Qdoba Mexican Eats opens new location at Syracuse airport

Get our email updates

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

SYRACUSE — The restaurant lineup at Syracuse Hancock International Airport now includes a new location of Qdoba Mexican Eats. The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) and Gideon Toal Management Services (GTMS) joined the restaurant for the Feb. 21 ribbon-cutting event, SRAA said in its announcement. The fast-casual restaurant, which serves Mexican-style cuisine, conducted a soft […]

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

SYRACUSE — The restaurant lineup at Syracuse Hancock International Airport now includes a new location of Qdoba Mexican Eats.

The Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) and Gideon Toal Management Services (GTMS) joined the restaurant for the Feb. 21 ribbon-cutting event, SRAA said in its announcement.

The fast-casual restaurant, which serves Mexican-style cuisine, conducted a soft opening in January. It is located in the post-security checkpoint hallway leading to concourse A gates, SRAA said.

The restaurant chain has locations across the U.S. and Canada. The SYR location operates daily from 4:15 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., or the last flight of the day.

“Today’s grand opening represents an exciting expansion of dining options for SYR travelers,” Jason Mehl, SRAA chief commercial officer, said in the announcement. “We are grateful to our partners at Gideon Toal Management Services and Qdoba Mexican Eats for their commitment to enhancing the passenger experience and investing in the success of SYR. As our airport continues to grow, partnerships like these play a key role in elevating SYR to a best-in-class destination.”

Those attending the formal-opening event enjoyed samples and heard speeches from SRAA leadership, GTMS leadership, and a representative from the Qdoba Mexican Eats brand.

“Gideon Toal Management Services is thrilled about the opportunity to open a Qdoba Mexican Eats quick-serve restaurant concession at Syracuse Hancock International Airport,” Alvin Brown, president of Gideon Toal Management Services, said in the SRAA announcement. “This venture not only aligns with our commitment to providing exceptional dining experiences but also positions us to play a significant role in the ongoing growth of airport passenger traffic. We are excited to contribute to the economic development of the region while serving delicious, high-quality Mexican cuisine to travelers. Together, we look forward to a prosperous future and to enhancing the airport’s offerings.”

Lyons Bancorp’s earnings decline 11 percent in 2024

Banks & Credit Unions, Subscriber Only

LYONS — Lyons Bancorp, Inc. (ticker: LYBC), the financial holding company of the Lyons National Bank (LNB), recently reported earnings of $15.5 million for 2024, down nearly 11 percent from its record earnings of $17.4 million the prior year. The banking company said that on a per-share basis, its earnings per share were $4.38 last

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

The banking company said that on a per-share basis, its earnings per share were $4.38 last year, down almost 11 percent from $4.90 in 2023.

“Last year presented a challenging environment in areas such as: inflation, uncertain economic and political environments, the continuation of an unusually extended inverted yield curve and tighter margins to name a few,” Lyons Bancorp President and CEO Thomas Kime said in the company’s earnings report, issued on Feb. 20. “Despite these factors, the Bank delivered a strong operating performance, solid financial results and improving trends. We look for these improvements to continue in 2025. With net interest margins improving, a strong balance sheet, solid reserve levels, good growth, and an outstanding team of professionals, LNB is positioned to pursue growth opportunities and perform well in 2025.”

Lyons Bancorp’s total assets rose to $1.92 billion at year-end 2024 from $1.85 billion at year-end 2023. The banking company said the key drivers of growth were an increase in deposits from $1.62 billion at the end of 2023 to $1.77 billion at year-end 2024, which it invested back into its local communities in the form of loans. The banking company’s gross loans grew $90 million, or 6.5 percent, from $1.38 billion in 2023 to $1.47 billion in 2024.

Lyons Bancorp also announced that its board of directors boosted its quarterly dividend by 14 percent to 40 cents per share from 35 cents, effective March 31. The banking company said the decision was based on its strong and increasing capital, along with last year’s solid earnings.

