Mallozzi bakery, coffee shop to be on Broadway

Call it a sweet deal for all involved.

In the latest economic development project to benefit the city and county, the Mallozzi family will establish a commercial bakery and retail coffee and pastry shop on Broadway, while a growing environmental services company will build a new headquarters on Erie Boulevard, officials announced during a news conference Wednesday.

The Mallozzis will relocate their Villa Italia Bakery from Rotterdam to 226 Broadway, using a $400,000 loan from the Metroplex Development Authority and a $180,000 state grant.

The Mallozzi family will invest $1.42 million into the project, which involves purchasing a nd remodeling a 5,000-square-foot structure and building a 1,500-square-foot addition.

The project is expected to bring 40 jobs downtown and tie into the city’s growing arts and entertainment district, which is anchored by Proctor’s Theatre.

Precision Industrial, which currently occupies 226 Broadway, will relocate to Erie Boulevard on a site that once housed Callanan Industries.

Robert Mallozzi credited local officials for working together to keep the bakery in the county. “There’s a new, great team spirit in Schenectady and a creative climate to promote economic development downtown,” he said.

The family was on the verge of relocating the bakery to Colonie when city and county officials intervened.

“We had specific locations picked out in Albany and Saratoga counties. For one, the ink was almost dry,” Mallozzi said. “I can’t emphasize enough how aggressive Metroplex was in bringing us here. It’s a good deal for everyone.”

The family last year had sold the Rotterdam property containing the Villa Italia Bakery to an adjacent church, which needed additional parking. The church gave the Mallozzis five years “to shop around for a new location,” Mallozzi said.

Local officials learned about the family’s interest in relocating when they inquired about purchasing local buildings, said Christine Mallozzi-Chiaravalle.

“We would have preferred to be in Schenectady, but we looked at some properties elsewhere,” she said.

After learning the Mallozzis might leave, county Legislature Chairwoman Susan Savage and Mayor Brian Stratton “swooped in on the Mallozzis” and began negotiating with them, Savage said.

“The mayor and I tried to be very persuasive and convince them that Schenectady County is the place to be,” Savage said.

Robert Mallozzi said, “Metroplex made us an offer we couldn’t refuse. The future of downtown is very attractive to us. We’re committed to the long haul.”

The family expects to open the new business in fall 2005. Todd Kilburn, president of Precision Industrial, also praised local officials for their attitude.

“Without the cooperation of economic development groups in Schenectady, this project would never have taken off,” he said. “The city is a great place to stay and grow.”

Ray Gillen, Metroplex board chairman and the county commissioner of economic development and planning, said a unified economic development team is essential “when a company is in play.”

County Minority Leader Robert Farley praised Metroplex’s involvement in the project. “When we unleash opportunity, things can happen. Look around you. This is a city of the future, the county of the future. We’re coming back,” he said.
Stratton called the announcement “another great day in downtown Schenectady.”

“This project represents another major win and keeps the sense of momentum we have going with the new leadership at Metroplex and at the county working in full partnership with the city and our delegation in Albany,” Stratton said.