St. Nicholas Hotel set to begin operating in downtown Albany in early 2026

ALBANY – The stars did not quite align to allow for the grand re-opening of the St. Nicholas Hotel during the 2025 Christmas season, but the historic building needs just a few final touches before it can begin receiving guests.

Despite missing the hoped-for deadline, the developers at the downtown site are already planning Phase 2, which will encompass an additional 10 rooms across the street, Matt Fuller, one of the group developing the project, said.

Fuller’s mother has already opened K. Fuller Marketplace, a curated interior design and gift market, in one of the downstairs spaces. The additional 10 hotel rooms are planned for upstairs in one of the buildings. 

The project was a labor of love for Fuller, who has taken on a fair share of renovations, including houses.

The hotel, which originally opened in 1908 at North Washington Street and Flint Avenue, was once a part of the thriving downtown area, and one of the first things train passengers would see when they arrived in the city.

In 1940, a tornado tore off much of the north end of the building, which was renovated and re-opened as the Lee Hotel, which operated into the 1970s. Later, the building was used as a diversion center for released inmates serving a term of probation.

After that facility was closed, the building has been vacant.

“You know, this old building has been sitting here for years,” Fuller said. “I hated to think of this building falling by the wayside or being torn down or falling down. I grew up in old houses. I’ve renovated houses. I’ve always had a love for restoring old houses and buildings.”

As with any restoration project, there were challenges that caused some delays, among them installing an elevator.

“The biggest challenge was our elevator,” Fuller said. “We had to build an elevator shaft in the existing building.”

That included drilling 30 feet down to make space to place the elevator mechanics.

“We ran into all kinds of flint rock,” Fuller said. “It was a 3 1/2-month ordeal.”

Plans are to open the historic building in late January, and several weddings already have been booked for the facility.

On the first floor, visitors will find Harry’s, the bar which will be named for the big-band leader Harry James, who was actually born in the hotel. James’ parents, who were circus performers, frequented the hotel when they were in Albany.

The project’s restaurant will be christened 1906 for the year construction began on the St. Nicholas and will feature a chef brought in from New Orleans. The restaurant will seat 64, and occupancy for the bar is 40. 

In addition, there is a library that includes a fireplace. But the most intriguing feature is perhaps the wood for paneling.

“This is reclaimed cypress from the Radium Casino,” Fuller said. “It’s pecky cypress that’s been sitting in a rail car since they tore down the Radium Casino.”

The top two floors of the 30,000-square-foot facility will each have 13 rooms, one of which is a large suite. The rooms will have one bed and one bathroom, and there will be two beds and two bathrooms in the suites.

The original configuration was 26 rooms on each floor. Pricing for the rooms will start at $169 per night.

To meet historical requirements in order to receive historic tax credits to help fund the $6 million project, each room will have two doors to maintain that original look but only one of them will be a functioning door that opens and closes.

Brick walls also are being left unfinished as part of the historical look. 

The 200 tin ceiling panels in the bar were also removed and painstakingly restored to their original appearance. Original flooring also was restored.

In addition to bringing an old building back to life, Fuller said he hopes the project also will pump some energy into Albany, specifically downtown.

“That’s the vision of people just coming down and enjoying the downtown area, enjoying the shopping,” he said. “Hopefully we can get the community’s support and we can go on and do another project.”

The purchase of the property across the street from Albany businessman Bob Brooks took some sweetening, specifically a certain car.

“We bought it for cash and a Rolls Royce,” Fuller said. “We were negotiating, and it took throwing in a classic Rolls Royce to get it done.. Mr. Bob, he’s a trip. I love Mr. Bob.”

After the 3 1/2-year project, from purchase to finish, Fuller is not necessarily in any rush to take on another project right now. But if the right thing comes along, he said he will consider it.

“It’s been a fun project,” he said. “We’ve had great support, a lot of great craftsmen who worked on the project. We’re throwing a little party for everybody who worked on the building to show our appreciation.”