F. H. Alexander Expands Washington Tavern

Albany, NY – F.H. Alexander, one of the Capital Region’s most respected commercial general contracting firms, recently completed an expansion and new façade for the Washington Tavern on Western Avenue. The building was extended thirty-two feet, and the stone façade was replaced with blue-gray and gold trim work making the Tavern look like a traditional Irish pub.

The banquet room was expanded so that it can comfortably accommodate fifty people for a sit-down function, and seventy-five for a stand-up or buffet. There is a new service bar featuring a stained glass panel, which was originally part of the façade, and the outside eating patio, and apron has been completely redone. The kitchen has been expanded to more easily serve larger gatherings and the flooring has been replaced. The Washington Tavern remained open throughout the construction; F. H. Alexander workers came in early and late to work so there was no down time.

Michael Byron, the owner of the WT, notes, “The FHA team is very adept at the two-step, one step or side step – whatever is needed. Everyone worked together. I cannot say enough about how well they performed; they are very good craftsmen. It was a complicated project tying two buildings built in 1884 together. The original construction is not square and they had to modify constantly.”

John Shay, F.H. Alexander’s project manager, adds, “Our biggest challenge in this project was safety, keeping the tavern open, and the customers safe. We built a temporary wall to keep the sound down, especially during lunch. The local customers were the best part of the job; everyone is all excited, and has a nostalgic WT story.”

A grand opening is planned in mid-October. The architect/engineer was Bob Kurzon of Kurzon Architects.

About The Washington Tavern

The building was built in 1884 on the Great Western Turnpike – now Western Avenue. It has operated as a bar and restaurant ever since. During prohibition it was operated as a speakeasy. They had a built-in wall elevator to deliver food and beverages to the second floor, where there was a thriving betting parlor. In 1942 the name was changed from the Western Grill to The Washington Tavern, and it became know affectionately as the W. T. The owner at the time had operated a bar/restaurant on Madison Avenue across from Washington Park, from where she brought the name. Mike and Pat Byron, the present owners, bought the premises in 1971, where they have tried to maintain the rich traditions of this century-old establishment.

About F. H. Alexander

F. H. Alexander, Inc. is a general contracting firm specializing in new commercial construction and renovation. They manage projects as a conventional general contractor, as a construction manager, and on a design/ build basis. The unique blend of talent and backgrounds within the organization has instilled strict time line discipline, cost control, and attention to detail, which makes them effective on a wide variety of project types. F.H. Alexander is a member of Associated General Contractors, General Building Contractors, Saratoga Economic Development Corporation and the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. The company was founded in 1991.

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