Relocates This Summer
GLOVERSVILLE - Braeton Lawton, owner of Powerhouse Boxing & MMA, is relocating his gym from South Main Street to 50 N. Main St. this summer. The facility offers offer boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, Muay Thai, self-defense and more. From the website, "Owner Braeton Lawton has plenty of experience in the ring, winning 31 of 38 matches. With 26 boxing matches and 12 MMA fights his passion for the sport and dedication helps others achieve their fitness goals."
Allan S. wrote in his online review of the facility: "I have a lot of respect for powerhouse. They are taking the kids off the street and helping them learn a new way of life and not be out on the street getting in trouble too many things in this world have went wrong. I have not met one person in that gym that I don’t like I like everybody they’re all great people and I recommend anybody Anybody even if you would like to just watch self-defense is very important nowadays and they have my two boys something that they have falling in love with they’ve only been part of the gym for two days they love it. They found what they wanna do and they have excellent I mean excellent trailers, I would recommend anyone that have children or anyone. Did you stop in check it out and see the positivity that he is bringing to Gloversville nothing but respect everything that they do and I appreciate everything they do there.
New Eatery Opens in Downtown Gloversville
GLOVERSVILLE - Mike and Angela Chase held a soft opening for Adirondack Soul Company on Aug. 12 – 14 and as it had great success, the restaurant is now open Mondays through Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at 60 N. Main St., Gloversville.
Selections are packaged for takeout, however, there are some seats available if customers would like to eat their meal on location. DoorDash is also available for those who would like delivery.
The current menu includes BBQ ribs, baked chicken, carrot souffle, and vegan chili. Sweet potato pie is on the dessert list.
For more information, call the eatery at (518) 290-1182.
Gloversville Food Truck Fridays Concludes 2024 Season
GLOVERSVILLE, NY – The 2024 Gloversville Food Truck Fridays finished on Aug. 23rd with a lunch and dinner season at Castiglione Park on North Main Street.
Tim Vee performed for the lunch crowd while Johnny Gonazales performed at night with a special appearance by Kyle Rix.
Overall, there were 10 sessions this summer with three of them being held at night to catch the dinner crowd.
Many were held on days when The Glove Theatre was hosting events so people could enjoy a night out of dinner and a show.
This was a joint venture sponsored by the Gloversville Recreation Commission and Fulton County Center for Regional Growth. Music sponsors this year include Price Chopper-Market 32 and First Choice Financial Credit Union. Great Rentals provides special assistance with the program setup.
Ralph's Tailor Shop
Moves to North Main Street
Ralph’s Tailor Shop is now located at 43 N. Main St. Owned by Ralph Iorio, the shop moved from South Main Street to a location inside the 47 Marketplace building. At work for over 60 years, he has been an artist in clothing since he was age 8 and living in Italy. In addition to selling clothing and performing alterations for men and boys, he sells ties, socks, caps and more. Tuxedo rentals are available for weddings and proms and the suits are available from different designers including Calvin Klein and Ralph Lauren. Call the shop at 518-725-7459.
Chad Majewski Real Estate Joins Downtown Gloversville
GLOVERSVILLE - The Fulton- Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting event for Chad Majewski Real Estate on July 18, 2024, as the agency opened its newest office at 51 N. Main St.
"Everyone has been so nice and welcoming," Chad Majewski said at the celebration. "It was definitely a good move locating here. I love people stopping in and saying, 'hello.' This is a great downtown."
Representatives from neighboring businesses were in attendance, as well as food severed by Mega Bites Food Truck.
Blast from the Past:
Reunion Celebrates with Classic Cars, Movie & Message from Hollywood
GLOVERSVILLE – The city’s Main Street was lined with classic cars on June 28, 2024, as the Gloversville High School Class of 1974 celebrated its 50th reunion that included a visit to the past with the movie “American Graffiti” playing at The Glove Theatre as the film also celebrated its 50-year milestone. Classic cars, many from the era and in the style of the vehicles that were in the movie, were display in the nearby street. Prior to the showing of the movie, a personalized message from actor and director Ron Howard was played as he sent best wishes to the alumni. All activities were open to the public as many came to the downtown corridor for lunch during Gloversville Food Truck Fridays.
