Downtown Albany gift and home goods shop changes ownership

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10)-- On Monday, The Fort Orange General Store welcomed new owners, Erica Cubello and Joseph Slichko. Former owner Schuyler Bull announced the new owners in a Facebook post.

"Both lifelong residents of the Capital Region, Erica and Joe are passionate about growing community ties and cultivating relationships between local artists, vendors, and businesses," the post stated.

Cubello owns Seriously Spotless Green Cleaning Company and is an art teacher at Albany High School. Slichko is the principal of the Capital Region BOCES Career and Technical Education Campus in Albany.

According to Bull, Cubello looks forward to working closely with the Fort Orange community of vendors, makers, customers, and employees, and becoming a part of the Downtown Albany community. Slichko will bring a knowledge of leadership and management, specializing in human resources, operations, marketing, development, and fundraising to the business.

Bull said he is thankful for the time he has spent in the store and the customers and community he has welcomed. "As I hand the store off to the new owners, I know my grandmother would’ve been proud, and I have all of you - our customers, vendors, and community - to thank for that. I could not be more grateful."

Bull placed the business for sale on the seventh anniversary of the opening, hoping to find someone to continue the store's mission and bring it to "greater heights." Since opening the store has paid out more than $1 million to local makers and small creators throughout the United States and welcomed over 20,000 customers.

The store will continue selling home goods and homemade gifts from up-and-coming designers, artists, and small companies. The Fort Orange General Store was closed Monday for the transfer of operations but reopened Tuesday and resumed online ordering.

Holiday Hours:

• Nov. 26: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Nov. 27: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Nov. 28: Closed
• Nov. 29: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Nov. 30: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The store will continue normal business hours after the holiday. The store will be open Monday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.