Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Subscriber Login
My Profile
SpotlightNews
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • Election 2022
    • Business
      • Spotlight On Business
      • Spotlight on Finance
    • Crime and Police
    • Discover-Towns
      • Discover Coeymans Selkirk and Feura Bush
      • Discover Delmar
      • Discover Glenmont
      • Discover Guilderland
      • Discover Latham and Boght
      • Discover Loudonville
      • Discover Menands
      • Discover Slingerlands
      • Discover Village of Colonie
      • Discover Voorheesville and New Scotland
    • Fire Departments
    • Government
    • Milestones
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Obituaries
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Food and Recipes
    • Health & Fitness
    • Music
    • Theatre
  • Hot Spots Calendar
    • Calendar Listings
    • Submit Your Event
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Our Opinion
    • Point of View
    • Your Opinion
  • Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
    • New Scotland
  • Classifieds
    • Employment – Hire Power
    • Services In the Spotlight
    • Classified Listings
    • Advertiser Login
  • Subscribe
    • Subscriber login
    • Give the gift of news
    • Join us – subscribe today
    • Newsletter sign up
    • Renew Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Spotlight News
No Result
View All Result
Home Towns Bethlehem

Interstate Vapor closes storefront, sells products online; owner to start another business

Diego Cagara by Diego Cagara
April 16, 2020
in Bethlehem, Business, Community, News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
When Interstate Vapor announced its storefront's permanent closure in early April on Facebook, owner Leo Carusone, right, thanked its loyal customers and encouraged them to shop their products online instead until June 30. Facebook

When Interstate Vapor announced its storefront's permanent closure in early April on Facebook, owner Leo Carusone, right, thanked its loyal customers and encouraged them to shop their products online instead until June 30. Facebook

DELMAR — One business falls while another rises.

Although Interstate Vapor temporarily closed its Delmar storefront last month due to growing concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, owner Leo Carusone said he’s since made the closure permanent.

“It was an emotional decision to close because we’ve met so many great people and loyal customers who have become our friends,” Carusone said. “We took the business from nothing and made it pretty successful for five years. We kind of saw it coming though for the last few months.”

Delmar’s only standalone vape shop will continue selling its products online through June 30, but a March break-in and the state’s upcoming ban on the sale of flavored vapor products prompted Carusone to close. 

Carusone and his store fell victim to a break-in just prior to Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mandate to shut down non-essential businesses amid the pandemic last month. Bethlehem Police Department reported the arrest of three teenagers alleged to have stolen “multiple items” from Carusone’s store on March 18. Bethlehem Police Cmdr. Adam Hornick said the three are also alleged to have broken into the neighboring Delmar Wine and Liquor store and Bethlehem Central High School.

The vape shop was left ransacked, Carusone said.

The unnamed teenagers were each charged with felony burglary, felony criminal mischief and misdemeanor petit larceny. 

The store was also further hit when the State Assembly passed its anticipated ban on flavored vapor products in early April. The law all but forces the closure of storefronts like Interstate Vapor by next month. It will also prevent the online sale of the vapor products starting July 1.

Continuing online sales through June 30 was a way “to not leave our customers behind all high and dry,” Carusone said. “It would also give them time and a chance to find other places.”

First opened in 2015, Interstate Vapor was run by Carusone and his son, John. To shop Interstate Vapor products online, visit www.usvaporshop.com.

With the closing of one chapter, another one begins.

Carusone said he and his son have developed a new venture named Bethlehem Seamless Gutters that is to start operations on May 1. The father-son duo will offer seamless gutters installation, old gutters replacement, leaf protection and gutter cleaning.

Operating from their Selkirk house, Carusone said the May start date would coincide with the warming weather.

“At the moment, we’re just going out and getting people quotes and even with the pandemic, we’ve never had to do any face-to-face interaction if people don’t want to,” Carusone said. “People can reach us online or by call or email.”

He added that Bethlehem Seamless Gutters can function during the pandemic as the state considers it an essential business among the “essential services necessary to maintain the safety, sanitation and essential operations of residences or other essential businesses.” He said home improvement is important as lack of gutter maintenance can lead to foundation damage or wood rot, for example.

Carusone said that while working on gutters, the homeowner does not necessarily interact physically and closely with him or his son, dispelling a concern about social distancing. “We can do everything and chat with the homeowner over the phone or online and when we do the actual work, it’s outside,” he said. 

Bethlehem Seamless Gutters stems from Carusone’s background in remodeling and home improvement, previously owning another aptly-named business, Leo Carusone Home Improvement, from 1999 to around 2013. Although it initially focused on improving kitchens, decks, bathrooms and more, residents were more interested in improving their gutters, according to Carusone, “and we ended up doing so much of that for years.”

Carusone expressed gratitude for local residents and customers who supported him and his son through the years.

“It was definitely sad to close Interstate Vapor but I’m also looking forward to working with my son with our new business,” Carusone said. “Working with my son was probably the best part of running Interstate Vapor and I think everything’s going to work out.”

For more information, visit Bethlehem Seamless Gutters’ website at bethlehemseamless.com, or call 518-301-3299.

Tags: bethlehem seamless guttersbusinesscommunityinterstate vaporvapingVapor
ShareTweetShareShare
Previous Post

Colonie Spotlight area essential services: April 16, 2020

Next Post

Shutdown continues for another month; violation of mask mandate could carry a $1,000 fine

Leave Comment

Stay Connected with Us

Recent News

How E.R.I.E is making music from mayhem on its upcoming new album, ‘Suburban Mayhem’

March 15, 2023

Plug-powered airliner takes off

March 15, 2023

North Colonie budget meetings continue to discuss funding

March 15, 2023

District mourns longtime support staff member

March 15, 2023

Hot Stories This Week

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest

Threat triggers North Colonie, police into action

March 12, 2023

Bethlehem Area Weekly Police Blotter March 1st – March 8th

March 11, 2023

Colonie Area Weekly Police Blotter March 1st – March 8th

March 12, 2023

A ‘wicked good time’ coming to Xgates

September 2, 2022

How E.R.I.E is making music from mayhem on its upcoming new album, ‘Suburban Mayhem’

March 15, 2023

Plug-powered airliner takes off

March 15, 2023

North Colonie budget meetings continue to discuss funding

March 15, 2023

District mourns longtime support staff member

March 15, 2023
Spotlight News

Spotlight News, The Spot 518 and Capital District Family Now are divisions of Community Media Group, LLC. Our local offices are located at 341 Delaware Ave, Delmar, NY 12054. You can contact us at 518.439.4949.

Browse

Follow Us

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact the Editor
  • Employment
  • Our Team
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Legal Notices Portal

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Election 2022
  • News
    • Crime and Police
    • Fire Departments
    • Milestones
    • Real Estate and Housing
    • Schools
    • Sports
    • Spotlight On Business
    • Spotlight on Finance
  • The Spot 518
    • Galleries
    • Art
    • Theatre
    • Music
    • Food and Drink
    • Health & Fitness
  • Hot Spots Calendar
  • Newsletter Sign Up
  • Opinion
  • Classifieds
    • Advertiser Login
    • Service Directory
    • Hire Power – Employer Spotlight
  • Capital District Family Now
    • Parenting News
    • Senior News
  • Towns
    • Albany County
    • Bethlehem
    • Colonie
    • Guilderland
  • Log In
  • Subscribe

© 2022 Community Media Group, LLC - 341 Delaware Ave. Delmar, NY 12054. 518.439.4949