With a groundbreaking set for the spring for the new Stewarts – a project budgeted at around $1.5 million --  local entrepreneurs are also investing in our area.

At the top of the list, Paradox Brewery’s $5.2 million expansion on the grounds of the old Frontier Town property in North Hudson. But there’s also activity in Schroon. Pine Cone Mercantile and the Schroon Lake Marina have announced plans to expand.  We caught up with Pine Cone Mercantile founder Lisa Hess-Marks about her plans to open a store selling farm fresh goodies: Pinecone Provisions

The new space, adjacent to their current digs, was recently the home to a DISH TV store. Many years ago, it was a small garage, Lisa told Schroon Laker as she gave us a tour.

“We plan to install French Doors at the front of the store. The space is now freshly painted, We are going to epoxy the floor, install refrigeration units and shelving,” Lisa said.

Lisa hopes to carry goodies from many local farmers. On the top of her list are Juniper Hill Farm, Asgaard Farm and Diary, Sugar Hill Creamery  and Mace Chasm Farm, to name a few.

“We had a long time relationship with the farmers up here. We've been CSA members since before we were up here full time”.

Lisa said she wants her customers to take advantage of farm fresh produce and meats while helping support local agriculture, and “support responsible farming techniques being practiced by the next generation of young farmers”

Lisa is also looking to bring butter from a local Vermont Creamery.

“Nobody's doing butter. Even the cheese people were excited that somebody was going to be doing butter because nobody's doing it."

As for meat, it will be frozen. Lisa hopes to carry pork, beef, lamb, goat, chicken. And what about their famous coffee beans and homemade granola?

“You know I am not a hundred percent sure, where we're going to do the coffee and the granola. I'm sure granola will be in here. The baked goods and the bread are going to stay in the back for sure”.

Up the road at the Schroon Lake Marina, Craig Kennedy tells us he’s purchased a few acres to the west of the property allowing for more services. That’s on top of several large construction projects over the last few years which included service bays and a heated showroom and snow protected sheds, where new boats of all sizes are on display.

“We helped a record number of friends and neighbors become new boaters. In 2017, we sold over 80 boats, efficiently stored over 600 boats in the fall and continued to expand! Thank you all for your business, loyalty, and continued support. We just moved into Champlain Centre Mall in Plattsburgh for the season. If you are in the area, stop by and say hello,” Craig said.