(Credit: Pedro Wolfe, 2022)
Erika Schreifels, owner of The Brick at 2 West, in Saratoga Springs.
Building relationships with a new customer base has been the hardest part of moving a restaurant from Clifton Park to Saratoga Springs, said the owner of The Brick at 2 West. Erika Schreifels said this at a ribbon cutting for her restaurant on March 24. Schreifels said this has been especially tough given her family business roots in Clifton Park, but she welcomes the opportunity.
“I’d been there for 12 years, and my grandmother had Mama’s on 146, so she was there for 30 years before I was there. Clifton Park was home," Schreifels said.
Formerly known as The Brick Tavern and Grille, Schreifels has taken ownership from her parents Eric and Melissa Schreifels in the move.
“In Clifton Park, everyone knew everybody. They’re their own little world. Here, it’s ‘I’ll see ya, bye!’ You have to build relationships and make it work. But it’s good, it makes you put in the work to have those relationships.”
Although Schreifels finds the relative calm on the west side of Spa City more to her liking than the downtown, the new community comes with new challenges, she said.
She spoke to the experience of managing a restaurant over the summer. She wants the restaurant to maintain friendly prices no matter the season, ones which can appeal to locals and tourists alike.
“We’re family. We get it,” she said.
Schreifels has already managed to begin to establish her business in the area. West of Saratoga Hospital, The Brick holds a 25% off discount for medical workers every Tuesday.
“I’m not used to having a 30 minute lunch time - that’s hard,” she said. “ I’m trying to have it so I can deliver it over for them, help them with whatever they need.”
The Brick at 2 West also recently held a fundraiser for Saratoga Spa Catholic.
Schreifels stressed the importance of building relationships with schools in the area.
She is already in talks with the coach of the Saratoga High School football team to host a fundraiser. Upcoming events include new brunch options on Saturday and Sunday, an outdoor oriented “dog day," March Madness nights, and an Easter brunch to be hosted on April 16.
The Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce hosted the ribbon cutting event.