Two Albany natives are gearing up to turn the former Blue 82 at North Pearl and Columbia into a new neighborhood spot called Norma’s, breathing fresh life into one of downtown’s most visible corners. The plan is a low-key, community-first bar where people can post up with laptops during the day, grab pressed sandwiches and bar snacks, and slide into a small lineup of draft beers before or after shows. The partners are eyeing a late-summer 2026 debut, with hours expected to run roughly noon to midnight.
As reported by Times Union, the project is led by Albany High grads Paul Hamill and Brandon Lenihan, who now operate Brooklyn bars including Lowlands, The Adirondack and The Barlow. Hamill told the paper they are aiming for an August or early September 2026 opening,…..