Over the past month, while students were away for winter break, many changes have happened in the village of Hamilton, N.Y.. Shol’s Boutique was remodeled to create an updated and more modern look for the store and create space to add a new rack of men’s clothing. Lower Lake Brewery finished construction and officially opened its doors to the public on Jan. 18 with a soft launch. The beloved Broad Street Diner officially went up for sale with hopes of switching owners within the next few weeks.
Shol’s Boutique Renovations
Shole Strand, the owner of Shol’s Boutique, discussed changes to the clothing store that is a favorite among Colgate University students.
“[We] removed all of the oak built-ins, which gave us 36 inches of extra width, and I replaced the built-ins with industrial bars — I think that lets us showcase the product a lot more,” Strand said.
The store also added new decorations — including chandeliers, carpets and wall paint — to achieve a modern look. The space gained through the remodel allows the boutique to now feature a rack of men’s clothing and accessories.
“We are adding dress shirts and ties to give men some options in the store,” Strand said. “Perfect for if anyone forgot anything or needs it for graduation or wedding season.”
Lower Lake Brewery Opens
After several months of remodeling, the highly-anticipated Lower Lake Brewery is officially open to the public. The brewery features lager made locally in McGraw, N.Y., which is brewed and packaged by the owners, Mark Jensen and Laura Mechling Jensen. The beer is only available for consumption at their storefront in Hamilton.
“We have five beers on tap and a sixth one coming soon. The hope is to create a warm environment for people to come and sit down as well as come in and grab a four-pack and enjoy it somewhere else,” Mechling Jensen said.
Currently, the selection of food and drinks is limited to primarily beer and bread and butter, but as the Brewery becomes more established, a wider selection of food and other drinks will be available, including wines, ciders and non-alcoholic options.
During the day, the brewery is a family-friendly establishment open to people of all ages. In time, the owners hope to host theme nights and trivia events to encourage more patronage and activity within the store.
Broad Street Diner to Close
Over the break, a “For Sale” sign went up in the window of the Broad Street Diner, a beloved breakfast staple. Owner Robert Seitz explained his decision.
“[Selling the diner] has been in my mind for a while because I am in the process of taking off and moving in a year or so,” Seitz said.
Seitz plans to move quickly with the sale, hoping to sell the diner within a few weeks, and he has already heard from multiple parties interested in purchasing the diner. Ensuring the diner stays in its current state for the sake of his employees is important to Seitz but not a requirement for purchase.
“I would like it to stay the way it is, but if somebody comes in and buys it, it’s up to them what it becomes,” Seitz said. “But the people who are interested in it right now want to keep it the way it is, so I am hoping they do that.”