New Downtown Albany Café Opens on Historic Maiden Lane

Ribbon Cutting for Winding Brooks Café and Catering Scheduled for Today

ALBANY, NY (01/19/2012)(readMedia)-- Albany Mayor Gerald D. Jennings and the Winding Brooks Cafe and Catering, LCC will hold a ribbon cutting on Thursday, January 19, 2012 at Noon to celebrate their grand opening at 36 Maiden Lane in Albany, NY. The event is free and open to the public.

According to Joe Brooks and Tim Burhnam, co-owners of Winding Brooks Cafe, the location of the business on Maiden Lane was an attractive retail opportunity and important key in their business model. After extensive research of existing eateries and foot traffic in the neighborhood, they positioned the café with a menu focusing on a hot buffet lunch that rotates daily. The duo is determined to invest in downtown and open a few additional businesses on the historic street over the next few years.

"We want to bring Maiden Lane back to its thriving significance in downtown," says Brooks.

Burhnam, who has worked in the restaurant and catering industry for over 25 years, plans on catering to downtown residents as the community grows.

"We are open to changing our hours to fit the needs of our customers and special events," indicated Burhnam, "Our aim is to create an atmosphere where our chefs know our customer's name - and vice versa."

"For hundreds of years, Maiden Lane has supported business storefronts and has been a historical draw for the area," stated Georgette Steffens, Executive Director, Downtown Albany Business Improvement District, "We are pleased that business owners are seeing its potential and relevance in Albany's renaissance."

The name of the eatery is symbolic of change and pulls on the idea of a brook as a lively body of water, constantly in motion.

"It's also my name of course, but I think it describes us nicely," says Brooks.

Winding Brooks Café and Catering is currently open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, with catering available by appointment. For more information visit www.mywbcafe.com or call (518) 445-9449.

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.