The Lyons National Bank is a community bank with offices in Lyons, Clyde, Macedon, Newark, Ontario, and Wolcott in Wayne County; Penn Yan in Yates County; Jordan in Onondaga County; Geneva, Canandaigua, and Farmington in Ontario County; Seneca Falls in Seneca County; Perinton in Monroe County; and Auburn in Cayuga County. LNB also has one subsidiary, Lyons Realty Associates Corp.

Pathfinder Bancorp Q4 profit rises more than 70 percent

Banks & Credit Unions, Subscriber Only

OSWEGO — Pathfinder Bancorp, Inc. (NASDAQ: PBHC), the bank holding company of Pathfinder Bank, reported net income of $4.3 million, or 69 cents per share, in the fourth quarter, up 72 percent from $2.5 million or 41 cents, in the fourth quarter of 2023. The latest quarterly results included a benefit of about $1.4 million

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

KeyBank parent company names new new chief risk officer

Banks & Credit Unions, Subscriber Only

Mohit (Mo) Ramani is the new chief risk officer (CRO) at KeyCorp (NYSE: KEY) — parent company of KeyBank, the No. 2 bank ranked by deposit market share in the 16-county Central New York region. He started in the CRO position on Jan. 23, the banking company announced. Ramani joins Key from Truist Financial Corporation,

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

Oneida County hotel business indicators were mixed in January

Mohawk Valley, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

UTICA — Oneida County hotels registered a mixed month of business performance in January, as indicated by three key benchmarks. The hotel-occupancy rate (rooms sold as a percentage of rooms available) edged down 1.2 percent to 44.9 percent in the first month of 2025 compared to the year-ago month, according to a report from STR,

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

Lockheed Martin’s suburban Syracuse plant wins $23.5M Navy contract modification for submarine work

Manufacturing & Engineering, Subscriber Only, Technology

SALINA — Lockheed Martin Corp. (NYSE: LMT) recently was awarded a $23.5 million modification to a previously awarded delivery order under a contract from the U.S. Navy to exercise options for engineering support of submarine electronic-warfare systems on new construction and in-service submarines. Work will be performed in the Lockheed Martin facility in the town

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

United Airlines to ofer two flights a day from Syracuse to Denver

Subscriber Only, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism

SYRACUSE — United Airlines this summer plans to expand its daily, nonstop service to twice daily from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) directly to Denver International Airport (DEN). When the daily service was initially announced in 2019, it was “lauded as a big win for both business and leisure travelers in Central New York,” the

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

SYRACUSE — United Airlines this summer plans to expand its daily, nonstop service to twice daily from Syracuse Hancock International Airport (SYR) directly to Denver International Airport (DEN).

When the daily service was initially announced in 2019, it was “lauded as a big win for both business and leisure travelers in Central New York,” the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA) said in its Feb. 14 announcement.

The current daily service departs SYR around 8 a.m. (Eastern time), arriving in DEN just before 10 a.m. (Mountain time). The return flight leaves DEN at about 6 p.m. (Mountain), landing at SYR just after 11 p.m. (Eastern).

The newly added daily service will include an additional inbound flight departing DEN at about 9:40 a.m. (Mountain), arriving at SYR just after 3 p.m. (Eastern). It will also include an additional daily outbound flight departing SYR at 4:15 p.m. (Eastern) and arriving in DEN just after 6 p.m. (Mountain).

“Increased connectivity to and through Denver is a great addition for all our travelers, but especially for our semiconductor industry travelers,” Jason Terreri, SRAA executive director, said in the announcement. “The twice daily service provides convenient one-stop options into Boise, ID and the Bay Area. I would also like to thank Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and all our elected officials who have advocated for this increased service for our region, ensuring Central New York is a leader in the chip manufacturing space.”

In a separate announcement that same day, the office of U.S. Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer said the lawmaker last year called United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby, urging the airline to add a second daily flight for the route.

“I called United Airlines CEO last year and told him how important it is to improve access between Central New York and the West Coast, and I’m thrilled he heeded my calls,” Schumer said. “With Micron making historic investments in Onondaga County, this new daily flight is a critical step to connecting this region to the West Coast and other critical high-tech hubs.”

