Surprising News
The Times Union reports today that Lil' Deb's Oasis is for sale: "Lil' Deb's Oasis seeking buyer as owner moves on after 10 years." According to the article, chef-owner Carla Kaya Perez-Gallardo announced on Instagram this morning that she is stepping away at the end of the year and is seeking a buyer for the restaurant. Lil' Deb's Oasis will continue to operate, however, under the management of its current staff.
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| Photo: Times Union |
The article does not mention what is to happen with the restaurant's plans to expand and relocate to 735-737 Columbia Street, a building that was acquired for that purpose in 2022. The plans, which include two kitchens, a larger dining room and bar area, outdoor space, and event space, were before the Planning Board for months in 2023 and 2024, but a decision in the site plan review is still pending. The intended changes to the exterior of the historic building, which started its life as a Pure Oil gas station and was most recently the location of TJ Auto Service, were granted a certificate of appropriateness by the Historic Preservation Commission in March 2023.
COPYRIGHT 2025 CAROLE OSTERINK
Tragic - nationally famous icon.
ReplyDeleteHopefully a new generation can pick up the torch and carry on the tradition.
Remember in 2024 when Lil Debs, seemingly voluntarily, pulled out of consideration / endorsement for the Restore:NY grant "for this round" to make way for HHA / Bliss' application.
-> "Competing with the Hudson Housing Authority's Bliss Towers project feels spiritually and culturally misaligned with our core values. Our hope is that by pulling out, this important project may have increased visibility and more opportunity to advance in the Restore funding process."
Of course, as the then head of the legal committee (Morris) and others warned... HHA / Bliss' case was not technically eligible according to the published criteria for the grant, but Lil Deb's case seemed a much better (and compliant) fit.
In the end HHA / Bliss Exec Director Dodson admitted that they never even submitted an application.
But only after Tom DePietro lead two very contentious public meetings to force it through, one that required HPD presence.
https://gossipsofrivertown.blogspot.com/2024/04/hha-and-restore-ny.html
In a counterfactual world where Kamal was not mayor for a 2nd or 3rd term... (and a different mayor appointed a better Planning Board) and the Common Council President was merit driven about grant endorsements to Albany...
Lil Debs' would have gotten the six figure grant which would have helped, they would also have enjoyed a speedy and fair review in front of a pro-growth and competent Planning Board, and the new and expanded location would have already been up and running, or planning a spring 2026 grand opening.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if somehow the greatly-missed Bodega Aguila Real could move into the original Debs space? Last I heard they were looking around town for another location. I know they left their original spot because of raising rents (it’s practically next door to where they were), still… a nice idea.
ReplyDeleteSome really promising non-profit and business ventures have faded recently. But at least we're going to have a gravel dump and a truck route and a crappy 1970's strip mall on our main street. ~ PJ
ReplyDeleteWhat I have heard - and that was entirely coming out of the always flaky and unreliable Hudson rumor mill - is that they didn't have the funds to proceed with their plans for 735-737 Columbia St.
ReplyDeleteI don't know to what degree their ill-advised action to withdraw their Restore NY grant application in favor of Bliss Tower's fake application contributed to this. It couldn't have helped. I reckon it's a mistake that co-owner Halo won't make a second time, wherever they go after this.