KINGSTON, NY – Charles Blechman of CB Builders is this year’s Ulster County Regional Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year at the Hotel Kinsley in Uptown Kingston.
Eight businesses, business leaders and organizations will be honored during the Chamber’s Business Recognition Awards Gala Dinner at Wiltwick Golf Club, 404 Steward Lane, Kingston, on Thursday, October 27, starting at 5:30 p.m.
Other honorees include J. Mullen and Sons Inc. of Saugerties as Business of the Year; Pecamoz Restaurant and Taproom as Small Business of the Year; Rail Explorers as Tourism Business of the Year; and Catholic Charities of Orange, Sullivan and Ulster Counties’ Commitment to Community Award. Heritage Award goes to Scanlon Dry Cleaners; Ulster County Archivist Taylor Brooke will be honored as a young leader and the Len Cane Heart of Ulster County Award will be presented to HITS’ Tom Struzzieri.
Hotel Kinsley is a campus of four boutique 19th-century buildings with a total of 42 guest rooms, along with two restaurants and an uptown bar.
It is the first “destination hotel” to open in Uptown in 2019, according to a press release.
“He has invested in Ulster County since 1990 and has lived in the county for 25 years,” said Blechman, the council.
“As a developer, Charles Bleichman had the foresight to buy properties that could be salvaged right down to the last stage,” Chambers said. “He is completely on top of every project, overseeing the smallest details. His team spends endless hours testing and retesting every decision, design, color or restaurant menu.”
Hotel Kinsley, located at 301 Wall St., includes a 1770 Georgian stone building with 10 guest rooms. 41 Pearl St., opening in January 2021, 14 units; the 270 John St. location slated to open this summer; and 24 John St. to follow. His two restaurants are Kinsley’s at 301 Wall St. and Lola’s at 243 Fair St.
Blechman employs 50 to 75 full- and part-time employees, depending on the season.
According to the chamber, COVID-19 presented a severe challenge to Blechman and his enterprises, forcing the restaurants and hotels to close more than five months after opening. He said the restaurants have been converted to take-out and later take-out and limited capacity.
For more information or tickets visit https://www.ulsterchamber.org/business-recognition-awards-dinner/.
