By MATT LINDSEY

POTSDAM -- Downtown has the seen the addition of several new restaurants, a flower shop, The Robot Zone, and shifting of two dental practices over the last few months.

Over the last half of a year several new businesses opened up, some changed locations, and a new dental office was built on Elm Street.

Dentists Stacey M. Howlett, DDS, and Janel Smith, DDS, moved their Sandstone Family & Cosmetic Dentistry practice from 1 Riverside Dr. to 150 Elm St., following the completion of a new building this spring.

A Hawaiian restaurant, and southern-style and Mediterranean-style eateries opened shop, offering visitors to downtown new places to dine.

Businesses on the move included a barbershop, hair salon, Chinese takeout restaurant and a frozen yogurt shop.

Medical Offices Move

The Sandstone Family & Cosmetic Dentistry office is now a new single level building and fully handicapped-accessible. The new location provides private consultation areas, as well as a state-of-the-art sterilization center.

The dental practice had moved beyond capacity in their previous building, a statement said. The expansion led to the "addition of new staff members to help in the transition of patient care and treatment, while maintaining all of the familiar faces you are used to seeing,” the statement said.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeon Lee Aiken moved his practice from 1 Riverside Dr. to  29 Main St. following Sandstone Family & Cosmetic Dentistry’s move to Elm Street.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons care for patients with problem wisdom teeth, facial pain, maxillofacial infections and misaligned jaws. They treat accident victims suffering facial injuries, place dental implants, care for patients with oral cancer, tumors and cysts of the jaws, and perform facial cosmetic surgery.

New Businesses

Lee’s Hawaiian Grill replaced The Hop at 3 Market St. in early May

They offer BBQ-style chicken, burgers, seafood along with rice and salads with a Hawaiian twist.

Hours for the business are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Monday through Friday, and noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

After operating two years in Clarkson’s Peyton Hall Business Incubator, the 24-year-old owner of The Robot Zone decided to move her business to downtown Potsdam in May.

As one walks in the door at 71 Market St., a 3D printer is always running. There’s a green screen wall for video editing and recording, a storage room with Legos to build and play, space to build robots, and printers. People can pick which colors and materials they want to use. There’s also space where older kids can be safety certified and make large robots that require machining.

The Robot Zone student customers range in age from 5 to 18. So far the boys outnumber the girls, but Clapper works with local Girl Scout troops.

Other Changes

Verville’s Flowers, owned by Racheal Nezezon, opened at 69 Market St. in April.

The shop carries fresh cut flowers, dish gardens, and plants. They provide flowers for funerals and weddings, too.

Deliveries are made to Canton, Norwood, Raymondville, Parishville North Lawrence and other areas as requested.

Locally made candles from Massena and homemade jewelry from Brasher-based 2 Mama Birds are sold at the flower shop.

Bourbon Barrel Bar-b-que opened July 14 at 6 Elm St., above Between the Buns, offering smoked meats, catering and an American-themed setting.

Meats from the smoker include barbequed brisket, pulled pork, ribs, sausage and chicken. Steaks and seafood dishes are also available, along with a variety of hot and cold sides.

There is room for over 100 people to be seated, with 20 bar stools at the bar and 85 chairs set up at tables.

The bar offers about 20 different bourbons, with specialty bourbon drinks, and mostly American beers.

A Mediterranean-style eatery opened downtown on Market Street earlier this spring.

Plaice 2 Meat, 57 Market St., is aiming to cater to vegetarians as well as Halal and Kosher-based members of the community and students, according to owner Tarik Maatallah.

They offer shawarma, which is the Turkish equivalent of a gyro, with chicken or beef options. Soups from different countries are offered, as well as Moroccan ground beef sandwiches and fish options.

Rounding out the menu are made-to-order salads and rice and Greek potatoes. Food is served take-out style, but customers can eat it at the restaurant too.

On the Move

Dillon’s Barber Shop opened in February at 2 Main St., offering haircuts and shaves downtown. Casey Dillon opened The Barber Shop in the spring of 2013, at 6548 SH 56, just south of SUNY Potsdam.

As part of the transition the business changed its name from The Barber Shop to Dillon’s Barber Shop in an effort to get known in the community. Dillon installed a new sign above the entrance.

Dillon offers hot shaves, modern fades and tapers and can handle classic haircuts as well.

In January, A#1 Oriental Kitchen began the process of moving to 80 Market St., Potsdam across from Stewart’s Shop.

The Chinese takeout restaurant is currently located in the Save-A-Lot Plaza, on Outer Market Street.

The restaurant’s new location has been vacant since the Sugar Creek/Wilson Farms store closed in 2013.

Chilly Delight Self-Serve Frozen Yogurt relocated from 57 Market St. to 12 Main St. near the Roxy Theater earlier this year.

The frozen yogurt shop opened late 2013 and is owned by Tim and Lori Dillon.

They offer a variety of flavors of frozen yogurt and ice cream with lots of toppings to choose from.

Taglio Salon and Spa Inc. moved to 1 Market St. late last year allowing them to expand services, triple floor space and improve their visibility.

Co-owner Ashley Couglar says the new location gains the salon an additional 1,000 square feet of space. She owns the business with Kristy LaCourse.

The beauty shop opened in its new location last fall, having operated out of 2 Elm St. for nearly four years.

Taglio Salon and Spa Inc. is a full service salon offering cuts for all members of family, coloring and makeup for weddings, proms and other special occasions.