The S.E. Young & Son Building, which most recently housed Riley’s Bar, on Saturday afternoon.
One of downtown Albany’s remaining historic buildings is being returned to the purpose for which it was built more than a century ago.
S.E. Young built the structure at 124 Broadalbin St. to house his clothing store in 1912. Now, Oscar and Tamalynne Hult are getting the place ready to move their men’s store, The Natty Dresser, there from around the corner, at 425 West First.
For the last 20 years the ground floor had housed Riley’s Billiards Bar and Grill, which closed in January. Before, it had been first Young & Son’s and then Hamilton’s clothing store, later Montgomery Ward’s, the Broadway Department Store, and then a furniture store.
The Hults bought the structure at the end of April for $600,100, according to the Linn County tax department. They’ve been cleaning it out and were at it again on Saturday afternoon.
They’re having to get rid of old furniture, fittings and junk accumulated through the ages. Oscar told me some of the stuff went back to Montgomery Ward days.
The new owners intend to restore the front of the building facing Broadalbin Street the way it was originally, including the windows that have been covered up, and a flat canopy over the front door.
They hope to have their store open in the new and renovated quarters in November. From the looks of the place now, this is quite an undertaking. Wish them success and good luck. (hh)
The interior of the building as the cleanup continues so renovation can begin.
The story has been edited to fix the spelling the Tamalynne Hult’s first name,
Great news! I remember Montgomery Wards. Bought my children’s school clothes there. Love Natty Dresser.
Best wishes on a bold and strategic move by the Hult family!
Good for the Hults. It will look great with them heading it up. Can’t wait for it to open!
As a long-time Albany resident and historian, I am so glad that Oscar and Tamalynne Hult are going to bring new life to an Albany building at has lots of great memories. Looking forward to walking through the doors again in November.
Thanks to the Hults for taking on this much needed project. I for one hope the CARA board is not so mesmerized by a concreted Monteith Park, a brick paved Water Street and an art adorned Dave Clark path, that they can find financial help for the rebirth of this building.
I hear that others with similarly worthy requests for help with building projects are being turned away. Lets help with building renovation projects and then dump the residue on the park and Water Street.
For the record… Tamalynne has an “e”
Apologies, and thanks for the correction.
Very happy to see our former DH colleague doing so well.
Looking forward to a fitting for a Linn County Commissioner’s Livery Collar in the New Natty Dresser, come election time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Livery_collar
-s
I think you will need to see Sid Stevens or Brad Jordan for that! LOL
Excited to have visionaries like Oscar and Tamalynne move in action to restore another downtown building into a beautifully renovated space for their business and who knows what else. The NATTY DRESSER is a wonderful shop. Yes, CARA should step up for these kind of projects.