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By Jill Nagy
Alltown Fresh on Erie Boulevard in Schenectady is a cross between a farmers’ market and a convenience store housed in a striking gabled building. Its builder, Frank H. Alessandrini, owner of F.H. Alexander Inc., of Schacticoke, was so pleased with the result that they chose it for their September advertising campaign.
“It’s a great looking store,” said Alessandrini, who said the project was the first of its kind in New York state.
The 4,800-square-foot market focuses on creating an elevated, farm stand-like experience by providing a menu of healthy options such as made-to-order all-day breakfast, fresh salads, smoothies, sandwiches, bowls, and more, the company said.
“It was a great job,” said Kevin Doyle, director of the project management office for Global Partners LP, the company that owns Alltown Fresh. “We are very happy and pleased with the work they did for us.”
“You walk in and it’s ‘Wow,’” said Martha Sullivan, a marketing person with Global Partners.
Alltown Fresh is a new brand for the Waltham, Mass.-based company. This is the fifth store under that flag and the first one in New York state. However, Global Partners has other convenience stores in upstate New York.
Alltown Fresh offers meals and sandwiches from its “scratch kitchen,” avocado sandwiches, salads and smoothies, breakfast all day, and, according to Sullivan, “road trip kinds of food” like chips and soda.
They offer vegan and gluten-free options as well. At the coffee station, beans are pressed (not ground) on demand and brewed to the customer’s taste, according to the company.
Alltown also has gas pumps.
There is a patio for outdoor eating as well as curbside pickup for takeout meals, including crates of groceries that can be ordered ahead of time.
“We are extremely excited to bring the Alltown Fresh concept to Schenectady. The opening of this location marks our fifth new store in under two years, and our first market in New York. Our core belief is that nobody should have to sacrifice healthy, fresh food options for convenience, therefore each item on our menu is carefully selected to meet the needs of our guests,” said Eric Slifka, CEO of Global Partners LP. “We understand how difficult the past few months have been, and our team was quick to implement contactless ways to shop including curbside pickup of our entire menu, crates of fresh groceries, and meal prep kits.”