local business

September 11, 2014 - 8:32pm
The downtown Syracuse shop lowered its prices to compete with GameStop, but its dedicated customer core helped it surpass expectations.

A group of customers assembled outside Voltage Video Games one Sunday afternoon, waiting for the store’s owner to open up shop. After filing into the store, some customers went straight to the register to exchange old games for new ones, while others wandered the aisles, scoping out games that span back decades to systems like the original Nintendo Entertainment System and Atari 2600.

August 27, 2014 - 10:26pm
The Syracuse music shop, owned by three siblings, prepares to expand to a new space in October.

Beginning in 2003, local metal band Engineer traversed the country playing in bars, concert halls and skate parks. Bobby, Brad and Ryan Gorham, who comprised the band's core, visited hundreds of music gear shops, taking note of the ones that sold rare equipment and, as Bobby said, the ones that sucked.

October 6, 2012 - 2:34pm
"Cuse Mob" events have brought recognition and revenue to two local Syracuse businesses.

On Sept. 13, Om Boys Juice and Smoothie Bar in Armory Square was suddenly invaded and mobbed by about 100 people, though the owners didn't even bat an eye. 

September 19, 2010 - 4:07pm
Lost Horizon general manager and local scene-booster Scott Dixon now has 2,000 bookings to his name.

Scott Dixon walked onto The Lost Horizon’s stage on Saturday like it was any other night. Relaxed and clad in a black sweatshirt and shorts, he introduced the first act, Mike Roy, and casually mentioned that the local musician has played 43 shows for him.

Forty-three isn’t a lot of shows to Dixon -- he’s booked 2,000 over the course of his career.

March 29, 2010 - 8:33pm
Every spring, Critz Farms holds its annual Maple Syrup Celebration. Visitors to the farm find out exactly how the real maple syrup they drizzle over their pancakes is made, from tree to bottle.

“This is way better than IHOP,” said Syracuse University senior Joe Frandino.

At IHOP, Frandino and his friends would have eaten their pancakes with the gelatinous, dark brown, high-fructose corn syrup concoction commonly known as imitation maple syrup.  In their search for an off-campus Sunday morning activity, they discovered Critz Farms and its delicious homemade maple syrup.