Burritto maker looks to Center Square
A burgeoning burrito maker has its sights set on Glenmont for its next franchise location.
Hot Harry’s Fresh Burritos is in the process of getting approval from the town to move in to Center Square in Glenmont, across the street from Glenmont Plaza. If all goes well and a variance is obtained from the Zoning Board of Appeals, the store could be up and running by spring. The location would be in the former Mainly Leather space.
The Hot Harry’s franchise has only five locations open nationwide, including locations in Schenectady and East Greenbush, but is consistently expanding.
We’re really trying to establish ourselves in the bedroom communities, said the company’s Director of Franchise Sales Clay Slaughter. `Glenmont, with all the shopping and being so close to the concentration of the rooftops of homes, that’s what really pushed us to the Glenmont location.`
The new store will employ 12 to 15, who will train at the Schenectady store on upper Union Street. That location suffered a fire shortly after opening, but is now back in business.
Tim and Kim Donnelly, of Coxsackie, will be running the Glenmont branch.
`Glenmont Center Square has everything we were looking for; a location in the heart of a great community, a short commute from where we live, and easy accessibility for our customers,` Kim Donnelly said.
Hot Harry’s got its start in the Berkshires, said President Samir Abdallah, and is now opening stores in Iowa as well as in the northeast.
`It’s a tough economy, but we got a great product and a following,` Abdallah said.
He added he’s confident the Glenmont restaurant will flourish.
`It’s a great area,` he said. `A lot of our customers from Schenectady live over there.`
Right across the street from the proposed store is Glenmont Plaza, where a developer has proposed to build two freestanding restaurants in the parking lot. Though no official tenants have been announced, a Chipotle has been mentioned as a potential future occupant.
Slaughter said that rumor doesn’t concern him.
`We feel there’s room for both of us in the market,` he said. `The stronger the competition, ultimately the stronger the market.“
