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SeaComm Business Newsletter
4th Edition 2022
BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: The Pines Tap & Table
If you happen to find yourself looking for a place to eat, nestled amongst the trees in the town of Malone, NY is The Pines Tap and Table, which is quite the spot. You’ll find a diverse menu, friendly faces, and an ambiance that is inviting and comfortable. If those are things you look for in a restaurant, The Pines should be on your list.
The Pines was opened in 1988 as a bar by Steve and Cheryl Fitzpatrick. Throughout the years, it became a popular hangout for the hardworking employees of the surrounding correctional facilities, where they could relax and enjoy a drink at the end of a long shift. Fast forward more than 30 years later, in 2019 the establishment was purchased by Monica Beebe, her son Chris and his wife, Jenni. The new family owners turned The Pines into a full service restaurant and bar. With daily specials and a friendly staff, The Pines is popular with locals and a fun find for out-of-towners. “98% of our menu is made in house, from scratch,” said Chris. “We work hard and take a lot of pride in what we do here.”
For The Pines team, the busiest months are December and January. “The winter time is definitely busier for us,” said Chris. “We do a lot of parties for the holidays and catering events.” With a team of 21 employees, The Pines is prepared to host these types of gatherings. Chris also stated that they attract a lot of snowmobilers as well. “We have signs on the [snowmobile] trails and we get a lot of snowmobilers here during the winter.”
With an extensive menu, there is something for everyone at The Pines. When it comes to favorites, “Any of our burgers or our pizzas, for sure,” Chris said. “Out of the burgers, I think our number one is definitely our Bark Burger. It’s got a slightly spicy mayo on it, cheese, bacon, and onions.” As for pizza, “I’d go with the garlic, that one is good any time of the week.” However, it’s not just casual food and bar bites at The Pines, as the restaurant also offers finer cuisine. “We do a phenomenal steak, we have a lobster ravioli, and we have a few more high-end dishes too,” added Monica. The menu also includes salads, in-house roasted pork sliders, homemade chips with dip, and much more. The Pines also hosts a seasonal Sunday Brunch, from September through Mother’s Day, and the inspiration for it came from their own experiences. “When Jenni and I lived in Miami, the restaurant I was running down there did a solid brunch service,” said Chris.
As a local business, The Pines has great appreciation for its patrons and has embraced community involvement. “I grew up in Malone, and I remember playing sports and doing various events throughout the community that were sponsored by businesses around town,” said Chris. “That was one of the main things we wanted to do.”
When it comes to their business relationship with SeaComm, Monica said, “I love SeaComm, I’ve been a member for 30 plus years.” When the Beebe’s took over the business, Monica said SeaComm was extremely helpful, “They did absolutely everything they could to help make this transition smooth, to make us part of the community, and to make us successful.”
The Pines Tap and Table is located at 135 Bare Hill Rd in Malone, NY. Their hours are: Monday–Thursday, 11am–9pm and Friday–Saturday, 11am–10pm for food, while the bar is open later. Visitors can also enjoy Sunday Brunch, 10:30am–2:30pm.
Find out more at ThePinesTapAndTable.com or follow The Pines on Facebook @thepinesmalone and Instagram @_thepinestapandtable.
Manager's Notebook
CEOs Fear Recession in the Near Future
No matter the day, week, or year, if you check out business headlines, there's a good chance that you'll read that the sky is falling. The thing is, one day the doomsayers will eventually get it right. With 90 percent of chief executive officers predicting a recession, their fears may seem plausible.
Consulting firm KPMG conducted a survey quizzing 40 leaders at major American companies regarding their outlook. The results: 91 percent of CEOs believe that a recession will set in within the next 12 months. Worse yet, many fear it may take a long time for the economy to recover.
Unemployment goes up in a recession because there is a decline in trade and business activity.
Unfortunately, such dour sentiments may morph into a self-fulfilling prophecy. Roughly half of CEOs reported that they are planning layoffs. If business leaders move to position their organizations for a recession, such as instituting layoffs or reducing investments, it could create drag on the economy. This, in turn, could generate a self-sustaining feedback loop with a souring economy forcing companies to take even more drastic measures.
There's some good news, however. Many business leaders believe their company is now better positioned to deal with an economic contraction. Further, many company leaders hold a positive long-term view.
"Success is terrifying. Like happiness, it is often appreciated in retrospect." - Julie Andrews, Actress
De-Grinching Christmas by Fighting Inflation
Maybe the Grinch isn't real, but as inflation continues unabated, it could feel like your Christmas has been stolen.
Happily, there are still ways to save some money.
