Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.

ELITE Gaming Arena offers venue for gaming, learning
SYRACUSE — Esports — the world of competitive video gaming — is not just here to stay. It has grown into a multi-billion-dollar industry that has spawned everything from competitive tournaments to college majors. For friends Rob O’Connor and Matt Guernsey, esports also provided an avenue to opening a business for fellow gamers that allowed […]

Whiskey Coop brings Nashville chicken and whiskey to Syracuse
SYRACUSE — A trip to Tennessee and some Nashville hot chicken inspired chef Cheryl Chaif to create The Whiskey Coop. Now, she’s bringing that chicken and a whiskey menu to Armory Square. Chaif opened her first location in Sackets Harbor in 2020. “It was inspired by a trip to Nashville in 2017,” she recalls. Chaif

Onajava Coffee and Soul Café to launch in long-vacant South Salina Street building
SYRACUSE — Onajava Coffee and Soul Café, a family owned and operated business, is getting set to launch operations on Oct. 1 in the redeveloped former Sumner Hunt building at 1555 S. Salina St. in Syracuse, at the intersection with East Kennedy Street. That’s according to owner Reggie Pickard in a Sept. 5 email response

The reborn Hotel Syracuse turns 100 years old
Marriott Syracuse Downtown celebrates the birthday SYRACUSE — For than a century, it’s been a venue for weddings and wedding receptions, high-school proms, New Year’s Eve celebrations, other big events, and overnight lodging. The time period also included a two-year, $76 million

Syracuse mayor appoints public-arts coordinator
SYRACUSE — Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh in early June announced the appointment of Anne Cofer to serve as public-arts coordinator for the City of Syracuse. In this role, Cofer leads oversight and supervision of public-art planning and coordination initiatives for city government, including advising and assisting the Syracuse Public Art Commission. Cofer collaborates with the

Café heads to Syracuse with new name and popular menu
SYRACUSE — After a short hiatus, an eatery once based in Cazenovia is reopening with a new name, but the same great food, in Syracuse. Mother-daughter duo Tonya Duffy and Kyle Gunnip closed The Toast, a business they started in 2015, on May 11 and are reopening as Sugar Grove Café and Bakery. A lot

Mohawk Valley Gives raises more than $5 million for nonprofits
UTICA, N.Y. — The Community Foundation of Herkimer and Oneida Counties and UpMobility Foundation announced the third annual Mohawk Valley Gives event on Sept. 20

State launches $10 million loan fund for entrepreneurs
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York State has launched a new $10 million fund that will provide qualifying startup and early-stage companies with access to affordable term loans up to $100,000. The Main Street Capital program is part of New York’s broader State Small Business Credit Initiative efforts led by Empire State Development, the office of

Broome County saw robust tourism growth in 2023
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. — Broome County generated strong tourism growth in 2023, reaching record levels of visitor spending and economic impact, according to Visit Binghamton. The

NYSDOT to host open house on I-81 project’s fourth contract targeting community grid, east side
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) will host an open house on Thursday, Sept. 26 from 6-8 p.m., discussing the
Stay up-to-date on the companies, people and issues that impact businesses in Syracuse, Central New York and beyond.