Taft Furniture preparing to expand to city

KEVIN GOODWIN, The Saratogian
The furniture store on Central Avenue is opening its second location in the Ballston Avenue Price Chopper

Plaza. Ray Vogel, media director of Taft Furniture, said they plan to have the store open sometime in October.

Geoff Bornemann, city planner, said that particular space has been vacant for many years. The property is owned by Gibraltar Real Estate and Development based out of White Plains. Gibraltar operates free-standing retail sites and shopping centers to office and apartment buildings.

Bornemann said this site is zoned for commercial, Taft didn’t have to get a special use permit or go in-front of the planning board for approval. Taft went through the design review committee and received a go on the project on July 6.

At one time the property attracted Grossman’s, a lumber company, but the company needed outside storage and that’s where the planning ended.

Taft doesn’t need outside storage, Bornemann said. He said right now they are doing cosmetic work on the outside of the building.

Taft’s will take up 45,000 square feet in the plaza, second only to Price Chopper.

Dan Wechsler a property manager of Gibraltar Real Estate and Development said Taft is a first class organization and will bring a quality product to the city.

‘We decided on Taft because we thought they’d be a great asset to Saratoga Springs,’ Wechsler said.

Wechsler thinks this addition will draw more people to the center.

‘I’m pleased Taft chose to expand to Saratoga Springs and our center,’ he said.

Once Taft opens the center will be 100 percent leased. Taft and the Dollar Tree share what used to be an old Ames store.

‘I think they will compliment Saratoga well,’ Wechsler said.

Reach Kevin Goodwin at kgoodwin@saratogian.com or 583-8729 ext. 215.