Lazy Moose under new ownership

BRANT LAKE | Lazy Moose Garden Market has a new set of proprietors. And though the torch is being passed and a new chapter in the successful business is beginning, Kevin and Kimberly Stonitsch assure that the same great quality will be expected, cultivated, and delivered. Kevin Stonisch is already a well-known business owner in the area. He is the man behind Adirondack Customs, the Reparius-based custom log home and timber frames company. He also owns Bison Facility Management Services which specializes in snow and ice management, as well as commercial landscaping and facility management. "I'm excited that we get to put ourselves out in front of the community on a more day to day basis," aid Kevin Stonitsch, new owner. "I've been in business since 2007 and always operated in quiet areas building dream homes for people that live and work here." Stonitsch credits previous owners Paul and Teri Schuerline with the investment into the business, praising them for building an enterprise that earned the respect and trust of its customers and greater community. "Their roots go back on Brant Lake through their grandparents, they took over this business and created the Lazy Moose," Stonitsch shared. "They have built a huge foundation within the community of delivering a quality product with a smile and a wave and pleasant conversation, as well as their willingness to answer questions and impart their valuable knowledge." Because of this confidence and quality customer service, when the question arose whether to keep the name or choose a different one for the regional fixture, there was only one obvious answer for the Stonitschs. "We chose to keep the name because we want to recognize what the Schuerlines have done and the foundation they laid and the relationships they have built," Stonitsch explained. "We want to continue moving that forward." Paul will even be coming back in the spring for grow time so he can personally show Stonitsch how he grows those quality plants Lazy Moose offers that you can't get anywhere else, Stonitsch added. "Paul and Teri did an amazing job in growing this palace and in caring for it, and we are going to continue to do a good job for them," he promised. As the new owner of Lazy Moose, Stonitsch sees the well-established destination as an opportunity to marry, in sorts, his existing ventures. The Lazy Moose Garden Market has three existing main lines of service. There is the landscape supply (mulch, top soul, seeds, straw), the grown-from-scratch operations for flowers, shrubs, perennials, that whole range of things even vegetables, and of course the gift shop and store known for its rustic cabin decor and coffee. "When the opportunity arose, it was a pretty natural fit," noted Stonitsch. "There is plenty of room for all the business entities to exist. Their service lines of offering the landscape supply works with the Bison side where we are installing landscaping and hardscaping projects, and their feel of the log home\cabin area works well with Adirondack Customs,and the space allows us to have a showroom." Stonitsch said he intends to keep the core service lines intact, and the retail sales will remain much the same. However, the interior and the gift shop will see some changes. "We are looking to talk with some regional and local vendors about bringing in some farm-to-table products to expand getting locally grown organic items," he revealed. This fall, the Stonitchs plan to formally introduce themselves to the community by offering a few limited open hours where they will be bringing in seasonal items- mums and pumpkins within the next few weeks, and Christmas trees and wreaths for the holidays. "It will be great to have a presence along the main drag in Brant Lake and be able to have displays and a showroom to show what we can do, and get more community involvement and awareness of the products and service lines we offer," he remarked. Stonitsch is already actively in talks with the existing Lazy Moose staff for a 2027 return, and will also be looking to hire a new manager for the location. "My parents moved to Ticonderoga when I was two and I grew up at Brookwood Park Campground as our family business," he said. "We had a lot of surrounding community members come in seasonally to work, and that was a way where they could have a good job." And Stonitsch intends to replicate that same valued model at the Lazy Moose. "We are looking to build careers for people in order to expand their opportunities in the region and looking to retain those good employees," he said. "My wife and I decided back in 2007 that when we started this business venture- wherever it went- we wanted me to provide life-changing service for our clients and also for the people who work with us. That includes a career path that puts them on a trajectory of being able to afford to retire, have healthcare savings accounts, and enjoy the time off to be able to go to your kids' soccer game." Stonitsch has built those ideals into his company, and is able to offer competitive benefits to employees and provide a path forward in life, not just the opportunity to earn a paycheck at the end of the week. "I am proud that we have been able- with a great team- to get this thing grown up that there are people working with us that are the first person in their family tree to have a retirement account," he said. "That is the kind of chance we are looking to have. To be able to positively affect our region is what we are about." Follow the Lazy Moose Garden Market on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/thelazymoosegardenmarket where dates for the upcoming soft openings, we well as other events and updates will be made available.

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Lazy Moose under new ownership

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