Several DRI Projects Under Construction This Summer
You may have noticed some construction at Trail Station Park as the building near the splash pad is now underway. Last year’s park expansion brought a splash pad where youth can cool off during hot days and it nearly doubled the size of the park with landscaping over a large area that was formerly a parking lot. It was created with a $365,000 grant from the Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation (OPRHP). The next phase of the project, funded through the $10 million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant, includes a new 80’ x 20’ building to house restrooms, a kitchen area, and space for special events.
Two new parks are being created this year through the DRI. St. Thomas Square will be located at 2-8 Elm St. that was home to an underutilized parking lot. By breathing new life into this property, this new attractive spot will create a strong connection in the downtown area. In addition to the $1.1 million DRI funding, this project was awarded a $250,000 Urban Center/Commercial District Revitalization National Grid grant. It also received a $250,000 donation from the William H. St. Thomas Family Foundation and a memorial to the St. Thomas Factory workers will be erected in the park. The vacant parcel on South Main Street next to the Heacock Building was the site of the Littauer Building that became dilapidated over the decades. After being deemed too unsafe to save, the building was demolished. This spot will be transformed into an urban plaza for public concerts and performances, outdoor movie nights, and more. A stage will be erected in the back of the park for the concerts and similar entertainment. Green infrastructure will be incorporated to allow storm water infiltration. This project is receiving $435,000 in DRI funding. Working in tandem with the St. Thomas Square project, construction will occur on both parks this summer with completion at the end of 2024 and plantings and greenery settled by spring 2025.
Students Tour Business District
On June 6, 2024, HFM PTECH 2D Design Art Class and their teachers took a tour of historic Downtown Gloversville. The students took the tour as part of research for a project they are working on for the Fulton-Montgomery Regional Chamber of Commerce. HFM PTECH students always find that research done in the real world is the right way to do it.
The tour also included stops at Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market, 30 N. Main St., and Cravings Bakery and Café, 47 Cayadutta St.
Winners Announced at Downtown Gloversville Sidewalk Chalk Contest
The owners of 44 Lakes Customed Gifts & Décor, located at 15 N. Main St., announced the winners of the Sidewalk Chalk Contest that was held on May 18. “Thank you everyone that came out for our sidewalk chalk contest! It was a beautiful day, everyone enjoyed the popcorn and chalking up the sidewalks!! The judges had a very hard time choosing the winners BUT in our eyes you all are winners and we wished we could pick all of you!” the store posted on its Facebook page.
Winners were:
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Ages 12 & up - 1st Prize, Berkshire Farms; 2nd Prize, Joey Spence
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Ages up to 11 - 1st, Emmalynn Petit, 2nd Prize, Carma.
Kim Walter and Denise Dickson, owners of 44 Lakes Customized Gifts & Décor, said, “We cannot thank enough to Fulton County Barbershop, Great Rentals, NBT Bank, Glover Insurance, and Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market for donating towards the chalk & prizes. Also, thanks to several downtown businesses that offered their sidewalks to be used for this event. “We are excited to be a part of the Downtown Gloversville community, and this is our way of giving back and promoting the business district,” said Kim Walter. “We love collaborating with local artists as many are our vendors in our store and we host many art-related workshops. This is another way to highlight the local talent,” said Denise Dickson.
Gloversville Students Create Scavenger Hunt to Explore Gloversville
Students at Boulevard’s Writing and Illustration Club created monsters. Students from the Gloversville High School Sculpture Course brought them to life for a fun Monster Hunt in Downtown Gloversville in the spring of 2024.
Monsters were found at the following businesses and buildings:
Cravings
The Glove Theater
Mohawk Harvest
Peck's Flowers
Adirondack Stained Glass
Dunday's
DMR Civil Engineering
The Public Library
The Chamber of Commerce
The Gloversville Police Station
The Gloversville Fire Station
Fulton County Barbershop
True Value
New York Lunch
RicMar
The Salvation Army
73 N. Main St.
People were encouraged to find them and scan their photos to a QR code. Winners were selected and received a sticker from the program and various coupons.
