Meet the Owners of Odd House: Scottie and Matty Dwyer What made you choose downtown Troy? Matty: I found Troy about seven years ago, and when Scottie and I moved in together, we found a lot of healing and peace here. We found our sobriety and really found ourselves while living in Troy. It felt like there was no better way to celebrate being part of Troy than by bringing ourselves to the streets of Troy through Odd House. Scottie: For me, Troy has given me the space to be myself. It’s a...

Cyren Romeo Meet the Founder of A Big Gay Market: Building Community Through Creativity, Visibility, and Joy Q: What made you start A Big Gay Market? Funny story — it actually started as a garage sale. At first, it was called A Big Gay Garage Sale, and it was created to raise money for Camp Adirondack, a free retreat for queer and trans middle and high schoolers in the Adirondacks. They had lost a lot of their funding, and I thought, not on my watch. This space was too important to lose. It’s...

48 3rd St, Troy, NY Owner: Jim Cook How long have you been in business in Troy? Romanation Jewelers has been part of Troy’s story since 1952 , a true, long-standing anchor of our downtown. Jim grew up in the business and officially took over in 1988 , moving the shop to its current home in 1992 . For many Troy families, Romanation has been the place for engagement rings, anniversary gifts, heirloom repairs, and milestone moments for generations. What do you sell? Romanation specializes in...