Downtown Troy ribbon cutting reflects sweetening trend

Posted at: 08/31/2012 11:40 PM | Updated at: 08/31/2012 11:43 PM
By: Dan Levy

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TROY - It was a celebration of  sweet success in downtown Troy Friday night.

Snipping a red ribbon has become a familiar site in that city, something that traditionally symbolizes a new business opening, but to Susan Dunckel, the grand opening of Sweet Sues symbolizes much more.

"I think that the American dream is alive and well," Dunckel affirms. "Very much so and I have an awful lot of hope."

Playing off a theme that has become somewhat of a political football in the presidential campaign, Dunckel stated, "No, I did not build this (my business) myself. I had an awful lot of help along the way."

Dunckel developed her culinary skills and created her customer base at the Troy Riverfront Farmer's Market. She also has an open kitchen, giving customers a close up look at how she hand crafts her products from scratch.

When asked if she thought starting a new sweet shop in downtown Troy was risky business, Dunckel responded, "I can't think of a better time to do it. It was now or never."

"Sweet Sues is a great example of someone who has put a lot of work into her business before she opened," said Elizabeth Young, executive director of the Downtown Troy Business Improvement District. "She carefully chose what location she wanted. She really wanted to be here in Troy and we couldn't be happier to have her."

Young says every new business builds on "some fantastic momentum" in downtown Troy. That momentum was well evident on Friday night as pleasant weather and recent arrivals from RPI's nearby campus had the sidewalks swarming with people.

"We really are a wonderful place for small shops, bakeries, and boutiques," Young says. "(people) come down here to be part of this wonderful kind of funky, unique vibe we have going on in downtown Troy."

Many of the newly opened businesses are food-related. Among them: the Flying Chicken, Dante's Frozen Yogurt, and Paesan's Pizza, all of the forming a tasty presence, according to Mayor Lou Rosamilia.

"Word of mouth, the more people we have the more foot traffic we have and that makes it more successful for everyone," the mayor said.

Elizabeth Young points out that a big part of downtown Troy's future includes the creation of higher end residence on the upper floors above the businesses. When that happens, she says, it will put downtown "over the top."