A second daily flight to Denver has been a “Syracuse airport priority for years” since its existing flight is fully booked almost every day. The senator said this new flight will improve connectivity to key West Coast and international markets.

New York home sales rise more than 3 percent in January 2025

Construction, Design & Real Estate, Subscriber Only

ALBANY — Realtors in New York state sold 7,625 previously owned homes in January, up 3.1 percent from the 7,395 existing homes they sold in January 2024. However, pending sales fell almost 5 percent in the first month of the year, foreshadowing declines in closed home sales in the next couple of months, the New

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

ALBANY — Realtors in New York state sold 7,625 previously owned homes in January, up 3.1 percent from the 7,395 existing homes they sold in January 2024.

However, pending sales fell almost 5 percent in the first month of the year, foreshadowing declines in closed home sales in the next couple of months, the New York State Association of Realtors (NYSAR) said in its January housing report issued on Feb. 21.

“Housing sales improved for the second consecutive month despite interest rates continuing to hover near seven percent,” NYSAR said to open its report.

NYSAR cites Freddie Mac as indicating interest rates on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage have hovered between 6 percent and 7 percent for most of the last two-and-a-half years. In January, rates settled in at 6.96 percent, on average. By comparison, a year ago at this time, the average interest rate stood at 6.64 percent, NYSAR said. Freddie Mac is the more common way of referring to the Virginia–based Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation.

New York sales data

The inventory of homes for sale in New York state totaled 22,876 in January, down 3.2 percent from the January 2024 figure of 23,640.

The months supply of homes for sale at the end of January stood at 2.6 months, unchanged compared to the year-prior month, per NYSAR. A 6-month to 6.5-month supply is considered a balanced market, the association says.

New listings in New York rose 0.5 percent to 9,125 in January from 9,078 in the year-earlier period.

Pending home sales in the Empire State totaled 6,520 in January, a drop of 4.9 percent from the 6,855 pending sales in the same month in 2024, according to the NYSAR data.

Amid continued tight home supply, home prices in the state continued to rise in the latest month. The January 2025 statewide median sales price was $425,000, up 6.25 percent from the January 2024 median price of $400,000.

All home-sales data is compiled from multiple-listing services in New York, and it includes townhomes and condominiums in addition to existing single-family homes, according to NYSAR.

Keenans donate $1.25M for continued support of Le Moyne entrepreneurship education

Education & Training, Small Business, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Le Moyne College says Tim and Kathleen Keenan have donated an additional $1.25 million that will help pay for the ongoing initiatives of the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity for the next five years. “This commitment will ensure that the important work being accomplished through the center will not only continue

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

“This commitment will ensure that the important work being accomplished through the center will not only continue but will expand over the next few years,” the Keenans said in the Le Moyne announcement. “The center’s breadth of activities and overall impact on students, businesses, community organizations and other entities throughout the region has been truly remarkable to witness.”

Since its founding in 2013, the Keenan Center for Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity has “become engrained in the entrepreneurial landscape of the region,” offering curriculum, programming and educational opportunities for “individuals of all ages,” Le Moyne College said.

In October 2022, the Keenan Center’s mission and goals were enhanced with the opening of a 2,700-square-foot facility on Le Moyne’s campus. The center was built to standards established by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and is “one of the most unique facilities of its kind found on a college campus in the country,” per the announcement on the Le Moyne website.

About the Keenan Center

The Keenan Center’s activities have included helping hundreds of entrepreneurs — from the campus to across the community — develop business models, network, and grow their businesses.

The center also has a program called Keenan Innovators, which is led by expert STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) coaches that introduces cohorts of middle schoolers to the power of inquiry, technology and problem solving.

Its activities also include Dolphin Tank, which is an annual event showcasing Le Moyne students who have started innovative and growing ventures, in competition for $50,000 in funding.

The Keenan Center also has initiatives involving drones with partnerships, education, and other activities that have established the center as a “vital cog in the region’s position as a national leader” in the drone industry. In 2024 the center announced a partnership with NUAIR. The nonprofit NUAIR is short for the Northeast UAS Airspace Integration Research Alliance.

