With Completed Renovations at 90 North Pearl Street ‘The Bishop’ Opens In Downtown Albany

September 19, 2019

Click Here To View The Announcement’s Press Release

The storefront at the corner of North Pearl Street and Sheridan Avenue located at 90 North Pearl Street is now home to a full-service bar and restaurant — The Bishop. An event was held Thursday to celebrate the completion of interior renovations and its grand opening. Owners of The Bishop Scott Pugsley, Raymond Hatlee and Evan Shults were joined by City of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District, Capitalize Albany Corporation and other community partners.

Made possible with support from the Downtown Albany Retail Grant Program — extensive interior renovations were completed to support The Bishop’s business plan, its space’s distinct design and theme. The grant program is made possible by the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation and Capitalize Albany Corporation.

Using 2,200 sq. ft. of ground floor space, The Bishop offers a large array of spirits, common cocktails and craft beer, with a main focus on bourbon. It’s estimated to support 40 jobs, full–time and part-time positions. Ownership plans to be a part of downtown Albany revitalization with The Bishop serving as a downtown destination and its concept aims to attract and serve residents located within the blocks surrounding the establishment. Its menu complements the overall visual appeal and spirit options. The Bishop plans to stay open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight with extended hours on weekends.

In recent years, new investment has strengthened downtown. Today the downtown core is a walkable retail destination. The fabric of the neighborhood continues to evolve as new retail and downtown living opportunities come online. In the past five years more than 500 new downtown apartment units have come online and currently more than 500 units are under construction.

In early 2016, the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation used resources set aside for strategic initiatives to support the creation of new grant programs. Capitalize Albany launched the Downtown Albany Retail Grant Program, a program aimed at downtown business attraction and retention that can support new and existing retail business’s interior renovations and expansions. Since its inception the Program has leveraged more than $2 million in new investment bringing new businesses online in downtown Albany; such as Stacks Espresso Bar and the Taverna — both regional chainlets; The Fort Orange General Store, a soft-goods retailer; Loch & Quay, a full service bar and restaurant; and most recently The Bishop.