Gloversville Celebrates Spring
Mardi Gras Style
Downtown Gloversville was the place to be on March 30, 2024, for music, shopping, food, concert and a Maris Gras style 2nd Line Parade
The NoLaNauts band arrived in the afternoon to host a parade down the sidewalks of the business core while shoppers received Mardi Gras beads from the following participating businesses from
The Glove Theatre Museum, Addictive Pain Tattoo, Empowhering Designs, Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market, and 44 Lakes Customized Gifts and Decor, The gift shop also had NOLA style street drums for customers to play and NOLA Beignets and cafe au lait.
A&s Spice on Wheels Llc and Plated Palette food trucks were on hand for people to buy dinner before the concert.
The NolaNauts invite local musicians to gather with them at The Glove Theatre for the musician stroll and members of the Gloversville Middle School band joined the fun. The theatre also handed out kazoos to little ones to join in the fun.
Gloversville Celebrates Thomas J. Ruller Historic Preservation Day
With a Salute to the Library
Mayor Vince DeSantis presented the first annual Thomas J. Ruller Historic Preservation Award to the Gloversville Public Library on February 16, 2024, as part of the celebration of Thomas J. Ruller Historic Preservation Day.
The day is in honor of Tom Ruller, a Gloversville native and a lifetime supporter of the City of Gloversville. He was the youngest ever deputy city historian at the age of 16 and also served on the city council.
Mr. Ruller went on to pursue a lifetime career in historic preservation. The Gloversville Public Library received the first annual award in honor of their 9.2-million-dollar restoration project that restored this beautiful building originally built in 1905.
The library, located at 58 E. Fulton St., provides a variety of services, events and outreach to the City of Gloversville community.
Rossbach Shoes Honored for Service
-- 102 Years in Gloversville
GLOVERSVILLE – February 8th is the annual celebration of Rossbach Shoes in the City of Gloversville, honoring the three generations of outstanding service to the city from the local business that is over a decade old.
Charles “Charlie” Rossbach is currently at the helm of the store, located at 10 W. Fulton St.
In addition to the yearly local recognition, NYS Senator Mark Walczyk honored the business in April 2024 with the state Empire Award.
From the Senator’s office, “Running a small business takes a lot of time, hard work, and dedication. Not to mention, knowing how to deliver customer service that's second to none. And that's exactly what Charlie Rossbach at Rossbach Shoe Store has been doing. Rossbach's has been in business for more than 100 years.
"Charlie has been a fixture in Downtown Gloversville and has a reputation for always going above and beyond for his customers. Olivia from Senator Walczyk's office stopped by and presented Charlie with a NYS Senate Empire Award. Congrats to Rossbach's for this honor and here's to another 100 years!”
CRG Becomes a “Neighborhood Champion”
Fulton County Center for Regional Growth (FCCRG), coupled with the Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist office, was designated as a “Neighborhood Champion” by American Express in 2022 and 2023. The local economic development agency also held this title in 2022. With this designation, CRG can officially promote its small business partners, as well as the Downtown Gloversville corridor, with the Small Business logos provided by American Express. Small Business Saturday is nationally known as the shopping day that takes place the Saturday after Thanksgiving and is dedicated to shopping local and small businesses. According to the U.S. Small Business Association, this commemoration was founded by American Express in 2010 and later became co-sponsored by the SBA in 2011. “Small Business Saturday has become an important part of small businesses’ busiest shopping season. Historically, reported projected spending among U.S. Consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on Small Business Saturday reached an estimated $17.9 billion a”, stated the www.sba.gov website.
Street Renamed Palace Way as a Salute to the Palace Diner
On Aug. 26th, the sun was full and bright, almost as beautiful and bright as the Sunnyside up eggs served that morning at the Gloversville Palace Diner. That day, Gloversville City officials, along with the Sena and Clute families honored the 100 years of the diner’s presence in Gloversville. During the ceremony, Mayor Vince DeSantis presented a proclamation on behalf of the city. Fulton County Vice Chairman of the Board of Supervisors John Blackmon also spoke and presented an Assembly proclamation on behalf of Assemblyman Robert Smullen and Ashley Yost presented a proclamation on behalf of Senator Walczyk. Fulton County Historian Samantha Hall-Saladino gave a brief history of the diner and shared her passion for the eatery. Following the ceremony, the new street named Palace Way was unveiled. Earlier this summer, the City Council passed a resolution renaming Vine Street to Palace Way in honor of the diner. On hand for the event were Council members Marcia Weiss, Betsy Batchelor and Ellen Anadio, as well as Supervisors Frank Lauria and Charles Potter.