First, it's smart to put your holiday gift list together earlier rather than later. This way, you'll have more time to watch for great deals and you won't make last-minute purchases in a panic. You can also use tools like CamelCamelCamel.com that will track price drops and alert you if items on your list go on sale. You can also use services like Rakuten that provide rewards and cash back when you make purchases.
And, who to buy gifts for? With inflation at historic levels, you can't really blame folks for buying gifts only for immediate family members. The fact is, pretty much everyone is being forced to tighten their belts right now. Inevitably, there are people you feel obligated to purchase for. Try buying small boxes of candy. Or bake holiday cookies and cakes to give away. A half-dozen cookies in a bright wrapper can be very welcome and festive.
Rather than super-sizing your Christmas meal this year, make only what you can eat at one meal (and maybe enough for sandwiches the next day). It's estimated that roughly 40 percent of food ends up in the trash -- and that's like burning cash. Rather than picking up a 20-pound turkey for a six-person Christmas party, downsize to 13 pounds. Instead of pouring eggnog into a punch bowl, make a small pitcher for the fridge. There will be less waste.
Also, folks typically want brand-new products, but you can often save a ton of cash buying refurbished goods. It's not uncommon to find refurbished gadgets on eBay and elsewhere that are selling at a steep discount and come with a warranty. And if you're buying any gifts for yourself, consider waiting until the New Year, as many retailers will hold generous after-holiday sales to clear out stock and holiday returns.
Quick Tip:
Traveling this holiday season? Submit a travel notice on the SeaComm Mobile App so that we can adjust your card security accordingly!
Find more financial tips at seacommblog.com
Payment App Fraud Can Be A Financial Disaster
There are lots of ways to get scammed out of money these days, but it is happening frequently with payment apps.
Pew Research found that 13 percent of payment app users realized they had sent money to scammers and 11 percent reported that their account had been hacked. Many more have likely been scammed without realizing it. And with authorized transactions, once the money is gone, it's gone.
"Authorized" is the key word here. If you authorize a transaction and unwittingly sending money to a scammer, you'll probably never see the money again.
How might a scammer trick you into authorizing a transfer? Often, fraudsters use tried and true scam tactics, simply adapting them for payment apps like Zelle or Venmo.
One common tactic is to text someone pretending to be a bank or other authority like a tax collector, and then asking an account owner to make a transfer. A scammer might claim that you will get hit with overdraft fees or other penalties if you don't pay up.
They might ask you to click on a link where you will then reveal banking information. They might claim that you're simply moving money from one of your accounts to another account that you supposedly own. In reality, the scammer probably owns or can at least access the account.
With scammed funds, banks find themselves in a tight spot: They're obligated to approve any transfer that the account holder makes.
Locations
Main Office
30 Stearns Street
Massena, NY 13662
Malone Branch
3349 Route 11
Malone, NY 12953
Potsdam Branch
6 Sisson Street
Potsdam, NY 13676
Canton Branch
101 East Main Street
Canton, NY 13617
Ogdensburg Branch
3001 Ford Street Extension
Ogdensburg, NY 13669
Plattsburgh Branch
139 Smithfield Blvd
Plattsburgh, NY 12901
South Burlington Branch
1680 Shelburne Rd
So. Burlington, VT 05401
Essex Branch
125 Carmichael Street
Essex, VT 05452
Watertown Branch
20565 State Route 3
Watertown, NY 13601
Branch Managers
Joanne Langdon
30 Stearns St. Branch Manager
Christine Marshall
Malone Branch Manager
Barbara Bessette
Canton Branch Manager
Elizabeth LeValley
Ogdensburg Branch Manager
Ashley Allen
Potsdam Branch Manager
Melissa Comer
Plattsburgh Branch Manager
Kathryn Connor
AVP/Regional Manager Acting Watertown Branch Manager
Joseph Feltz
Essex Branch Manager
Larry Bridglal
South Burlington Branch Manager
Business Development
Jerry Manor
Business Development Manager
Craig Chevalier
Member Business Loan Manager
Christina Smutz
Member Business Loan Officer
315-764-0566 / 800-764-0566
www.seacomm.org
Let us Spotlight your business!
We are proud of our business members and want to share your story! Contact Jerry Manor for more information. Call (315) 764-0566 or toll-free (800) 764-0566 or email jmanor@seacomm.org
SeaComm
30 Stearns St
Massena, NY 13662
*This publication does not constitute legal, accounting or other profesional advice. Although it is intended to be accurate, neither the publisher nor any other party assumes liability for loss or damage due to reliance on this material.