New tenant OK'd for Romano's

Albany Times-Union (NY)/November 14, 2006
By Dennis Yusko

Halfmoon -- The Planning Board approved a change-of-tenant application for the new owner of the former Romano's Restaurant Monday after the client's representative promised the site would not be used for training seminars.

Attorney Sarah Biscome said the property would be split into four main parts: an 800-square-foot public cafe with a capacity of 24; a public work station resembling Kinko's where patrons can send faxes and make photocopies; a 1,300-square-foot space to lease to an unknown commercial tenant; and a 1,050-square-foot kitchen for preparing food.

"There are no conference rooms. There will never be any kind of training," Biscome told the board.

Biscome said Romano's was purchased by a trust, and she was representing Pamela Cafritz, an associate of Keith Raniere, the founder of Nxivm of Colonie.

The facility would remain open 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week, Biscome said. A name has not been established.

Her remarks clarified comments she made to the board made last month, when she said that the client could use the former restaurant for seminars and training.

Cafritz needs only to apply for a building permit to start work at the Route 9 location.