New and Now

For our first New and Now, we spotlight 10 bold brand-new businesses that took the plunge during a pandemic.

BY NATALIE MOORE

JACOB ALEJANDRO 274 RIVER ST, TROY

This past December, Capital Region coffee lovers got an early Christmas present when married couple Jake and Alejandro GriffinDiaz officially opened their coffee shop, Jacob Alejandro, in Downtown Troy. But Jacob Alejandro isn’t just your run-of-the-percolator coffee shop: The owners’ specialize in “specialty coffee,” a term used to describe cups of joe that are made using the best beans and brewing technology to bring out never-before-tasted flavor notes. There’s an educational element to specialty coffee, too— baristas need to be taught how to use special equipment and about the origins of the coffee they’re making. To that end, when it’s safe to gather again, Jake and Alejandro plan to hold coffee courses at their River Street space.

ARIA KABAB 1647 CENTRAL AVE, COLONIE

Aria Kabab

Craving flavors you won’t find at Applebee’s? Head to Colonie’s Central Ave’s new Afghan restaurant, Aria Kabab, where you’ll find a huge selection of tikka (a dish made by marinating meat in spices and yogurt and then cooking it in a tandoor oven) and kofta (Afghan meatballs), as well as gyros and lamb chops. Yum!

STEFANIE’S BEAUTY SUPPLY 54 CROSSING BLVD, CLIFTON PARK

Stefanie’s Beauty Supply

In the final days of 2020, Glens Falls native Stefanie Thomas opened Stefanie’s Beauty Supply, a Clifton Park–based store with a focus on providing affordable hair care products to the local community of color. Thomas’ shop carries everything from gels, creams and conditioners to rollers, hairdryers and wigs, as well as grooming products for men. It even has a kids’ section, complete with books about embracing the skin you’re in.

COOPERSTOWN DISTILLERY BEVERAGE EXCHANGE 453 BROADWAY, SARATOGA SPRINGS

Cooperstown Distillery Beverage Exchange

Saratoga’s known for its downtown bars and restaurants. One thing its main drag was missing? A high-end spirits shop. This past December, Cooperstown Distillery, headquartered in—you guessed it— Cooperstown, opened a second retail location and tasting room in the Spa City. While its name is a bit of a misnomer— there’s no on-premises distillery—guests can stop in to pick up bottles, including whiskey and vodka, in one of the company’s baseballshaped Hall of Fame Signature Series decanters, or belly up to the bar for a cocktail made with Saratoga Revolutionary Rum, the distillery’s Saratoga-exclusive spirit.

CURRY PATTA 187 MAIN ST, ALTAMONT

Curry Patta

For more fare with an ethnic flair, check out Curry Patta, a Pakistani restaurant that recently opened in Altamont. On the menu is chicken qorma, beef seekh kabab and chicken tikka masala, plus plenty of very affordable options for vegetarians. And don’t forget its curries—they’re all made from family recipes handed down by the owners’ ancestors.

LA CAPITAL TACOS 161 4TH ST, TROY

La Capital Tacos

January 1, 2021 was more than just New Year’s Day for Chef Yair De La Rosa—it also marked the opening of his new restaurant, La Capital Tacos, a partnership with acrossthe-street neighbor, Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen, in Downtown Troy. Dubbed “the most authentic Mexico City—style taqueria in Troy” (De La Rosa is a Mexico City native and began his restaurant career in his family’s restaurant there), La Capital serves up tacos prepared just like they do south of the border (try the Pollo a La Parilla variety). The restaurant is currently open for takeout, and De La Rosa says that he can now seat up to five people, socially distanced, at the bar, which is being manned by Sunhee’s.

THE TINY DINEY 300 ONTARIO ST, COHOES

The Tiny Diney

Last September, when artist and Footsy Magoo’s co-owner Robilee McIntyre saw the impressive community turnout at Cohoes’ Eat in the Street, a program that shut down Remsen Street on Friday evenings so that restaurants could serve customers in the road, she knew she had to get in on the fun. Now, she’s the proud owner of The Tiny Diney, a diner that’s, well, tiny and on Ontario Street in Downtown Cohoes. Breakfast classics are the name of the game at The Tiny Diney, where customers can dine in, or get their food to go via contactless pickup. There are also plans in the works to recreate a 1950s-style carhop there, where customers can get their breakfast orders roller-skated out to their cars.

NIC’S TRATTORIA 1 SPRINGHURST DR, EAST GREENBUSH

Nic’s Trattoria

Last December, brothers Rocco and Michael Nicoletta, whose family owns LaBella Pizza in Wynantskill, opened a new casual Italian restaurant, Nic’s Trattoria, in East Greenbush. Open for lunch Friday and Saturday and dinner Monday-Saturday, Nic’s Trattoria’s menu is highlighted by wood-fired pizzas, inventive pasta dishes and feature cocktails, such as the Pom & Mary (gin, elderflower, pomegranate, lemon and rosemary) and Black Manhattan (bourbon or rye whiskey, averna, vermouth, orange bitters and cherry).

TWO LITTLE DUMPLINGS 12 MAHER RD, SLINGERLANDS

Two Little Dumplings

Want to down some delicious dumplings but on your own time? Slingerlands’ Two Little Dumplings has you covered. Customers can order a variety of frozen dumplings online at twolittledumplings.com, pick them up on Saturday mornings or Monday afternoons and then whip up a batch whenever their heart desires. The new biz also comes with a heartwarming story: Two Little Dumplings is a multi-generational family business that’s named after Chef Raymond Lee’s two granddaughters.

PIEROGI SHOPPE SARATOGA SPRINGS

Pierogi Shoppe

About a year and a half after Mike and Shelley Spain opened Seneca in Saratoga Springs, the husband-and-wife duo came up with another business venture that was sure to be a smash (or should we say “mash”?) hit. The concept? A virtual kitchen—one which prepares food for delivery only. The product? Pierogis. On December 20, the Spains launched Pierogi Shoppe, a virtual kitchen offering pierogis stuffed with everything from sweet potato and bacon to sauerkraut and kielbasa, all of which are available for delivery on DoorDash. And for dessert? A fried pierogi tossed in cinnamon sugar, stuffed with apple pie filling and topped with caramel sauce. Przepyszny! (That’s “yummy” in Polish.)