Belgian Restaurant and Bar Opens on North Pearl Street

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Joe Gorman and Jeremy O'Brien

ALBANY, NY (12/19/2011)(readMedia)-- A ribbon cutting is planned for The Merry Monk, a newly opened Belgian restaurant and pub, Tuesday, December 20, 2011 at 4:00 PM at 90 North Pearl Street in Albany, New York (corner of North Pearl and Sheridan). An Open House with food and beer sampling will immediately follow. The public is welcome to attend both the ribbon cutting and open house. The Merry Monk will be accepting monetary donations on behalf of the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society. Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings is expected to speak at the event.

The business, which officially opened on December 7, 2011, is owned by Jeremy O'Brien and Joe Gorman. A former General Manager at Wolf's 1-11, O'Brien has a family history in the restaurant and pub business. His grandparents were the original owners of The O'Brien Inn near Binghamton, NY. A lawyer by trade, Gorman worked for Social Services in Rensselaer before making the jump to owning and running a bar. He has also tended bar for over 20 years.

"Friends always talk about opening a bar that they would want to patronage," said O'Brien, "We wanted our bar to be small and laid back, where people feel comfortable coming to hang out with friends and meet new ones."

"But we also wanted to do something different that would set us apart from other pubs in downtown Albany," offered Gorman.

The two partners looked at the import beer business and quickly recognized that the fastest growing segment was the Belgium imports and the Belgian craft-styled beers. Amongst the 16 tap offerings will be Monk Stout, a traditional Belgian Stout from Brasserie Dupont. The Merry Monk will be the only pub to have this specialty beer on tap within a 150 mile radius.

Appropriately, the Belgian influenced menu offers six different types of mussels, the national dish of Belgium, as well as twelve versions of dipping sauces for frites.

"The Merry Monk is a welcome addition to downtown and fulfills a niche, offering Belgium beer and food, that is not yet represented in Albany," said Mayor Jennings. "The opening of this establishment is well timed as the newly renovated apartment building up on Sheridan Avenue will surely bring in new patronage."

"With over 100 new residential units coming online in the next few months in downtown Albany, the Merry Monk will be an exciting and unique addition for residents and visitors in our Capital City," said Georgette Steffens, Executive Director, Downtown Albany Business Improvement District.

"We've already attracted the attention of local beer clubs largely due to the 50 bottled beers we have available," said Gorman, "But we expect to grow and know we are a work in progress. We are willing to listen, learn and take suggestions."

Open every day, The Merry Monk's hours are 11:30 AM – Midnight (Monday – Thursday), 11:30 AM – 2:00 AM (Friday and Saturday) and Noon – 7:00 PM (Sunday). The restaurant plans to offer outside seating during warmer weather.

Incorporated in 1996, Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) is a private, not-for profit 501(c) (3) organization working to restore, promote and maintain the character and vitality of downtown Albany and improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for those who work in, live in and visit New York's Capital City. For information about the Downtown Albany BID visit downtownalbany.org or call (518) 465-2143.