Grand Opening Ceremony Held for New Splash Pad at Trail Station Park
NYS Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) Commissioner Erik Kulleseid joined Mayor Vincent DeSantis and the Gloversville City Council (Ellen Anadio, Marcia Weiss, Betsy Batchelor, Wayne Peters, Art Simonds, Jay Zarrelli, Wrandy Siarkowski) and Assemblyman Robert Smullen on July 15th to officially open the new splash pad at Trail Station Park with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The City secured a $365,000 grant from (OPRHP) to fund the expansion of the park and the splash pad itself. The expansion nearly doubles the size of the park with amenities and landscaping over a large area that was formerly a parking lot. Danny Lapin from the Department of State also participated in the ceremony and discussed Phase II of the park’s expansion under the DRI grant, which will include a new 80’ x 20’ building to house restrooms, a kitchen area, and a large indoor space for special events.
Glove City Lofts Project Receives $7 Million in NYS Financing for Affordable Home Project
Also a Gloversville DRI Project, It’s the Only Project in the Area to Receive This New Award
GLOVERSVILLE, NY – City of Gloversville and The Fulton County Center for Regional Growth (CRG) are proud to announce New York State recently awarded the Glove City Loft project $7 million in tax credits and other state funding.
Glove City Lofts, through the Kearney Development Group, will remove a vacant commercial building from the property and build a new $21.2 million 75-unit loft-style affordable housing unit building at 52 Church St. for mixed income tenants, including some units dedicated specifically to income eligible artists and a 2,000 square foot art gallery run by the Glove Cities Arts Alliance. The Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant that was awarded in November 2022, is $1.250 million and will help pay for six percent of the total project.
“This project will be a major breakthrough in our efforts to re-establish a vibrant walkable downtown. It is by far the largest project in terms of monetary investment we have seen in Gloversville in many decades. It will not only provide beautiful, state-of-the-art housing but will all but erase the devastating effects of suburbanization our downtown suffered in the 1960s. We are thrilled to welcome Kearney Development Group to our city.” Vincent DeSantis, Mayor.
“We are very excited to work with Ken Kearney and the Kearney Development Group on this transformative project for the City of Gloversville,” said Ron Peters, President & CEO of the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth.
“This is great news for not only Ken Kearney and the Glove City Lofts project, but for Downtown Gloversville. This project is a great example of a public-private investment partnership that works for the common goal of redeveloping the Gloversville community,” said Jennifer Donovan, Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist at CRG, who is on the Local DRI Administrative Team.
The breakdown of the new funding is as follows:
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Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) - $1,298,000
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State Low Income Housing Credit (SLIHC) - $450,125
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Housing Trust Fund (HTF) - $2,000,000
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Clean Energy Initiative (CEI) - $412,500
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Middle Income Housing Program (MIHP) - $2,550,000
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Rural & Urban Community Investment Fund (CIF) - $300,000
This project was one of 27 development projects throughout New York State that was awarded funding this month. It is only one of two projects in the Mohawk Valley Region, the other one being based in Utica.
For a breakdown of the Glove City Loft funding through the Governor’s office, visit https://hcr.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2023/05/fall-2022-9-percent-awards.pdf and a description of the awards at https://hcr.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2023/05/spring-2023-multifamily-awards.pdf.
Glove Theatre Awarded $2 Million NYS Restore NY Grant
GLOVERSVILLE, NY – Gloversville Mayor Vince DeSantis is pleased to announce New York State recently awarded the Glove Theatre a $2 million Restore New York grant to help fund the rehabilitation of the historic building at 42 N. Main Street. This is in addition to the $1.9 million awarded through the Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) grant that was announced by Governor Kathy Hochul when she visited The Glove Theatre in November. The goal of both Restore NY and the DRI is to transform downtown neighborhoods into vibrant communities. More on the grant and other area awardees can be found at RESTORE-NY-ROUND-7-FULL-AWARDEE-LIST-2023-FINAL.pdf.
