All Over Albany

Green Depot

A company called Green Depot announced this week that it will be opening an outlet in the Capital Region "early next year."

So, what's a Green Depot?

Well, it's kind of like Home Depot, but, you know, "green."

It describes itself as "the Brooklyn-based supplier of environmentally friendly and sustainable building products, services and solutions." According to a Fox Business story, the company was founded in 2005 by a "frustrated mom" who had trouble finding environmentally-friendly products to use in a home renovation. From that article:

"We're talking about everything from flooring to framing to adhesive caulks," said Beatty, of what Green Depot offers. "Our mission is to make green products accessible and affordable."

When Beatty started Green Depot three years ago, she figured the company would service the building industry, providing supplies and design ideas, so she set up showrooms in industrial areas in Boston, Brooklyn, N.Y., Newark and Philadelphia. To her surprise, half of the traffic came from consumers and not the construction and home-improvement markets. Later this year, Green Depot will open its first retail store in New York City that, like Home Depot (HD), will sell home-improvement products, but only those that are deemed to be green.

According to Green Depot's website, all the products in the store pass through a "filter" that assesses their quality and eco-friendliness. The company says business has been strong, even as the economy's slowed.

Why expand into the Capital Region? Said a company spokesperson to the Biz Review: "The Albany location was chosen in part because it is a college community and the state capital, and green outreach and education are part of Green Depot's mission ... They felt this location provided access to educational outlets and government representatives that would aid in that mission."

The new Capital Region outlet is planned for space in the Marjam building supply at the intersection of Fuller and Railroad Extension in Albany.