 Mazzone Hospitality will open a rooftop wedding and catering hall atop the Hedley Park Place! Founder, Angelo Mazzone of Mazzone Hospitality signed a 10-year lease this week, for the 10,000-square-foot space for the 9th floor. First Columbia will be renovating the space to meet the needs of the event space.
"We have been looking at Troy for a long time," Mazzone said Wednesday. "That end of town is coming alive." The banquet center is part of First Columbia president and CEO Kevin Bette's $125 million vision to transform the Troy waterfront by making it a place to live, work, dine and spend the night. First Columbia and Hampstead America LLC recently opened a 132-room Courtyard by Marriott Hotel next to the Hedley Building. "We are trying to make this a seven-day-a-week active waterfront," said Bette The banquet center will focus heavily on hosting technology and job training events to give area businesses a place to educate their employees. During the evening, the focus will shift more toward weddings, fundraisers and corporate events. The center also will try to attract academic events to address needs of nearby schools and universities To read the full press release click here  (TROY, NY) The Albany-based Stacks Espresso Bar, with two locations on Lark Street and Broadway, is opening its third location in First Columbia’s Hedley Park Place in Troy this October. Stacks, will be one of many amenities that is being planned, that will soon arrive in the building to serve the 1,400+ employees as well as the many residents in the Waterfront [District].
Known for its quality coffee, guest roasters, and educational classes for the public, Stacks Espresso Bar is excited to make the move to the Collar City. “Troy is a natural progression for us,” explained Marketing Director, Marlee Ford. “It’s the Tri-City-Ship next step and we’re eager to continue to collaborate with regional roasters and our soon-to-be neighbors.” Surprisingly, if you ask any Stacks employee, they’ll tell you their top objective is exceptional customer service, with coffee coming in “at a close second.” “While we are a specialty coffee shop, our goal is to cut the snobbery out of the customer experience. We want people to be enthused about coffee and ask questions about it. Ron Grieco, Director of Coffee of Stacks Espresso would like the whole world to be thrilled about it!” There’s also something for everyone with classic house blends to espresso drinks, ranging from $1.25 to $4.00, respectively. Stacks Espresso Bar first opened its doors on Lark Street in Albany in 2014. “I wanted to make specialty coffee accessible,” said Director of Coffee, Ron Grieco. “Four years ago, some of the specialty coffee market was pretentious. I knew the pitfalls and what I wanted to see change in the industry.” Ron and his business partner, focused on education and customer service fundamentals for employees and customers alike. Stacks’ employees are empowered to share what they’ve learned not only through the product they make, but with the knowledge they provide. Their mantra is simple— invest in your team and you will be rewarded. “If we can make a job as fulfilling and enjoyable as possible, we will have better employees. Our employees are the reason for our continued success.” Another by-product of high employee morale is happy customers. Stacks’ addition to the Waterfront [District] will only complement the community’s expanding offering. “We are excited to have Stacks as a part of Hedley Park Place and the Waterfront [District]. Not only will they offer the area a quality product, but they also fit into our overall vision of the Waterfront.” Stated Victoria Harris, Director of Marketing at First Columbia. Excitement for Stacks’ arrival is echoed throughout the Collar City. “We are happy to see this area of Troy expand,” said Katie Hammon, Executive Director, Downtown Troy Business Improvement District. “It is great to see businesses that have had success in neighboring cities want to be part of the Troy community.” Hammon attributes Troy’s “walkability” as an attraction for both new businesses but also residents. “It’s an easy city for newcomers to engage and add to the culture.” A feature that Stacks is looking forward to. “My favorite part of opening a new shop is building relationships within the community— and people using Stacks as a meeting place,” said Grieco. Stacks Espresso Bar will be accessible through Hedley Park Place and by a public street entrance. The space is being designed in collaboration with Phinney Design Group and Studio eIQ. Stacks is encouraging interested candidates to apply online at StacksEspressoBar.com. ABOUT STACKS ESPRESSO BAR:More than a few warm and welcoming cafes, Stacks Espresso Bar is committed to the communities and the coffees we serve. Each location is a workshop dedicated to exploring the elements that make coffee one of the most widely consumed crops in the world. We highlight various brew methods, experiment with espresso-based drinks, and continuously bring in unique and delicious coffees from diverse roasters. We're thrilled by the opportunity to share our passion, and proud to serve exceptional, accessible, specialty coffee. ABOUT THE WATERFRONT: Woven into the fabric of one of the nation’s most historic and beautiful downtown, First Columbia has commenced construction on this waterfront redevelopment along a half-mile stretch of the Hudson River. The highly-anticipated mix of projects will offer prime office space, retail, entertainment, residential