Relics and Restoration: Architectural Parts Warehouse supplies hard-to-find pieces

Looking for a fireplace mantle? An antique light fixture? A cast iron radiator? What about a clawfoot tub? You're sure to find all this and more at the Architectural Parts Warehouse on Lexington Avenue.

"Our mission is to help homeowners restore vintage homes without breaking the bank," said Manager Mark Brogna.

Brogna and his staff salvage the pieces from demolition sites and old buildings, curbs and dumpsters, clean them up, and sell them to architects, interior designers, and do-it-yourselfers. The parts are sold for well below the prices you'll find in antique stores or supply warehouses, and the funds go to support local preservation efforts.

Walking into the warehouse just off Central Avenue on Lexington, which is located in the converted Capitol Staple Building, is like walking into a world of parts. Picture your home. Now picture your home in pieces. All its pieces. Not just doors, but door knobs. Not just windows, but shutters. And don't forget the plumbing--sinks, toilets, tubs, radiators. You'll also find all the pieces of a porch, from balusters to railings, neatly piled along one side.

There's also plenty of treasures, including the Wellington Hotel's copper cornice adorned with lion heads and a 1950's era-General Electric Galley Kitchen, complete with working stove and sink. And the surprises keep coming, Brogna said. "A lot of things that show up, I don't even know what they are," he said. The pieces might have been common in their day, but whatever purpose they served has become obsolete, and now they're simply interesting relics of a bygone era, he said.

As we talk in one of the old offices, piled with interesting artifacts, we are frequently interrupted by customers. One wants to thank thank Brogna for his help renovating a bathroom, another wants to see about an antique light fixture, and still another wants to let Brogna know that if any more pocket doors come in, he wants them. Brogna has worked at the warehouse for seven years, and in that time he has assisted countless customers rehab old houses, he has also helped artists, interior designers, and set designers with their projects. The Architectural Parts Warehouse is just one of three salvage businesses in the area, which puts Albany on the map as a mecca for people restoring their homes, Brogna said.

The warehouse is a program run by the Historic Albany Foundation, which specializes in identifying and protecting Albany's architectural resources. Brogna reminds customers that preservationists are not just stewards of history, they are stewards of the environment. Restoring homes using salvaged pieces is affordable and eco-friendly, because you're keeping these items out of the landfill, and you're not expending any additional manufacturing energy, he said.

"The greenest building is the one that's already built," he said.

Each year, the Historic Albany Foundation sponsors an event called "Built," which celebrates Albany's architecture by soliciting artwork from local artists. Artists are asked to create pieces inspired by Albany's buildings, and these in turn are exhibited and auctioned to raise money for the foundation, Brogna said. Initially, the event was called "Vacancy," and focused on Albany's vacant buildings, but now the event includes all of the city's built environment, he said. The exhibit and auction will take place on November 8 at the Cathedral of All Saints at 62 South Swan Street. For more information, visit the foundation's website http://www.historic-albany.org/built.html

The warehouse is always accepting donated pieces, and is also seeking volunteers to work at the warehouse, Brogna said. So whether you're looking for a hard-to-find fixture, or a new way to help the environment, or a treasure hunt, visit the warehouse and see what they have to offer.

The Architectural Parts is located at 89 Lexington Avenue, just off Central Avenue. For more information, call 465-2987.

National Business Equipment & Supply: New President Brings Know-How to New Acquisition

As a partner at ProSource in Cincinnati, Scott Mueller helped his business go from $9 million to $29 million, in just seven short years. Now, the Guilderland-native is going to do the same thing, right here in Albany.

This June, Mueller purchased National Business Equipment & Supply, and he plans to take this business machine company right to the top.

"I did it in Cincinnati. The only difference is now I'm going to do it right here in my hometown," Mueller said.

Mueller purchased the business machine side of the business from National Graphic Supply, a national corporation that markets products including printing supplies. The new business will specialize in multifunctional processors that copy, print, scan and fax, and will be the only locally-owned and operated business equipment supply company in the City of Albany.

Other major competitors are located in Philadelphia, Miami, and Cleveland and that gives Mueller's business the edge when it comes to serving Capital Region customers, he said. "We can get to our customers quicker," he said.

The new company is also undergoing a radical remodeling project, adding a new showroom and the very latest in technology and software. "We feel that we'll be better able to serve our customers with these state of the art facilities," Mueller said.

Mueller was attracted to the company because of its strong tradition, and it's talented staff, he said. National Business Equipment & Supply will build on that solid foundation. "The thing that makes us a great company is that we have state of the art products and we complete the package with great service and support," he said.

Eventually, Mueller plans to expand the Bradford Street offices, which encompass about 60,000 square feet and hire additional employees. Mueller hopes to grow his current staff of 20 to well over 100, and the company is currently hiring for several positions in sales, service, and administration.

Mueller also wants the company to be community-oriented, and plans to be very active in local business and community organizations. NBES wants to support local schools and the city. "Our vision is for a strong regional organization that will show a presence in upstate New York, Connecticut, Vermont and Massachusetts," he said.

Mueller is no stranger to this kind of success. He has been working in the Business Systems Industry for 20 years, 11 of which he's owned a business. During his time with ProSource, his company was awarded National Dealer of the Year, Top National Sales Program, Major Account and Software Solutions Dealer of the Year. At his Cincinnati company, he employed 140, and places a high premium on honesty and integrity. His philosophy has always been strong customer service, and he understands that this is the key to a company's long-term goals. "We recognize that our future is dependent on the success of our customers, and we understand that we need to respond to their needs with a sense of urgency," he said.

