ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -With an office overlooking downtown Albany, Alexandra Becker is the head of her firm’s alcoholic beverage and hospitality law practice. During her more than a decade with Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP, she says she’s seen the decline of nightlife businesses.
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“I really think that downtown Albany has so much potential and the fact that we’re really going to be focusing on how to develop entertainment and dining venues, I think it’s going to be such a huge, crucial part of the overall plan to revitalize the area.”
For these businesses to serve alcohol, they need a liquor license, which Becker says approval typically happens within six months. One problem she and her clients can run into is New York State’s 500 Foot Law.
“If there are three or more existing liquor licenses within 500 feet, you have to go through an additional step. Have an administrative law judge say, ‘Yes, we think another license here is beneficial.’” This is important because Becker believes Albany should develop bars and restaurants in centralized areas, similar to Saratoga or Schenectady.
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“So whether that’s Lark Street, whether that’s Pearl Street, different areas, the Warehouse district… I think the more businesses that we can kind of aggregate together gives people really a reason to want to go there,” described Becker…