units, parking, and a hotel. The master plan will have a lasting impact by reconnecting the city with its valuable waterfront assets and injecting it with commercial and social activity; positing Troy once again as the premier urban destination in the Capital District. ABOUT FIRST COLUMBIA: First Columbia is a diversified real estate/investment organization committed to planning, developing, and operating high quality facilities. Its projects include corporate buildings, office campuses, medical complexes, senior housing, hospitality, and high-tech facilities. For media inquiries, Contact: Victoria Harris, Marketing Director of First Columbia, (518) 213-1009 or vharris@firstcolumbia.com  In a city that was once among the wealthiest in the country, the president of First Columbia sees the waterfront as an asset that can spur economic growth. Kevin Bette’s vision for a stretch of Troy’s waterfront is slowly becoming a reality through the real estate development and investment firm he leads, First Columbia. Construction on a 132-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel on River Street is expected to conclude later this year. A food hall and retail space called the River Street Market is slated to open in June on the first floor of the Hedley Building, a former shirt factory that now houses technology and health care companies and Troy’s city government. Bette is working on plans to convert several historic buildings in the neighborhood into apartments. Called the Waterfront District, the $125 million mix of projects will eventually include office, retail and residential spaces and parking along with a promenade and hotel. To read the entire article by Madison Iszler, Times Union Click Here  (TROY, NY) The River Street Market, a unique food hall concept, is the next project in First Columbia’s $125 million dollar “The Waterfront District” redevelopment in Troy, NY. Located in 12,000 square feet on the first floor of the Hedley Building, the River Street Market is slated to open this summer and will contain a dozen unique food, beverage, and market concepts that provide a wide variety of farm-to-table quality providers to delight the 1,500 employees within the building as well as the growing downtown Troy population. Local food entrepreneurs, Katie and Luke Haskins will lease, manage, and work at the market while assembling a team of independent operators to take Troy’s food scene to the next level.
The food hall concept wasn’t a new one to the culinary duo as they both shared the goal of bringing the concept, of this scale, to Upstate, New York. “We were inspired by all the markets we encountered in our travels. From those in New York City, Redding Market, to Florence, Italy. We wanted to bring that idea to the Capital Region, but, then, at 27—we couldn’t,” stated Luke Haskins. While details, such as hours of operation, are still being worked out, their vision for the River Street Market is known, “It’ll be a collection of independent small businesses,” said Katie. “Our goal with the River Street Market is to foster an eclectic mix of offerings and cuisines. We love unique and dynamic, if this sounds like you— please contact us.” In addition, to managing the food hall, they are also opening Lord & Montague, a wine, with Sommelier selected wine list, and charcuterie bar. The namesake paying homage to the Collar City’s inventor of detachable shirt collars, Hannah Lord Montague. Also adding to the tenant roster is Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen’s second restaurant concept— “Sunhee’s on the River”. “Our bar manager first told us about the space after attending the Hedley Park Place Centennial Event. The intended vision of [the space] aligned with what we wanted to achieve in the lower Hudson region of Troy— an opportunity to create something new, that also complemented our brand, all while being community-focused,” stated Jinah Kim, Owner of Sunhee’s Farm and Kitchen. Sunhee’s opened just shy of two years ago and has had a dynamic impact on the community; with its commitment to refugees, helping tell their story, and sharing the culture through authentic culinary offerings. “Troy is all about maintaining community, said Kim. “We’re excited to have the freedom to take on our own character within this collaborative space that understands the relationship aspect [of business].” As for what to patrons are to expect of Sunhee’s first expansion project— “While this will be a new concept, we’ll also serve some of our staples,” stated Grace Lee, Managing Partner of Sunhee’s. “We will definitely serve our Bibimbap and our purple rice— but this menu will be more convenience-focused.” “We’re all very excited about the River Street Market. Having it will create a great energy and ambiance for the building,” said Denisse Grimm, Project Manager at Hedley Park Place. “Also, it’s easy to get to, it’s right off the exit ramp from the highway and we have ample parking. It’s ideal for anybody looking to stop by quick and grab unique and healthier foods on the go.” The space is being designed by architect, Mike Phinney, from Phinney Design Group. “There are many reasons why this concept is different and why it’ll work,” said Katie. “But the biggest is that we fixed the disconnect between landlord and vendor, because we’re right there working with you,” stated Luke Haskins. For more information regarding available space at the River Street Market, please contact Katie Haskins, 518-858-9561, or by