“This is another breakthrough for the revitalization of our city. It will not only enhance the already ambitious scope of work for the theater’s physical restoration but will also serve to expand its programming and improve people’s experience when attending events. It will make the theater the prime catalyst in the success of the entire downtown,” said Mayor Vince DeSantis. “As an anchor on Main Street that draws people to the vibrant City of Gloversville, this is tremendous news,” said Jennifer Donovan, Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist (GDDS). “The theater is rich with history and is instrumental in shaping the future of Downtown Gloversville. This Restore New York grant will not only aid in the theater’s project, but also help boost the revitalization of Downtown Gloversville.”
Gloversville Hosts Business Class for Discussions on Economic Development and Tours of Small Businesses
GLOVERSVILLE, NY – Mayor Vince DeSantis and Jennifer Donovan, Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist with the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth (CRG), hosted students from Mayfield High School’s Principles of Business class, taught by Jill Fonda, on May 16th when they came to Gloversville to learn about economic development. Mayor DeSantis discussed the projects associated with the $10 Million Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI) and other revitalization efforts in Downtown Gloversville. Donovan discussed the role of CRG in Gloversville and Fulton County, and later accompanied the students as they stopped into Cravings Bakery & Cafe to learn the importance of resiliency in entrepreneurship from owner Ashley Alikhan. They also visited the Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market.
Downtown Gloversville Online Photo Contest Winner Announced
GLOVERSVILLE, NY – Paula Brown-Weinstock won the recent online photo contest that focused on the Downtown Gloversville Corridor, according to Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist (GDDS) Jennifer Donovan.
“From Feb. 9th through March 30th, participants submitted digital photos to this contest, a program designed to promote Downtown Gloversville in a fun way and have people share their optimistic views of the city. There were thirteen entries that were posted on Facebook and FB users liked their favorite image from March 20 to March 30. At the end of judging, Paula’s photo had 236 likes and was the clear winner,” Donovan said.
Paula’s photo was the sun setting over Fulton Street. Other photos included images of the Dorn Space, Panache Quality Consignment Apparel, the top of the Schine Memorial Building, the moon rising over Gloversville, and the vault at the Fulton-Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce. All photos can be viewed at the Facebook Page Downtown Gloversville’s Photo Album named “Downtown Gloversville Facebook Photo Contest.” The prize for the contest was a gift certificate from a Downtown Gloversville business. Paula chose Craving's Bakery & Café for her certificate. She was presented with the certificate and a framed copy of her photo on April 4th at the offices of the Fulton County Center for Regional Growth at 34 W. Fulton St., where another copy of the photo is on display. “I am pleased with the contest and all of the entries, and we are exploring the possibility of running it again in the future. Thank you to Paula and all the people who submitted photos, as well as all the people who liked and shared the images,” Donovan said.
Business Networking Event a Success
Some 30 business owners, community leaders and local organizations participated in the first "Gloversville Business Break" networking event on Feb. 7th at 44 Lakes Customized Gifts & Decor at 15 N. Main St.
“The idea was to have a monthly business coffee break by meeting other members of the business community, networking, and visiting a business that you may not have been in yet,” said Jennifer Donovan, Gloversville Downtown Development Specialist. “Everyone had a great time learning from one another so the next event has been scheduled for March 6 at Mohawk Harvest Cooperative Market, 30 N. Main St."
New Food Truck on the Gloversville Scene
A ribbon cutting was held on Dec. 2nd for the new Nibbles & Bites food truck that served gourmet waffles for customers and those attending the Gloversville Christmas parade.
Owned by Heather Lynn, Nibbles & Bites is a new venture for the Gloversville businesswoman that also owns Beau Monde Progressive Hair Studio & Day Spa, the salon that opened in 1993, that is currently at 235 N. Main St.
Nibbles & Bites also will serve grab and go dishes, made to order sandwiches, bagels, avocado toast and more at future events. It is available for parties and private events as well. For more information or to rent for parties and events, email
nibblesandbitesmobile@gmail.com.
It can also be found on Facebook.
Gloversville Welcomes New Shop
44 Lakes Customized Gifts and Décor
Denise Dickson and Kim Walter, new owners of 44 Lakes Customized Gifts and Décor held a grand opening on Nov. 4 at the store's location,15 N. Main St.
Numerous city, council and state officials came out to greet the new business. A home décor and gift shop, most items for sale can be personalized. The business will also be hosting workshops.
The shop can be reached by phone at (518) 775-8634 and by email at the44lakes@outlook.com. It can also be found on Facebook.
