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Old and New Businesses - June Troy Uniform Shop, Inc. (1930) and Fulton Street Gallery (1997) By Patricia Dumas A growing number of new business places now exist in Troy interspersed with the old familiar establishments which have long been a part of the city's landscape. Troy United Ink in this issue begins a series of articles about these businesses and their proprietors. Please contact TUI with suggestions for future stories! One of the city's older businesses is Troy Uniform Shop, Inc. at 413 Broadway. Located there since 1970, the shop's forerunner was Knitcraft, a family-run business which was opened in 1930 by Loa Copeland, a New York City businessman who relocated to Troy because he recognized it as a city favorable to small businesses. Lila Faris, Mr. Copeland's daughter, inherited the family business and now is the owner/proprietor of Troy Uniform Shop Inc. With its reputation for quality merchandise and customer-satisfaction, the shop has a clientele who have patronized it for many years. According to Mrs. Faris, it also appeals to an increasing number of shoppers who dislike going to crowded malls. Besides uniforms, the shop specializes in brand-name lingerie, sportswear and hosiery. Mrs. Paris believes that Troy should have more small specialty shops as an alternative to the malls. A block away, at 406 Fulton Street, is one of Troy's newer business places, Fulton Street Gallery which opened there in October, 1997. Colleen Skiff is the lady in charge at that unique haven for Artists and art lovers. The gallery functions as a showcase for artists work, the setting for a variety of workshops and artistic performances, and a source of equipment for artist use. Art work done by students in area schools also is featured from time to time in the gallery because Colleen Skiff sees a need for more connection between schools and the art community. Ms. Skiff was born in Troy but grew up in Pennsylvania. She graduated from Wilkes University and has an extensive career background as an art teacher and art therapist for developmentally disabled children and adults and for adolescents and adults in drug and alcoholic rehabilitation programs. Currently, she teaches art at the Bethlehem Children's School in Slingerlands. Working with a volunteer staff, Ms. Skiff has found Troy to be a good location for the art gallery. She notes that Mayor Partisan "has been very accessible" and Troy-based organizations have been cooperative in helping the non-profit gallery grow as a new cultural establishment in the city. In cooperation with Troy United Ink Corp., a not-for-profit corporation 
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