Newest Neighborhood Gathering Spot, The Boulevard Now Open In Albany
December 17, 2025
Long-Time Albany restaurateur Cheri West Brings An American Grill With A Taste of Italy to the former Sam’s Italian American Restaurant Space at 125 Southern Boulevard
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A new neighborhood gathering spot, The Boulevard, officially celebrated its grand opening on Wednesday with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The newly renovated sports bar and restaurant is located in the former Sam’s Italian American Restaurant space at 125 Southern Boulevard.
Developed and owned by returning restaurateur Cheri West who formerly owned the seasonal barge restaurant Riverfront Bar & Grill along with Park View Pub which both closed in 2017, The Boulevard brings back classic dishes from Sam’s and also pays homage to the American pub fare of her former restaurants. West is reenergized and encouraged by the community support in returning to running a restaurant after eight years.
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“Returning to the restaurant community has been incredibly energizing, and I’m grateful for the warm welcome we’ve received,” said West. “With The Boulevard, we wanted to honor the legacy of Sam’s while bringing back some of the classics people loved from the barge and Park View Pub. This space has always been about family, good food, and feeling at home — and we’re excited to build on that tradition with our neighbors.”
The menu features former classics from Sam’s, the barge and Park View Pub with direct support from Sam’s former owners. “Clams a la Sam’s” as well as chicken and eggplant parm is featured. The Barge’s seafood chowder and other items return along with a full bar, burgers, wings and salads.
The 1,260 sq. ft. bar and restaurant seats 80 guests, elements of Sam’s were kept as part of its renovation. Exterior improvements including benches, awning and signage installation were made possible with a City of Albany Small Business Façade Improvement Program grant award.
The citywide matching grant program is designed to provide matching grants to assist eligible small businesses and not-for-profits with up to $10,000 for exterior renovations. Administered by Capitalize Albany, it’s supported by the City of Albany Capital Resource Corporation (CRC) and the Albany Community Development Agency (ACDA).
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