Schroon business owner honored as one of six Entrepreneurs of the Year

SCHROON | When Amanda and Ryan Ragland took a leap as a married couple in the spring of 2023 and purchased the Towne Store, it was unclear at the time what type of business future lay in store. However, a mere two years later, that great unknown has quickly evolved into a personal success story. This past fall at Empire State Development's (ESD) 38th Annual Entrepreneurship Assistance Centers Training & Awards Conference in Lake George, Amanda, who also serves as the current Schroon Lake Chamber of Commerce Board President, was recognized as one of six ESD 2025 Entrepreneurs of the Year, cementing herself as a name in the North Country retail scene, while proving that with a dream, a vision, and a great partner, it is possible to make what is old new (and prosperous) again. "If there's one thing I've learned, it's that small-town dreams are every bit as powerful as big-city ones," Ragland said in her award acceptance speech. "They just need someone willing to believe in them long enough to make them real." Ragland also praised her husband and business partner, admitting she wouldn't have been able to achieve her triumphs without him. "This award is just as much his as it is mine," she said. "He's been there for every late night, every renovation, every moment I've doubted myself —and every victory, too." The Raglands received the keys to the store's doors in April of 2023 and opened the doors for business four weeks later. They spent the first year making the space their own with small tweaks, and then over the winter of 2024, invested all their time, energy, and love clearing out the over 7,000 square foot interior and starting with a clean slate. However, they made sure to pay homage to the deep history and community's cherished memories they had also become the stewards of when purchasing the building. The pair made a sizable investment when they unearthed from beyond wooden boards the original sign to the Schroon Lake Department Store (1915-1958), an impressive 48 feet by 3 feet stained glass window and opted to restore it in its historical entirety. The building itself seemed to be sending a message to its new shopkeepers, and they embraced its whisper. The decision was made to return the business's roots and rebrand using the Schroon Lake Department Store name, reclaiming the identity of the building and indisputably establishing the Raglands as proprietors here to stay. Sourcing and buying their merchandise from local vendors, local artists and authors, and trade shows throughout the country, the Raglands' store offers an array of interesting and unique merchandise, curated and selected with intention, and with love. The store has now expanded from a seven-month seasonal business to a year-round destination. Under the Raglands' ownership, sales have more than doubled in the past two years, offering an example to others that rural entrepreneurs that small towns are worth investing in. The Schroon Lake Department store is not only profitable, but has once again become an integral piece of the town's identity and source of pride. "Schroon Lake is proof that when you invest in community, it gives back tenfold," Ragland noted. "This journey has changed our lives, and I hope it encourages others to take their own leap of faith." ESD's mission is to promote a vigorous, inclusive and growing state economy, encourage business investment and job creation, and support diverse, local economies across New York State through the efficient use of loans, grants, tax credits, real estate development, marketing, and other forms of assistance. The Schroon Lake Department Store is located at 1089 U.S. Rte. 9 in Schroon Lake. Follow their Facebook page for updates, announcements, new products, and specials.

Signup for our newsletter

Schroon business owner honored as one of six Entrepreneurs of the Year

COMPANY

CUSTOMER SUPPORT

SUBMISSION FORMS

BEYOND THE NEWS