Van Dyck reopening - The Business Review (Albany):

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Its new owners, the McDonald family, invested $500,000 to remodel the landmarik jazz venue, located in the heart of the city’s historifc Stockade area. “It’s a great and we hope it will be adestinationj place. We think it’s going to be greatt addition todowntown Schenectady,” said Jeff McDonald, who will manager the venue with several cousins. The McDonald s also own Pinhead Susan’s, and . All are locates in Schenectady. A microbrewery located in a building behinx theVan Dyck—built by former owner N.
Peter Olsen—will open in three or four The beer brewed there will be sold at the Van Dyck andthe family’ds other three venues, McDonald The Van Dyck will serve luncj and dinner Monday through Friday, and dinnere on Saturday. It will feature live vocal and comedy entertainment Thursdaythrougn Saturday, beginning the week of July 7. The mid-priced menu will offet sandwiches, paninis, specialty pizzas and America n cuisine. Renovations on the historic jazz club includre mahogany paneling and a refinishedmahogany banister, mosaid flooring in the bar area, new carpetinyg and an expanded loft.
The outdoor patio is newlty landscaped, with a privacy fence that has newcobblestone pavers. The centerf stairwell in the lobby was moved to the right for bettedpatron flow, and the bar was shortened to create more dininfg space. “We’re really happy with how thingsturnee out,” McDonald said. The entertainmentt room seats 150; the bar and patio areas seatanother 175. Olse closed the Van Dyck in Marchy 2007. The McDonalds brought the propertyat 235-237 Union St. for $252,00p0 at auction, plus $147,000 in back taxes afte r Olsen defaulted ontwo loans. The familu also paid $70,000 for the brewingy equipment.
Olsen had defaulted on $525,000 in loans from and the Developmentf Authority. The bank recovered its money through the Metroplex received some money through the auction and is suingb Olsen to recoverthe rest, Metroplesx Chairman Ray Gillen has In all, the McDonalds invested more than $1 millionh in the restaurant/entertainment venue since purchasinv it in October 2008, McDonald A list of upcoming entertainment is available on the club’a Web site, .