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Chip’s Place in Hannawa Falls will change owners, but keep staff

Posted 12/29/19

By CRAIG FREILICH North Country This Week HANNAWA FALLS – After nearly 20 years of owning and operating the popular store, Charles “Chip” Giordano has sold Chip’s Place/Spirits on Rt. 56 to …

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Chip’s Place in Hannawa Falls will change owners, but keep staff

Posted

By CRAIG FREILICH

North Country This Week

HANNAWA FALLS – After nearly 20 years of owning and operating the popular store, Charles “Chip” Giordano has sold Chip’s Place/Spirits on Rt. 56 to neighbor Ed Betz, his wife Michala and his sister Mary Betz.

“I’m approaching 65 and the workload was getting a little heavy,” Giordano said, so he accepted the Betz’s offer and agreed to stay on part-time, to do various duties including continuing to cut meat for the store, which specializes in fresh meats and seafood.

The Betz’s, Nicholville natives, officially take over the business Jan. 1. The attached liquor store will still be in Giordano’s name “until Ed can get the license switched over” and it is re-issued by the state.

Giordano will help with management of the store to make the transition “as seamless as possible.”

“My brother convinced me to come work with him,” Mary Betz said, so she came back to St. Lawrence County from Lake George.

Mary has been in food service for about 10 years, including managing a restaurant in Lake George.

Ed is a law partner at the Carlisle Law Firm in Ogdensburg, and will still be working full time there, filling in as needed. He has some food service experience as well, Mary said.

And Michala Betz, Ed’s wife, will be involved in running the store.

Ed lives right next to Chip’s so he certainly knows the store, “and Chip’s has a great reputation, and he wanted to keep it in good hands,” so he made an offer, Mary said.

Giordano, a North Country native, said he bought the store in 2000 after a varied career involving supermarkets, including a stint as a meat cutter at the Great American in Potsdam and Hannaford in Massena, and working as a consultant helping to set up stores with investment firm The Fleming Corporation of Buffalo.

Not much will change right away, Giordano said. The setup, the product lines, and the staff will remain, certainly for the time being.