To the Editor:

Like many, I've been following the story about Smith's Tavern and the adjoining space being sold to the Dake family for a newer and larger Stewart's convenience store. I'd like to share my perspective with regard to this issue.

By now, it is quite apparent that the area in question is ripe for just that type of business irrespective of NIMBY [not in my backyard].   Over here in Colonie there are plans for not one, but two new Cumberland Farms convenience stores and the new footprint of the convenience store is much larger and more modern than their current one.

Stewart's obviously is going to protect, perhaps, what it sees as its customers in the village of Voorheesville not to mention losing market share to the aggressive expansion plans of Cumberland Farms.  No doubt the Dakes are still licking their wounds after the village of Altamont turned down their request for expansion on a much too busy intersection there.

However this turns out, the owners of Smith’s Tavern are due whatever they receive so that they can retire, as is the dream of all of us.

John Kilcher

Colonie