Business Briefs: Believe, Open; Castle, Closed

Amazing how a few weeks go by and there's so many business changes to mention in this regular column. So let's jump in.

OPEN

Believe Juice and Books on Wednesday opened its doors to this gleaming, welcoming white room, all inspiration-fueled with colors in those juice cups like you wouldn't believe. Enzo Simone, having climbed the many mountains of starting up a business, is your host, and he plans to pretty much live here so come say hi. Please report back here on what you tried and what you think.

CLOSED

Castle Hotel and Spa. But not permanently, mind you. As part of their $10 million renovation project, all operations there are suspended through May 1, 2013.

From their press release:

In addition to the introduction of the new spa, the property-wide renovation will include 4,100 square feet of meeting & banquet space, the 31 luxurious guest rooms and suites, public spaces, and the award-winning Equus restaurant and kitchen.

Meanwhile, they are still able to make best-of lists apparently, as they were just dubbed among its 2013 Best Hotels in the USA by US News and World Report, ranking 91 in the state. (Tarrytown House Estate and Conference Center fared even better on the list, ranking 59 in NY.)

Yogo Berry. Just as Yogurt Le Crepe quietly predicted, their competitor didn't last long with a new yogurt shop just some doors down on Broadway. There's paper on the windows which can only mean something is coming soon. Stay tuned.

COMING SOON

Bistro 12 is coming soon to 12 Main Street, home of Sol Mar. More info to come on this development.

SOLD

Kraft Foods complex to Montefiore Hospital, who will move some of their offices here. Kraft employees will be able to stay on in a portion of the complex as they will continue to rent from the new owner. More on this here.

ON HOLD

Striped Bass, despite claiming a March 1 reopening date on their website, is in legal limbo with no date in sight. Read more here.

CHANGED HANDS

That restaurant (most recently Palmas) that opens and shuts on Clinton Street more regularly than customers can find their new phone number, has reopened now as El Mirador Cuencanco. Fingers crossed on this one! 

UNIQUE NEW SERVICES

Cathi Locati, who Patch profiled back when she was working to get her tattooing licensing, shares that her new career is up and running, using her skills to help breast cancer survivors after mastectomy.

Locati reports:

I have gone forward with all my licenses, classes and certifications and have been doing Areola tattooing this year.  I have honed my skill as a Facial Tattoo (eyebrows, eyeliner and lips) artist and Areola Tattoo artist, to provide ‘3D nippling’ – or areolas and nipples that look so real no one can tell that they’re not really there.  I also match, through 3D nippling, both sides of the chest if only one of the breasts has been removed or altered through surgery.

To discover more about the areolas Cathi Locati Co. builds and to see actual client photos go to www.cathilocatico.com or call: 914-659-7777 for a free phone consultation. You can read more in her recent blog on Patch here.

Gina Vercesi, formerly of Kids Unplugged is now hooking people up with great travel plans to Disney, which isn't as contradictory as it sounds, she notes. 

Now's the time for people to start planning their summer travel and quality time with your kids, and you don't have to plan it alone.  

Why get help booking your trip with her? Vercesi writes in her blog: 

The sheer volume of information required to plan a Disney vacation is more than the average traveler can comprehend. Just selecting the best theme park ticket options can be a daunting challenge, not to mention what time of year to travel, which resort to pick, what restaurants are best for your family – and that's just the beginning!  

For more info contact 914-330-6274, gina@mickeytravels.com, or visit her blog at mickeytravelsgina.com.

Know of more business action going on in Sleepy Hollow and Tarrytown? Share here.

Like us on Facebook  |  Follow us on Twitter  |  Sign up for our newsletter