News
October 7, 2015Fresh Food Café Holds Grand Opening
The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) held a grand opening and ribbon cutting for Dali Mamma at their new location, 41 State Street on Monday, October 5. Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan, BID executive director Georgette Steffens, founder/CEO Katrin Haldeman and COO Renee Panetta spoke at the event.
“Momentum is building in downtown Albany, and it is great to see business owners Katrin and Renee make such a strong commitment to our newest neighborhood,” said Mayor Sheehan. “Through locally procured foods, community outreach, and a commitment to local artists, they are showing that they are more than a great café—they’re a neighbor committed to a more vibrant Albany.”
Dali Mamma features breakfast and lunch, where customers are encouraged to create their own items. The menu serves as a guide, and thus does not limit selections. From vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free to paleo, soy-free and meat eaters, Dali Mamma boasts the ability to accommodate any diet from a fresh and locally-sourced practice.
“As Downtown investment continues, the transformation has and will continue to result in an increased number of visitors, employees, and residents out on the sidewalk, patronizing our businesses,” said Georgette Steffens, executive director of the Downtown Albany BID. “Dali Mamma is a great example of a company that welcomes their customers in a visionary fashion, through both product selection and community service. Our footprint anticipates 110 residential units coming online in the next few months and retailers and restaurants who progressively engage with the public, like Dali Mamma, will be important.”
In their new Downtown location, Dali Mamma has tripled the space the café previously held on Maiden Lane, allowing for more engagement beyond the menu. Examples can be seen in their commitment to the Downtown community through supporting artists, and recycling education.
Like many businesses, Dali Mamma features a different artist on the Café’s walls each month. What sets them apart is the partnership they create between the artist, the public and the business. Dali Mamma does not charge a wall fee nor a commission, placing 100 percent profits back in the artist’s pocket.
“Everything we do in this business is from a truly organic positioning,” added Halderman. “This is vividly expressed in our partnership with 1st Friday Albany and local artists. Sometimes artists have nothing but their art and it is important that we tap into that potential from an innovative perspective and offer a different definition of economic success.”
Employees who work at 41 State Street who need their meal to-go are encouraged to use ceramic ware, with the understanding that Dali Mamma staff will pick up the dishes later in the day.
“If we see an opportunity to reduce our carbon foot print, we are going to test a solution and see if we can make it work,” explained Panetta. “Our day-to-day operation allows us to engage with the customer even at the end of the client transaction, when throwing away their trash. We deconstruct the concept of simple garbage and offer a moment for the customer to think and place their items into bins for compost, recycle and landfill. Beyond the counter, we go as far as recycling film plastics like saran wrap, coffee bags and potato chip bags.”
“We believe that when any business engages with their community, it is a direct reflection of how we want our neighborhood and City to evolve,” said Haldeman. “Businesses owners have not only an opportunity, but a responsibility to act as drivers of sustainability and economic success in a society. This is not a new concept for many companies, but at Dali Mamma we want to evolve that ideal and see how much of a creative catalyst we can be for downtown Albany and beyond.”
Dali Mamma is located at 41 State Street (main entrance on Broadway) in downtown Albany, New York. Hours are Monday to Friday 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. For more information, visit dalimamma.com or call 518.443.2233.
From international corporations, regional giants and locally owned proprietors, downtown Albany is more than business as usual. Accented by the powerful currents of the Hudson River to the motivating forces in the State Capitol, downtown Albany stands in good company with some of the greatest names in business today. Over 250 companies call downtown Albany home and signs like IBM, Microsoft and Windstream are seen throughout our historic streets. Since 1996, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) has worked to restore, promote and maintain the character and vitality and improve the quality of life and overall image of Downtown for those who work in, live in and visit the Capital City of the most famous state in the world. The Downtown Albany BID is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information about the Downtown Albany BID please visit downtownalbany.org | @AlbanyBID or call 518.465.2143.