National Business Equipment & Supply is located at 505 Bradford Street in Albany. For more information, call 724-6455 or visit their website at www.nationalbes.com.

Townsend Park Bakery Open for Business: Bread Speaks for Itself

For the first week, Mark Smith didn't have an "Open" sign for his new Townsend Park Bakery, so did the next best thing--he put a basket of his bread in the windows. "And the next thing you know, people started showing up," he said with a laugh.

No doubt about it, the organic sourdough loaves are appealing. Smith makes the bread on premises in a large wood-fired brick oven, and the large loaves are golden and crusty.

The fire in the brand-new Helderberg bluestone oven burns brightly, and warms the already cozy interior. Anyone who knows Smith, knows he is adept at designing warm, inviting spaces. He formerly owned the Antica Enoteca on Lark Street, better known to its customers as simply, "the Wine Bar," a popular basement-level restaurant retrofitted with European-style brick walls and fireplaces.

The inspiration for the new bakery came from his travels in Italy. He wanted a bakery that felt warm and relaxing, like the cafes he visited in Rome, he said. And the big draw? Great bread.

"Let's face it, bread in the states can be pretty awful," he said.

He tried to work on the new bakery alongside operating the wine bar, but eventually decided to sell the wine bar, and concentrate his efforts on the new enterprise. He doesn't regret giving up the old business, "For every moment I miss it, there's two that I don't," he said.

The new bakery will serve gourmet pizza alongside the organic loaves, and Smith is seeking a beer and wine license, too. The restaurant is comprised of two giant rooms, both of which overlook the bread oven. On another wall, he has constructed a community bulletin board, using 5,000 corks. There are already two notices posted, and Smith said he wants to put more up. He envisions the restaurant as a hive of community activity, he said.

Townsend Park Bakery is located at 238 Washington Avenue, across from Townsend Park.

Larkfest Good for Business in district

This year's Larkfest was a success for
Central District businesses.

For the first time, the end of summer music festival extended up Washington Avenue, along the Townsend Park, giving nearby businesses the chance to participate--a chance they welcomed. Next year, they say, they'll have a better idea of what to expect and how to capitalize on the opportunity.


Viverth Peart, owner of the Golden Choice, a Caribbean Restaurant, said the festival has great potential, and next year he'll be even better prepared for it. Next year, he'll make arrangements in advance with his regular customers to help get them here. He also wants to run a sound system outside, and play some West Indian music, which he thinks will be a draw to the restaurant.


In the middle of the day, crowds ambled down the tree-lined street, enjoying the music and taking advantage of the park's benches as the smell of Indian food from Shalimar's outdoor stand wafted through the air. It was busy, but not as crowded as Lark Street, and people seemed to be glad to get around the corner and escape from the crowds a little. "We have now seen how this can work for our businesses and we will be gathering feedback and adding new ideas to grow the new area next year", said Anthony Capece Central BID Executive Director.


Mark Smith said Larkfest represented a great opportunity for his new business, Townsend Park Bakery Cafe. "It's exposure, and that's ultimately what it's all about," he said. He welcomed customers into his new bakery day, he said.


On the new Townsend Park Stage, Cirque de la Nocturne wowed crowds with their mix of dance and gymnastics, and Taina Asili y La Bande Rebelde got everyone moving with their high-energy Latin music.


"We did good business," said Betty Smith, Owner of Chase Boutique, a clothing and jewelry store in the district. The stage at the end of the block brought crowds down the street, and that had a positive impact, she said. She only wished the music on the stage had lasted a little longer, explaining that as soon as the stage was broken down at 4, the crowds migrated back to Lark Street. "Next year, we need to have more participation," she said.

Green Grocery: Honest Weight Food Co-Op Builds New, Green Building

The Honest Weight Food Co-Op has decided to tear down the Watervliet Avenue building they bought last year in order to build a new, greener store.

Lowering the store's carbon footprint is part of the store's overall mission of ecological sustainability, said Nate Horwitz, Membership Coordinator. "We see helping the environment as a very important part of what we do," he said. The co-op is seeking the highest LEED-certification, he said.

The Central Avenue grocery store was feeling cramped in its current building, located behind Dollar General. Last year, they bought a much larger $1.35 building on Watervliet Avenue, with plans to remodel it and move in as early as 2009. But remodeling the building would cost almost as much as building new, so members decided it would be better to start fresh, and build a greener, more efficient structure on the new property. That will push the move-in date out to 2010, said Horwitz.

The new $5 million building will be three-times larger than the current store, and will boast a full service deli, a larger community space and cafe, expanded office space, and a teaching kitchen that will offer cooking classes. "That's something people have really wanted from us for a long time--cooking classes," Horwitz said.

The new store will also be easier to navigate and offer more parking for customers, he said. It could also feature facilities for cyclists, he said.

Members will vote on design plans for the new store next month, on October 19th.

The co-op has 5,400 members, and many more shoppers who are not members. Members enjoy many benefits, including free classes and voting privileges. Members can also work at the store in exchange for discounts on groceries.

Last year the co-op did an $10 million in sales. The store offers a wide range of local and organic produce, dairy products, and free-range and grass-fed meat, as well as bulk goods and organic groceries. The store also features an award-winning cheese department.

The co-op has been at the current location on Central Avenue behind the Dollar General Store for 12 years.