Residential Real Estate
Renters, especially low-income renters, have amassed $53 billion in unpaid rents, utilities and fees, according to a story over the weekend in the New York Times. Of course, this is having a trickle effect in the economy as more and more families choose between rent and food or other necessities. Many are moving in with friends and family, overcrowding apartments.
Manufacturing, Agriculture and Forestry
East Greenbush’s Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, as with BD (with its factory in Queensbury) before it, has seen the coronavirus pandemic help the bottom line, the Albany Business Journal is reporting. At first, the U.S. government agreed to 300,000 of their vaccine cocktail, and last month ordered 1.25 million more doses. Those sales along with others for non-COVID-related drugs, allowed the company to grow 28% last year, the story says.
Restaurants and Food Service
Alif Cafe has opened in Glens Falls. It’s the latest from a family of restaurants in the Lake George and Glens Falls area, a story in Glens Falls Living reported last week. The restaurant, owned by Muhammad Saud, serves Pakistani and South Asian street food, the story says. Business has been good so far, the story says. Also, Saud has a solid following on TikTok!
Retail and eCommerce
Projections put Valentine’s Day spending way down from previous years, according to a story in the Saratogian. Not only are fewer people planning nights out, they plan to spend less on gifts for teachers, classmates and colleagues, the story says. Stores like Saratoga Candy are still planning for big sales, and of course the focus is also on safety, the story says.