The long-empty eatery at the corner of Lark and Washington has finally found a occupant--Subway--and the new store owner already has plans to open a second franchise inside by the beginning of the year.
"We were psyched to find this spot," says owner Adam Gelman. "I've been looking to try and do a business in Albany for a while, and it worked out well with this spot." The neighborhood is a lunch destination for uptown and downtown workers alike. The spot is a hub for CDTA, and the restaurant will likely see a large volume of traffic from that as well. "We love the location. It's a fun corner. There's a lot going on all the time, and it really brings people from all walks of life together. There's two or three neighborhoods that all come together right here," he says.
"This location is ready for success, the proximity to the new transit station and daily steady high pedestrian counts from both Lark Street and Washington, give them a great opportunity for good volume sales," says Anthony Capece, Executive Director for the Central Business Improvement District. "We look forward to many sales of $5 footlongs in their future."
The store measures 3,000 square feet, and seats 44. "The space is big, so we are actually going to try a dual concept. I'm hoping by January or February we will have another franchise called Taco Del Mar in the space along with the Subway," Gelman says. Taco Del Mar features San Francisco mission-style burritos and tacos.
Gelman lives nearby in Hudson Park. Prior to opening the restaurant, he worked in real estate, where he represented properties across the city. His father Mitch Gelman owns four Subways in Schenectady, and after finding the right location, Gelman decided to get in on the "family business," too.
The ribbon cutting took place last Tuesday, with County Legislator Jack McEneny, Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings, Common Councilmember Anton Konev, BID Director Anthony Capece, and members of the business community in attendance.
One of the world's largest chain restaurants, Subway is a well-recognized brand and a great anchor to this important uptown corner. Subway offers a full catering menu for office functions and special occasions.
Subway is located at 202 Washington Avenue, at the intersection of Lark Street, Central Avenue and Washington Avenue. For more information, please call the restaurant at 689-0111.