The Keenan Center’s activities additionally include Maker Faire Syracuse where engineers, artists, scientists, and crafters become “makers” who build and show hobbies, experiments, artwork and more.

“The Keenans were one of the first donors to respond to Mike Madden’s
$7.5 million gift that established the Madden College of Business and Economics,” Jim Joseph, dean of Le Moyne’s Madden College and VP for advancement and innovation. “Their long-standing commitment and support have helped elevate the reputation and offerings of the Madden College on the regional and national stage.”

SU offering academic programs to current, former baseball players in MLBPA partnership

Education & Training, Sports, Entertainment & Tourism, Subscriber Only

SYRACUSE — Both current and former professional baseball players will get the chance to pursue academic programs at Syracuse University (SU) as part of the school’s partnership with the Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA). Under their agreement, SU will offer “market-relevant and industry-specific” online degrees, certificates, and credentials, as well as a range of

Already an Subcriber? Log in

Get Instant Access to This Article

Become a Central New York Business Journal subscriber and get immediate access to all of our subscriber-only content and much more.

Learn More and Become a Subscriber

Under their agreement, SU will offer “market-relevant and industry-specific” online degrees, certificates, and credentials, as well as a range of non-credit professional development and executive education-training programs, courses, and workshops, per Feb. 25 the SU announcement.

The university describes the partnership as “responsive to the MLBPA’s desire to expand opportunities for career growth to its thousands of players.”

“This partnership reflects our collectively held value that higher education should be achievable for everyone, regardless of the demands of their profession or personal circumstances,” Jeremy Jordan, dean of David B. Falk College of Sport & Human Dynamics, said in the SU announcement. “For athletes and professionals with unpredictable schedules, our online programs offer the perfect balance of flexibility, robust academic support and real-world applicability — all without compromising their careers.”

Jordan had the initial discussions with the MLBPA inspired the creation of this new initiative, SU noted. The MLBPA represents the 1,200 players on major league 40-man rosters, as well as about 5,500 minor league players.

These educational opportunities will be accessible through a number of formats, including online, on campus, and at Syracuse’s Study Away sites in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. SU says it will also offer an online academic English program to prepare non-native English speakers for success in their non-credit programs, courses, and workshops.

Collaboration details

This new partnership creates opportunities for players to pursue objectives that include skill development and post-career readiness; research and innovation; practical experience; and networking opportunities, per the Syracuse University announcement.

The partnership will “align market-relevant” curricula and programming with players’ post-career aspirations and needs, “ensuring they acquire meaningful skills and knowledge.”

In addition, SU and the MLBPA will collaborate on research projects that inform “progressive and advanced programming” for professional athletes. These efforts may lead to the development of new technologies, products, or processes that could benefit the MLBPA and other professional athletic organizations.

The partnership will also provide Syracuse University students with opportunities for internships, co-op programs and hands-on projects with the MLBPA. This practical experience will enhance learning, make students more competitive, and serve as a potential pipeline for talent to the MLBPA and other professional athlete associations, the university contends.

Players will also have access to networking opportunities with professional mentors associated with Syracuse in sports, broadcasting and business, to aid them in post-playing career development and job opportunities.

“The Major League Baseball Players Association is thrilled to partner with Syracuse University to provide our members with exceptional educational opportunities,” Chris Singleton, MLBPA special assistant for player resource programs and a former major league outfielder, said in the SU announcement. “This collaboration underscores our commitment to supporting players both on and off the field, ensuring they have access to world-class academic resources that empower their personal and professional growth.”

Get our email updates

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

Get our email updates

What's New

Upcoming Events

Project Homecoming Job & Career Fair 2025

Annual Nonprofit Conference 2026

2026 CenterState CEO Economic Forecast Breakfast

CNYBJ Job Board

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

Get Instant Access to This Article

New York sales data

Get Instant Access to This Article

About the Keenan Center

Get Instant Access to This Article

Collaboration details

Get our email updates