News
May 6, 2020Support Now, Savor Later Gift Card Program Launched
Given the uncertainty of when the Capital Region will be unPAUSED, and the fact that restaurants and retail are in phase three of the State’s four-phased re-opening plan, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) has launched the Support Now, Savor Later online gift certificate purchase program. The program encourages people to support the restaurants and retailers that are the lifeblood of Albany’s fastest-growing neighborhood through online gift certificate purchases available from 28 Downtown businesses. As a result of the immediate and significant need to allow for resiliency, the program will run through the end of the summer, with the BID covering all related credit card transaction fees.
Support Now, Savor Later purchases are processed through Square with 100 percent of proceeds going directly to the often locally-owned businesses; previously only 16 businesses – or 10 percent of Downtown’s restaurants and retailers – were offering online gift certificate purchasing, so the program offers a way to patronize restaurants and retailers that might not have been previously possible. As a result of the mandated restaurant and bar closures nearly two months ago, 80 percent of industry employees were laid off statewide, with NY on PAUSE extending the financial hardship to retailers; Downtown businesses that remain open reported to the Downtown Albany BID that they are experiencing a 50-90 percent decrease in revenue.
Given the uncertainty of the immediate future, Support Now, Savor Later offers the opportunity for people to support these hard-hit businesses now while offering something to savor later – be it bouquets, apparel, desserts, spa treatments, or anything in between. Gift certificates are available at $25, $50, and $100 denominations, with people able to support multiple Downtown businesses at once through the site.
“As Downtown has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, our businesses need every advantage possible, and we are working to offer the ability to support them in a variety of ways. Support Now, Savor Later provides much needed assistance in helping our businesses survive the state-mandated closures, and we are thrilled to be able to offer this opportunity while taking away a financial hurdle that can come with e-commerce,” said Georgette Steffens, executive director of the Downtown Albany BID. “Our residents, employees, and visitors come to our District because of these businesses that serve and employ the community, and we are at a critical point where supporting them now means more than ever.”
Participating businesses include:
Albany Center Gallery
Albany Modern Body Art
ama cocina
B. Lodge & Co
Bombshell Hair & Beauty Studio
Broadway Plaza Liquor
Cafe Capriccio
City Beer Hall
The Cobblestone Lunch Shoppe
Dawn’s Victory Sports Cafe
The Enchanted Florist
The Excelsior Pub
Fairfield Inn Albany Downtown
The Fifth Tier Baking Studio
Fort Orange General Store
Fresh & Fly Clothing
The Hollow Bar + Kitchen
Jack’s Oyster House
Loch & Quay
McGeary’s Irish Pub
Miranda’s Deli
The Olde English Pub & Pantry
Parish Public House
Patsy’s Barbershop
Ria’s Bistro & Bakery
Salon 109
Semblance Medspa
V&R Italian Restaurant
Full information can be found at downtownalbany.org/supportnow. Support Now, Savor Later is the latest program the Downtown Albany BID is running to support businesses within the District; others include the weekday virtual event series Socially Distanced Social Hours and Celebrating First Responders & Frontliners, through which the three Albany BID’s partnered and will purchase $50 gift certificates to give to one nominated first responder ore frontline worker each day in May. Full information can be found at downtownalbany.org.
