For the first time, people will be able to buy fresh produce, breads, and meats right in the heart of Downtown Albany. Two local business owners are opening the Steuben Street Market this Fall. Time Warner Cable's Tanja Rekhi has more.
ALBANY, N.Y. -- The first fresh food market on North Pearl Street will be opening in September. It's a project being done by the owners of a few restaurants, like Pearl Street Pub and The Capital, Chris Pratt and Alessio Depoli.
“We're going to open up this space as a market place for downtown, with fresh produce, vegetables, and fresh meat,” said Pratt. “[It will be] a place where people can either come in the morning to get a cup of coffee or fresh baked goods. Or they can come for lunch, for dinner, or they can pick up groceries before they go home.”
The Steuben Street Market will be housed on the floor of The Steuben Place Apartments to sell vegetables, fruits, meat, baked goods, cheese, craft beer and other healthy prepared meals. It's something Pratt says the area really needs.
"Downtown Albany has really taken in on the chin I believe over the past couple of years,” said Pratt. “I've been in business over here over the past 6 years and I've seen everything from the high to the low. I really believe that with the new changes with apartments and the commerce that's coming in, that it's really going to have an impact.”
It’s a project many are excited for and say will contribute to the revitalization of the area.
“We have over 110 units coming online in the next 45 days, we have 90 units in the pipeline and another 200 that are being proposed,” said Marquita Rhodes, assistant director of Downtown Albany BID. “It's really residential focus that is driving retail into the area.”
Rhodes says many businesses have been taking a second look at their business models and many will be opening on the weekends as well.
“A lot of the residents that are moving down here are very health conscious and we want to be able to make sure we can cater to them,” said Pratt.
The plan is for the Steuben Street Market to be open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pratt says they are open to re-evaluating, once the business is up and running.