Northern Ice and Dance is the most comprehensive figure skating and dance store in the Northern New York.
The original business opened in the mid 1970’s. Owner Betty Hollenbaugh called store the "Holly House". In the early 80's, it was sold to Maggie Stacy who kept the location, but changed the name to Maggie's Patch. Maggie originated the tradition of the "Patch" name that was to remain with the business for 20 years. She also sold the current owner, Cassie, her first pair of figure skates!
In 1987 Maggie, sold her business to Peggy Cambridge and the business became Peggy's Patch. The business was moved to a new location and Peggy expanded into designing and sewing skating dresses. Eight years after buying the business, Peggy sold the skate business, but, for the next decade remained active as the North Country's leading skating dress designer under the business name Peggy's Patch. In January of 1994, Cathy Minnetyan bought the business and carried on the tradition by renaming it Cathy's Patch. The business moved locations twice more, but most notably, Cathy expanded the reach of the business by purchasing The Skater's Loft in Ogdensburg. Her second location remained open for two years before she consolidated both into one store in Canton. In addition to figure skating, Cathy introduced the North Country to dance apparel and footwear making it possible for the expanding dance market to buy supplies locally. Cathy operated successfully for 11 years.
Carrying on a tradition of successful businesswomen, in February of 2005, Cassie Laurence purchased the business from Cathy, moved it to the front showroom of my first business, The Sports Exchange, located on Outer Market Street in Potsdam. In August, The Sports Exchange was sold and the figure skating, dance and gymnastics part of the business moved to Hannawa Falls becoming Northern Ice and Dance. In 2006 Northern Ice and Dance found its current home Downtown Potsdam, where it continues to do business today.
