Erica Cubello Leads Fort Orange General Store
The Albany native manages the local shop focusing on New York state goods and small businesses.
Updated on Sept. 30, 2026 in Local Shops
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Albany native Erica Cubello operates the Fort Orange General Store on Broadway. The boutique showcases products exclusively made in New York state and supports local small businesses.
Why it matters
The store prioritizes partnerships with minority and women-owned businesses alongside philanthropic entities. By restricting vendors from selling on Amazon, the shop helps protect the viability of small local retailers.
The store inventory consists entirely of items manufactured in New York state, including local artwork and merchandise featuring Nipper. Vendors are strictly prohibited from selling their goods on Amazon.
The players
Erica Cubello
She is an Albany native who manages the Fort Orange General Store.
Joe Slichko
He co-manages the operations of the Fort Orange General Store alongside Erica Cubello.
The details
Co-managers Erica Cubello and Joe Slichko utilize social media videos to promote both store activities and broader city attractions. They also produce a podcast dedicated to discussing local events and the nuances of small business operations.
Timeline
September 30, 2026: The current store profile was published.
Culture Shift
The Fort Orange General Store operations align with the Shop Small movement, a documented trend that promotes localized economic support over national e-commerce giants. This shift reflects a growing societal desire for hyper-local retail experiences that foster community connection.
Shoppers in Albany can support the regional economy by purchasing items exclusively made in New York state through the store. Residents may also engage with the business through their social media content and educational podcast regarding local operations.
The takeaway
Supporting local retailers often requires conscious efforts to bypass large e-commerce platforms in favor of community-focused storefronts. Small businesses can extend their reach by creating original content that ties their products to the local identity of their city.
Further reading
Learn more about the local retail landscape in our Local Shops section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WRGB.
Live Poll
Do you prefer shopping at small, locally-owned businesses over buying items from major online retailers?
