Jul 25, 2008

A Troy tradition: businesswomenBy Eric AndersonTimesUnion.com

Troy — Dana Rudolph remembers applying for a bank loan to open her first business in 1977. The form asked for the owner’s name and then for the wife’s name.

“But I don’t have a wife,” she said to the banker.

And she didn’t get the loan.

But Rudolph launched her business career anyway. Today, she operates Dana Rudolph and Co., a bead shop at 209-211 River St. in downtown Troy.

She’s one of more than two dozen women who own businesses in a small section of downtown.

In fact, the one-block area of River between Third Street and Monument Square has a dozen women-owned shops. Women also head the Rensselaer County Regional Chamber of Commerce and the software company 1st Playable Productions, both at 255 River St., as well as The Arts Center of the Capital Region, at 265 River St.

Other woman-owned businesses include a barber shop, bookstore, pottery store, gift shop, galleries, cafes and several antiques shops.

Pilar Dexter, who will open a Mexican crafts and food store on River Street next month, pointed Thursday to several pieces of furniture she has purchased from antiques dealers on the street, all women, and said they’ve been very supportive.

Her store, Casa Chiquis, will hold its grand opening Aug. 15, but plans to be open for tonight’s monthly Troy Night Out, which features music, gallery openings and other special events downtown from 5 to 9 p.m.

Woman-owned clothing store Aurora’s Boutique recently moved from River to Third Street. An antiques store operated by Astri Bryce has taken its place. Bryce’s grand opening also will be in August, said Elizabeth Young, executive director of the Troy Downtown Collaborative and owner of The Living Room, an antiques interior decoration shop at 274 River St.

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