The Brown Derby in Albany will close after dinner service on Saturday, Aug. 25 — a little more than one month shy of its fourth birthday.
“We never met revenue projections from Day 1,” says Bobby Mallozzi, whose family-owned Mallozzi Group opened what was then known as The Hollywood Brown Derby on Sept. 29, 2008, right at the beginning of the worldwide economic meltdown.
“In hindsight it was perhaps the worst time to be opening a business in the last 70 years,” Mallozzi tells me.
The beautifully designed restaurant, featuring original caricatures from the namesake Hollywood restaurant as well as reproductions created by Mallozzi, went through a number of chefs, general managers and culinary styles as the Mallozzis repeatedly worked to capture an audience downtown, in a location just off North Pearl Street and across from the Palace Theatre. The restaurant tried lunch buffets, a lunch shuttle for office workers, prix-fixe specials and other promotions, but the restaurant failed to perform financially, Mallozzi says.
“I don’t think we can be faulted for lack of effort,” Mallozzi says. “But ultimately it became a burden for us financially.”
The Mallozzi Group is negotiating with the building’s landlord over the remaining years on the Brown Derby lease, Mallozzi says.
While he does not believe another restaurateur would continue the Brown Derby concept, Mallozzi says, “The opportunity now presents itself for someone that has a desire to run a beautiful restaurant at a great location to step into a relatively turnkey operation.”
Despite recent discussion about the state of downtown Albany after the closure of Jillian’s, located about four blocks south, Mallozzi says, “I have nothing but good things to say about being in downtown Albany. This is a business-friendly city, and the fact the Brown Derby is closing is definitely not a reflection on downtown. Ultimately, as the operators of the restaurant, we are the only people responsible for the outcome of the business.”
Employees will be offered positions, and gift cards for the Brown Derby may be redeemed, at any of the six Mallozzi Group properties: Villa Italia in downtown Schenectady, Treviso in Albany at the Italian American Center in Albany, The Clubhouse at Western Turnpike Golf Course in Guilderland, Colonie Golf and Country Club in in Voorheesville, Mallozzi’s in Rotterdam and The Belvedere Hotel in Rotterdam. Mallozzi says he expects to announce a new Mallozzi Group project within a week. I have been told it is an Italian restaurant in downtown Schenectady.
"While Foreign Terrorists were plotting to murder and maim using homemade bombs in Boston, Democrap officials in Washington DC, Albany and here were busy watching ME and other law abiding American Citizens who are gun owners and taxpayers, in an effort to blame the nation's lack of security on US so that they could have a political scapegoat."
Albany County should start another Metrograft. Then they could take money via a new regressive sales taxe and prop up money losing millionaires. Like they do in McCheeseville.
Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid - John Wayne
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A match made in heaven or lower no? I don't believe Graham's rumor. Unless Billy Huge will do free commercials for the new joint. First Jillian's than the Brown Derby. Who's next? Tough business if not taxpayer subsidized.
A match made in heaven or lower no? I don't believe Graham's rumor. Unless Billy Huge will do free commercials for the new joint. First Jillian's than the Brown Derby. Who's next? Tough business if not taxpayer subsidized.
And remember in Schenectady, the police are free to monitor Proctors functions....heard LOTS of complaints that Lark was getting a little dangerous. Guess Jennings has the police actually doing the jobs they're paid to do...not babysitting "The Wiz" crowd.
Sometimes when people aren't in your pockets, for-profit businesses have to be competitive and not rely upon taxpayer money to pay their bills.
Old news here! heard there will be another new 'something'.
When the INSANE are running the ASYLUM In individuals, insanity is rare; but in groups, parties, nations and epochs, it is the rule. -- Friedrich Nietzsche
“How fortunate for those in power that people never think.” Adolph Hitler
And remember in Schenectady, the police are free to monitor Proctors functions....heard LOTS of complaints that Lark was getting a little dangerous. Guess Jennings has the police actually doing the jobs they're paid to do...not babysitting "The Wiz" crowd.
Sometimes when people aren't in your pockets, for-profit businesses have to be competitive and not rely upon taxpayer money to pay their bills.
Actual free market competition as opposed to Death Ray's/McCheese's crony socialism. But they created 4,000 jobs. Where? That's why the Schenectady County unemployment rate is higher than every County in the Capital District. Liars and frauds that make up figures because no one in the MSM bothers to check.
Our family will be anxiously awaiting the opening of another fine eating establishment by the Mallozzis in downtown. What a wonderful family. The Renaissance continues.
Mallozzis opening Italian spot in downtown Schenectady August 23, 2012 at 6:35 pm by Steve Barnes, senior writer
The Mallozzi Group will open a new restaurant at Center City in downtown Schenectady, across from Proctors. Due to be called Johnny’s, the restaurant will offer a “fun and memorable Italian dining experience,” says John Mallozzi, who will be general manager of the eatery. It is slated to open in early December.
The Mallozzi Family also owns the pasticceria Villa Italia, located a couple of blocks from the new venture, Treviso at the Italian American Commnunity Center in Albany, two restaurants at area golf courses, a hotel and banquet facility in Rotterdam and, until it closes on Saturday (8/25), The Brown Derby in Albany.
Logged
Albany County should start another Metrograft. Then they could take money via a new regressive sales taxe and prop up money losing millionaires. Like they do in McCheeseville. 
A match made in heaven or lower no? I don't believe Graham's rumor. Unless Billy Huge will do free commercials for the new joint. First Jillian's than the Brown Derby. Who's next? Tough business if not taxpayer subsidized. 
