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By SCOTT LAWSON
News Editor
PUBLISHED OCTOBER 27, 2011
Chicken Joe’s owners John Sorbella and Joe Marini welcomed Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Councilman Anton Konev to its second location on 217 Western Ave. Thursday for the grand opening of their seventh location.
Jennings cut the ribbon at the front of the store, welcoming the new business and customers to the restaurant.
The new shop, with a decor similar to its other Albany location, opened its doors on October 14. The building features a 400-square-foot dining space, which allows for customers to sit down with their meals, unlike at the Yates Street location, where patrons either eat their food standing or take it with them.
According to Sorbella, his family has been operating the restaurant since the October 14, but he is planning to hire new employees.
“We are looking to hire seven or eight people,” said Sorbella, which is around the same number of workers he currently has at his Yates Street store.
The atmosphere is welcoming to both the customers and the workers.
“This is one of the better places I have worked at, I actually enjoy coming to work in the morning,” said Sorbella’s son, Thomas.
J.P. Calero, a full time employee of Chicken Joe’s, also loves working at there. He likes the people that he works with and the experiences that he has had since starting back in February.
“I have met a lot of different people,” Calero said. “Late at night is a good time.”
Some may think that it is a little redundant having the locations so close together, however this is a traditional practice that Chicken Joe’s has used. In fact, this is not the end of the local expansion for the team of Sorbella and Marini.
“If six pizza places can survive in one area, it can’t hurt to have two Chicken Joe’s,” said Sorbella.
“We love Albany, we are looking to open two or three more locations in Albany and Troy,” said Sorbella. “It’s time to expand.”
