A&W Restaurant in Lake George Continues Operation Th is Summer Under New Owners

BY CHRISTINE GRAF

A&W restaurant, a Lake George staple since 1959, will open for the season under new ownership.

Hao Yang, a restaurateur from Albany, purchased the franchise from Wayne Pelak for $605,000 in May. Just one year earlier, Pelak purchased the restaurant from Dave Madden who owned it for 44 years.

America’s first franchised restaurant chain, the first A&W was established in Sacramento in 1923. Today, there are more than 900 A&W restaurants operating throughout the world. Of the 550 that are located in the U.S., just seven are in New York state. New franchises continue to open throughout the U.S., Canada, and Southeast Asia.

A&W’s is known for its root beer, made fresh at each restaurant and served in frosty mugs. They also serve a variety of fast food items including their 1963 invention, the bacon cheeseburger.

“The A&W has been operating very successfully in Lake George for about 50 years. It’s an iconic restaurant. The location is outstanding, and they have a very loyal clientele,” said Mitch Muroff, owner of real estate brokerage firm Muroff Hospitality.

According to Muroff, Pelak was forced to sell due to health concerns.

“The business was extremely busy when he bought it, and it required more time and energy than he had envisioned. He and his family decided that the best thing for him to do would be to retire.”

For Yang, the owner of several Asian restaurants in the Albany and Latham, this is his first business venture in Lake George. He plans to continue to operate the 2208 Route 9 restaurant as an A&W franchise and recently completed the A&W management training course.

Muroff said that Yang plans to make some upgrades to modernize the location.

“He will be making some subtle improvements as well as enhancing some of the technological amenities of the store and tweaking the menu.”

The Lake George A&W has always operated as a seasonal restaurant, and Muroff believes that Yang intends to expand the season. Yang has not yet made a formal announcement regarding the operating schedule, and the restaurant is temporarily closed as it undergoes modernization. According to Yelp, it is scheduled to reopen on June 30.

Wine & Food Festival

Continued From Page 1 local artisans and festival sponsors.

“Last year, we sold out on Saturday with over 4,000 attendees. With this expansion, attendees will enjoy more space on the festival grounds with access to more vendors than ever. We are also providing free public access to Food Truck Alley for our guests who just want a bite to eat but may not be able to or wish to enter the ticketed festival grounds,” said Sasha Pardy, Adirondack Festival owner.

For a fourth time, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Southern Adirondacks (BBBS) is the festival beneficiary. A portion of every ticket sold is donated to the organization that provides mentorship, tutoring, and experiences to youth in Warren, Washington, and northern Saratoga counties.

BBBS operates the drop-off/pick-up tent, where guests can check the beverages and foods they purchase at the festival until they are ready to leave. They also provide over 60 festival volunteers, sell water bottles, and raffle tickets to gift baskets filled with goodies from festival vendors. Last year, over $23,000 was raised and ’s goal is even higher.

Throughout the weekend, attendees will enjoy culinary and cocktail demonstrations and competitions under the Taste NY culinary and cocktail tent. These segments feature the, owner of Hudson’s Private Chef Services, and resident mixologist Kelli Hatin, owner of Mixaritas Mobile Bartending and a SUNY Adirondack business professor, as they prepare food and drink made with ingredients supplied by festival vendors.

The festival has a two-day lineup of local solo musicians arranged by 518 Rock, plus the impressive Street Magic of TJ Clancy. Stilt walking and aerial work from Jessica Black returns, as well as a fun photo booth.

Adirondack Brewery will be running a new biergarten this year, where festival attendees can purchase full glasses of Adirondack Brewery and Mean Max Beers, or Adirondack Winery wines. There will be a VIP tent, provided by situated where VIP ticket holders rent “glamping tents” for their private groups. These tents are provided and sponsored by Adirondack Safari in Warrensburg.

This year’s festival will have more vendors than ever.

“Our vendors hand-craft so many unique products you won’t find anywhere else. It’s fun to try something new, and it feels great to support local artisans by bringing your newfound favorites home with you,” said Pardy.

“We encourage attendees to come with families, and especially locals to attend on Sundays when there is more room to roam, a more laidback atmosphere and locals discount if you buy in advance. designated drivers get in for only $20 and Kids 15 and under get in free; and will enjoy access to food trucks, samples from artisan food vendors and non-alcoholic beverage vendors, and a kids activity tent located within the festival gates featuring several yard games, bubbles, crafts and more,” said festival director, LeighAnn Loftus. “There is also a natural playground and skatepark right outside our gates,”

Tickets will be available at the door; however, VIP and Saturday tickets have sold out in the past, and an exclusive locals ticket discount is available for Sundays when buying in advance, so advance ticket purchase is recommended.

Founded in 2014, Adirondack Festivals LLC is based in Queensbury and owned by Pardy, who is also the co-owner and president of Adirondack Winery, the presenting sponsor.