Quoted Text

     
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Landmark Grandma’s Country Restaurant sold
The Business Review (Albany) - by Michael DeMasi

Richard A. D'Errico | The Business Review
Grandma’s Country Restaurant and Pie Shoppe in Colonie, N.Y., has been sold.

Grandma’s Country Restaurant and Pie Shoppe in Colonie, N.Y., has been sold to a local businessman who promises not to tinker with the recipe for the landmark restaurant’s success -- including its famous pies.

“I’m going to keep it exactly the way it is,” said Joe Fagan, owner of the nearby Ralph’s Tavern at 1328 Central Ave.

Fagan closed on the sale Sept. 23, purchasing the 160-seat restaurant at 1273 Central Ave. and gift shop next door from the founder, Joe Danaher.

Both sides declined to reveal the sale price.

The listing agent, Tony Sabatino of Realty USA, referred questions to attorney James Tyner, who couldn’t be reached for comment.

Danaher opened the business as a pie and sandwich shop in 1977, naming it for his grandmother, Catherine Mangan. She gave him advice on the best way to bake pies before dying in the mid-1990s.

“Any time we had a recipe problem we called grandma,” Danaher said as he stood inside the busy restaurant, which was decorated for autumn with pumpkins, maize and orange, red and yellow crepe paper.

The business grew and the pies developed a loyal following. Every Thanksgiving, the restaurant sells 7,000 to 10,000 pies, said Ron Raylinsky, the day manager who has worked there 25 years.

Colonie police now help maintain order in the parking lot in the hectic days leading up to the holiday. Apple and pumpkin are the biggest sellers, naturally.

Raylinsky and another longtime employee, night manager Dave Houle, a 30-year veteran, will be partners in the business with Fagan. Many of the hosts, wait staff and cooks have also worked at Grandma’s for a long time. They will continue under the new ownership.

The gift shop next door, Grandma’s Country Corners, will be run by Danaher until the end of December. At that point the building might be leased to another business or converted into a banquet hall, Fagan said.

Danaher, 65, said he suffered a stroke five years ago that paralyzed the left side of his body, making it difficult for him to work.

He quietly listed the property for sale a couple months ago. Fagan was among several people interested in buying.

The stroke may have limited Danaher’s mobility -- he walks with a cane -- but didn’t dull his razor sharp Irish wit.

He’ll continue to be a familiar face to customers as an ambassador of sorts. He also said Fagan, Raylinsky and Houle were smart not to make any changes.

“Not like Barack Obama, who says we live in the greatest country in the whole world, help me change it,” Danaher said. “You can tell I’m a Republican.”