The arch, almost finished in this shot from May 18, echoes the arched doors and windows in the historic depot and indicates the new entry.
Over the last three years, Albany’s historic depot of the Oregon Electric Railway has been restored, remodeled and expanded for its next role in the community’s life.
Matt and Janel Bennett, owners of the Sybaris restaurant downtown, bought the former railroad station at the northeast corner of Fifth Avenue and Lyon Street in May 2022. A year or so later, they had engaged Pyburn and Sons to turn the building into the new home for their restaurant.
The rail depot was opened in 1912, when the Oregon Electric Railway reached Albany. For the century after that, it served first as the railroad’s passenger terminal and later as a county-owned veterans’ hall, and finally as Ciddici’s pizza and state lottery parlor.
Last week, Matt Bennett gave me a tour of the remodeled interior, just weeks from being completed. It all looked splendid, from the massive mirrored wood-burning fireplace to the restrooms made plenty big enough to satisfy the Americans with Disabilities Act.
I wondered about the big new archway in front. It’s intended to give people a clear signal that this is the entrance.
I asked Matt how much the project cost. I couldn’t pin him down, but when I guessed $2 million, he said it was substantially more than that.
When is Sybaris going to open in the depot? Toward the end of June, Matt told me. That’s when the lease on the old site at First and Washington runs out. (hh)
Here are some views of the restoration:
Matt Bennett strides through the dining room for groups, originally the ladies’ lounge in the OER depot.
Here’s the main restaurant dining room, with the original depot floor restored.
Discolored flooring shows where the ticket booth was in the Oregon Electric Railway depot.
That’s some fireplace!
The roof tiles are original, from 1912. They were cleaned, and now they look like new.
Pretty cool. We’ve had a large ($$$) gift card to Sybaris for quite some time. Glad we saved it!
Congratulations it’s beautiful! The Bennetts have graciously offered their restaurant for fund raising with local groups for the last 25 years. The total raised has exceeded $600,000 and is a true gift from them as it has meant no day off — often for weeks in the busiest of seasons — as they prepare and serve meals on Sundays and Mondays when the restaurant is closed. There is one last event in the old location to restore the Waverly Duck that has greeted families entering Albany from its place on Waverly Lake. Kids wave at it from the car window, visitors stop for photos, and locals know they’re almost home when they see it. After many years afloat, the duck has finally reached the point where it needs a full restoration. Matt and Janel are personally hosting this special dinner to help preserve one of Albany’s most recognizable and beloved landmarks for future generations: AN EVENING FOR THE WAVERLY DUCK on Sunday June 7. Details are on their website.
An arch! An arch! Remodel costs way north of 2 million dollars!!! Jesus H. – – – – – -!!
Is Matt Bennett’s middle name Trump!!! And we taxpayers, through CARA, are paying for his patio?? That tells me CARA and The Council (one and the same) are just as bad as we paint them to be!! Thanks for the pictures, Hasso. I’ll never be inside that Taj Mahal, so, thanks, for a peek.
Hey at least he’s saving a piece of history in Albany. You don’t have to eat there I’m pretty sure he would appreciate that you wouldn’t. It’s not going to make a difference whether you eat there or not. He’s done a lot of good for this town.
Absolutely stunning! Many thanks to Matt and Janel for their unwavering stewardship to our community. They are to be commended for restoring a crumbling eyesore and for the countless lives they have touched through their many charitable events.
It wasn’t a “crumbling eyesore.” It was an old train depot that no longer had a pizza parlor it in. And Matt Bennett was waiting for CARA to grant him a half a million dollars to build a patio. Which, of course they did. I’m sure that is an addition, like the arch….that is, the old train depot did not have a patio.
No, “they’ didn’t grant him “half a million.”
It’s one of your “trick” answers, Hasso, isn’t it? Ok, the half a million Bennett got from the City is not a “grant.” Is that what you are getting at? Is it an interest-free loan? Is it a gift?
No, they didn’t get “half a million,” as either a loan or a grant.
Why in the heck don’t you just say it was $260 some thousand that they got, because CARA had 1/2 million left over (not a million like I thought), and they gave half of what they had left to Bennett in a grant.
Anybody know what the total C.A.R.A money was for this place….It’ll be real nice when done & overall it’s good for Albany….
Every time you get a Pacific Power bill know it is larger due to Albany.
Way to go failing CARA!
And this place should send us all a gift card.
Which is to spend at their new place.
Beautiful craftsmanship and yes, quality work costs!
Wonderful historic building that should be around for a long time for many to enjoy.
Looking forward to the experience of enjoying the space.
Gotta drive them Pacific Power Bills down now. Either that or we think up an alternate means to electricity like the Amish have for years now. Check it out and it is cheap, cheap, cheap to buy and install in ones own home.
I don’t see a bar. One of things I don’t like about Sybaris is that they don’t have a bar you can sit at for a drink or even to eat at. I was hoping that would change at their new location
Wait until they open, you might be pleasantly surprised.