Within only the past month, four grand openings for new businesses have occurred, and more are on the way as the town continues to be a hotspot for business and development.
Locals may have noticed the amount of grand openings within the Town of Colonie, with businesses moving locations. Some have undergone redevelopment and even more new businesses staking a claim in the area.
“We’ve been very busy with the big scissors here,” said President Tom Nolte of the Colonie Chamber of Commerce, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary.
National businesses like Sonic have been looking to the Latham area, with its close proximity to Albany, to open up for the first time in the Capital District. Smashburger and Burger 21 opened first locations along Route 9, while Burgerfi is gearing up for a grand opening.
The area’s first Trader Joe’s, Joe’s Crab Shack, Whole Foods and Nordstrom have opened within the last year in town. Rumors are flying about a large retail development along Albany Shaker Road that could house the Capital District’s first Cabela’s.
“We have been able to attract new companies to the area that we never have in the town or the region before,” said Colonie Town Supervisor Paula Mahan. “We get input from residents as to what they would like to see.”
Nolte said the chamber has seen about 10 new businesses over the last few months, although some may have waited out the long winter to hold grand opening ceremonies in nicer weather.
Meanwhile, businesses like Maybe’s Self Storage and Mainfreight USA have undergone redevelopment, with areas like Latham Circle receiving a makeover, sparking the Walmart Supercenter to move locations, after the mall was demolished when it saw years of underuse from customers.
The 30-year-old chamber, which first began as the Latham Area Chamber of Commerce, expanded to represent the entire town and village. Despite the flood of food-based retailers, Nolte said the chamber has been seeing a variety of ventures come into the town, both expanding the tax base and creating jobs.
“If you join a chamber or like-business organization, it’s like joining a gym. You pay your dues and there’s work to be put into it,” said Nolte, who has been the chamber’s president for eight years.
However, with the amount of new development within the town, locals have been questioning the affect on residential neighborhoods. The potential retail development on Albany Shaker Road has resulted in a traffic study spanning Maxwell Road to Albany Shaker to the Exit 6 bridge on the Northway.
Recent Planning Board meetings have seen locals from nearby residential neighborhoods commenting on the surrounding development, voicing concerns over congested traffic on residential roads and speeders making neighborhoods unsafe.
Mahan said that was the reason for the extensive traffic study, and to get a larger picture of the town’s traffic patterns and the effect on residential areas.
“There are different projects going on. We’ve taken a broader look at all of that area,” she said of the expanding Maxwell and Albany Shaker roads area.
As well, the growing interest in the town and surrounding area is why town officials streamlined the planning process “to make a level playing field for all interested in bringing business to Colonie,” said Mahan.
The growing economic development within the town has also expanded the opportunities for both businesses and residents.
“It’s a vibrant business community. We’ve been very successful with mostly development projects of sites that were vacant or underutilized. We’re very pleased with the progress regarding the town’s economy,” Mahan said.
