Business notebook: From a gold album to the Copper Bottom

Warwick - If Mark Scott’s warm personality and attention to good service has anything to do with it, the Copper Bottom Restaurant at 162 North Main St. in the Village of Florida will continue to enjoy its well earned good reputation for years to come. Last November, Mark Scott, best known as the drummer and “front man” for the internationally renowned rock band, “Trixter,” and his wife, Susan, purchased The Copper Bottom, a well-established and popular restaurant serving contemporary continental cuisine. In the music business, he had sold well over a million albums. But when rock band audiences declined in the mid 1990s, Scott put his knowledge and experience with global marketing and revenue generation to good use managing family entertainment centers in the metro area. His most recent position was as director of sales for the Palisades Center owned by Dave & Buster’s, a company that operates numerous high-volume restaurant/entertainment complexes throughout the United States. Eventually, however, he decided that his long hours and time away from home could be put to better use owning his own restaurant. And, since Mark and Susan Scott and their three children call Warwick home, they seized the opportunity to purchase The Copper Bottom, located only five miles from the Village of Warwick. “Life is very different these days,” said Scott. “I never thought that working more than 65 hours every week could be this much fun.” Scott also believes in the motto, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” The Copper Bottom was recently named one of the “Top Ten Restaurants” in the Hudson Valley by the Times Herald-Record. And Scott’s philosophy is to stick with the restaurant’s winning formula of offering ample servings of quality food and drinks at reasonable prices. He’s also pleased that the restaurant’s original staff, all seasoned professionals, elected to continue working for the new owners. “They’re part of the reason this restaurant has always enjoyed such a great reputation,” he said. “And I’m thrilled they all decided to stay on.” The Copper Bottom’s menu offers a large selection of dinner specials as well as appetizers, soups, salads and desserts. Recent entrees included a filet mignon wrapped with bacon and crowned with shrimp and a cognac cream sauce, a fish du jour and a veal piccata among others. A children’s menu is also available. The Copper Bottom is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday from 11:30 to 10 p.m.; Saturday from 5 - 10 p.m. and Sunday from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. For reservations, private parties and catering Call 651-5700. Solar heat If you’re looking for ways to reduce your heating bills and achieve some energy independence, you might try contacting Patrick Gallagher of Gallagher Solar Thermal and Patrick Biglane of Solar Savvy. Both local entrepreneurs promise to substantially reduce your home expenses, for example, by installing a solar collector for hot water on the roof of your house. “Heating hot water is a large portion of your yearly utility bill,” said Gallagher. “With utility bills increasing every month solar hot water makes a lot of sense all year round.” The collectors can also provide home heating in some situations. Gallagher, whose business is in Warwick, and Biglane, who works out of Newburgh, have partnered to install custom solar collectors for clients in the local area. They can also explain substantial government subsidies which can dramatically reduce the cost of installation for both home and commercial applications. For more information visit solarthermalsolution.com, call Pat Gallagher at 258 - 0749 or e-mail Pat Biglane at: patbig845@aol.com.