email, pfeiffkl@yahoo.com. ABOUT THE WATERFRONT: Woven into the fabric of one of the nation’s most historic and beautiful downtowns, First Columbia has commenced construction on this waterfront redevelopment along a half-mile stretch of the Hudson River. The highly-anticipated mix of projects will offer prime office space, retail, entertainment, residential units, parking, and a hotel. The master plan will have a lasting impact by reconnecting the city with its valuable waterfront assets and injecting it with commercial and social activity; positing Troy once again as the premier urban destination in the Capital District. ABOUT FIRST COLUMBIA: First Columbia is a diversified real estate/investment organization committed to planning, developing, and operating high quality facilities. Its projects include corporate buildings, office campuses, medical complexes, senior housing, hospitality, and high-tech facilities. For media inquiries, Contact: Victoria Harris, marketing director First Columbia, at (518) 213-1009 or vharris@firstcolumbia.com  Site Work on the 132 Room, 5 Story Hotel Marks Second Phase of the “Waterfront District” Redevelopment Project TROY, N.Y. (9/6/17) — Site work has begun on a 132-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel in downtown Troy, commencing the next phase of First Columbia’s waterfront re-development. The five-story concrete masonry structure will be prominently located between the city’s largest office complex and the Hoosick Street Bridge along 500 feet of the Hudson River. The continued growth in Troy’s tech and corporate office sectors combined with the hotel demand of the city’s colleges has fueled the need for additional rooms in Troy. “Our research has shown that room night demand is provided by out of city and county properties, robbing Troy of revenue and guests that its businesses generate. We seek to re-balance that trend and show that the walkable waterfront redevelopment in Troy will be a great host for all visitors and capture the energy of the city’s redevelopment,” said Kevin Bette, president of First Columbia. The colleges are very important drivers of the city’s economy and we need to meet their demands for a vibrant downtown so they will continue to thrive, Bette noted. “We are delighted to have a Courtyard hotel and more development in the neighborhood,” said Wayne Boomer, vice president of finance and operations at Apprenda. “It will be great for our business to host large meetings and give our visitors a great place to stay in Troy.” A leading software engineering company, Apprenda is headquartered in First Columbia’s Hedley Park Place. The hotel is expected to open next summer at 515 River Street, just off Route 7 near the Collar City Bridge. Its proximity to the highways and high traffic counts will provide an easy stay for travelers, Bette said. The annual average daily traffic (ADT) for Alternate Route 7 is 52,839 while adjacent I-787 has an ADT of 62,908. Bette & Cring Construction is building the hotel, which will be managed by DelMonte Hotel Group (“DHG”). “The DelMonte Hotel Group is thrilled to be a part of the transformation of the Troy waterfront,” said DHG President Alexander DelMonte. “We see Troy poised for continued growth and the Courtyard by Marriott is the perfect brand to meet the needs of our guests.” The hotel will have meeting space and board rooms to match the demand for professional spaces in Troy, which is currently undergoing what many are calling an “urban renaissance.”  WATERFRONT DISTRICT” PLANS MOVING FORWARD WITH PHASE II Work on the hotel kicks off the second phase of the Waterfront Redevelopment, a massive revitalization project that will open up the possibility for more restaurants, retail outlets and apartments in this riverfront neighborhood between the Green Island and Collar City bridges. Upon acquiring the Hedley Park Place building from Troy development icon John Hedley in 2006, First Columbia commissioned a Hedley Waterfront Redevelopment Plan to redevelop roughly 25 city blocks surrounding its Hedley Park Place and Flanigan Square properties to fulfill Mr. Hedley’s vision for Troy. That vision has evolved into a $125 million dollar “Waterfront District”; that when completed will include prime office space, retail, residential units, parking, hotel, and a riverside promenade stretching over several miles of Hudson River frontage. ABOUT FIRST COLUMBIA First Columbia is a diversified real estate/investment organization committed to planning, developing, and operating high quality facilities. Its projects include mixed-use developments, office campuses, medical complexes, multi-family housing, hospitality, and high-tech facilities. Contact: Victoria Harris, marketing director First Columbia, at (518) 213-1009 or vharris@firstcolumbia.com ABOUT DELMONTE HOTEL GROUP DelMonte Hotel Group is an award-winning ownership, management and development company headquartered in Rochester, New York. The DelMonte Hotel Group was the first Marriott franchisee and has grown from a single full-service hotel in 1973 to a portfolio of full-service, select service, and extended-stay products within the Marriott and Hilton brands. DelMonte Hotel Group has built and managed properties flagged by Marriott, Renaissance, Courtyard by Marriott, Fairfield Inn and Suites, Residence Inn, and Hilton Garden Inn. John Del Monte serves as CEO, and Alexander DelMonte is President of the DelMonte Hotel Group. For more information, visit http://delmontehotels.com.  |
