Mingle on Delaware Ave in Albany has closed, as the owners consolidate their attention on their location in Saratoga Springs, Steve reports over at Table Hopping. And the 544 Delaware Ave building turns over again -- that seems like such a good spot... (We still miss Wine-N-Diner.) [TU Table Hopping]
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Comments
Promising Troy restaurant opens, loved Albany restaurant closes.
(Repeat, repeat, repeat)
... said Paul on Apr 29, 2015 at 3:30 PM | link
Nooooooooooooooooooooo [takes breathe] ooooooooooooooo.
That stinks. I love(d) that place.
... said Rebecca on Apr 29, 2015 at 3:54 PM | link
This really angers me. I really fail to understand what everyone in this area thinks is so great about Saratoga. No one would care about Mingle in Saratoga if they had not been in Albany first. Abandoning the Albany location is a slap in the face to everyone who went there (and we would drive from Schenectady to go there). It was bad enough they stopped serving the kimchi fries, now this. We were in Saratoga the other day and I considered going to Mingle for lunch and then we decided to go to Hattie's Chicken Shack instead. I'm sure Mingle will see good business in Saratoga - it's where the people with money in this area love to hang out. I will never forget how they used the neighborhood in Albany and I will never eat at the restaurant in Saratoga.
... said xina on Apr 29, 2015 at 4:46 PM | link
So sad. Not so much that Mingle is gone but more so that there will be yet another empty spot in the Albany landscape. Mingle was OK. Not really Korean food and some things on the menu were pretty bad. The owners son seemed like a nice guy but I sensed he was a bit of a BS artist. Don't blame him for going to Saratoga but so sad to drop the bland city for the bright lights! So sad that for the area, which has ever SO SLOWLY started to improve. Maybe a real Korean place will open or something even better? Wishing the owners best of luck but based on their past experiences managing a restaurant not sure how long Saratoga will last either!
... said BS on Apr 29, 2015 at 9:20 PM | link
I have to agree, that it rubs me the wrong way when folks get established in Albany, only to jump ship for all the money of Saratoga Springs. Can't lie, Mingle is no on my list of places to avoid in those rare instances I find myself in Saratoga. I'll try to refrain from hating on Saratoga to much, because I support all our urban centers, but sometimes, little gilded Saratoga feels more like a provincial main street, rather than a hustling and bustling urban center. That's easy to support and feed, its a much larger task when you are talking about a socio-economically diverse city like Albany.
At least, in reverse, we have Druthers, which started out well in Saratoga, expanding big time in the Warehouse District in downtown Albany. Can't wait.
... said Ye 'ole Fort Orange on Apr 30, 2015 at 9:28 AM | link
Funny how they named their place Mingle, we mingled, and poof! Gone! Thanks for the commitment to mingling, Mingle.
No wonder Boxes Packed can't find the right places to interact with an active, engaged community. We've got plenty of ghosts of communal spots lurking about our city but finding a living business that's truly committed to quality, its neighbors, and fresh folks moving here looking for a posse means spending all evening at the hot buffet bar at Honest Weight. Or hanging in Troy, Hudson, or Schenectady.
I know, it's a money thing. But will there ever be an incentive or even a goal to make it a balance of money AND community?
... said Laura on Apr 30, 2015 at 10:06 AM | link
Ye 'old Fort Orange, I fully agree, though I'd be harder on Saratoga. Interestingly, Druthers started at the Albany Pump Station before opening his own place in Saratoga, so in that case, it's actually both.
Laura, with Honest Weight now hiding itself away in a light industrial neighborhood off the highway and farther from frequent bus lines, I can't possibly see them as committed to their neighbors. They don't seem to want anything to do with them, really, but they're thrilled with Colonie.
... said JayK on Apr 30, 2015 at 10:28 AM | link
I can add a sidebar about lack of commitment that bugged me: last year Jose Filomeno ran for the Board of the Honest Weight Food Co-op, talked a good game about commitment to the community and got elected. Then he resigned very soon thereafter, like a month later! I have no idea what that was about. Sure, there might have been an unexpected personal circumstance, but it seemed flaky and another Board member had to be appointed. Might be a pattern.
... said chrisck on Apr 30, 2015 at 10:41 AM | link
What the hell is wrong with you people?
I love that just this week, in response to the Miss Pearl post, most people mentioned the diversity of the REGION as a great benefit of living here. Yet in this post, all I see is hate for Saratoga because of a perceived slight against Albany.
It's horrible that we lost Mingle in Albany. I loved it there. But that doesn't mean they should be shunned because they are continuing their business in Saratoga. Not to mention, none of you have any of the facts or reasoning behind their decision.
Further, the family behind Mingle has been committed to the area for quite some time. They had Avenue A before Mingle (also in "Delso"), and Chef Uni worked in other restaurants in Albany. To throw them under the bus so easily is ridiculous.
Saratoga doesn't have to lose for Albany to win. Same can be said for Troy, Schenectady, Colonie, etc. If we are a region, then let's celebrate the region.
... said Jay on Apr 30, 2015 at 12:00 PM | link
"Saratoga doesn't have to lose for Albany to win." I say this sort of thing a lot when Troy gets a great new restaurant and Albany doesn't make any news, leading everyone to unrealistically freak out about Albany. But in this case, there's too direct a connection, and this has happened a few times. It's natural for the city to be sort of resentful of the tourist trap to the north as a result.
I wasn't a huge fan of Mingle, so I don't personally feel the loss, but it's clear the neighborhood does. I also wouldn't eat in the new place, but that's only because I go to Saratoga once every couple of years or so at most, and would rather eat at better restaurants on those occasions.
... said JayK on Apr 30, 2015 at 12:27 PM | link
I'm still not over the loss of Wine N Diner...
... said kate on Apr 30, 2015 at 2:02 PM | link
The days when restaurants lasted decades - even generations - is over.
... said Eric Scheirer Stott on Apr 30, 2015 at 5:34 PM | link
I know the owner, and several of the employees. this was a long time coming. The Saratoga location will not be far behind. I LOVED the Albany location, but there are a lot of rumors swirling around the owner and money --- bouncing payroll checks, etc. Owing vendors/COD only. I would hope this was untrue, but I can tell you - raising prices 3 times since end of 2014 and selling on Local Flavor (1/2 price) coupons, it was bound to happen.
... said Eugene on Apr 30, 2015 at 10:52 PM | link
@Eric Scheirer Stott -- I think you are on to something there. This may be part of the larger trend of impermanence and fluidity in U.S. society, for better or worse. People now don't expect to work for the same businesses their whole lives either, instead moving from job to job, and place to place if necessary. Maybe all of life will become a series of start ups. Exhilarating, but also perhaps an exhausting concept to be continually remaking and reimagining ourselves and our communities.
... said chrisck on May 1, 2015 at 7:21 AM | link
Stinks. I had the good fortune of meeting one of the owners and was impressed by his excitement and energy and passion for Albany. Mingle hosted a few political events along the way which seemed to gain traction for decision maker support. So, yeah, lament the loos off the menu, and the vacancy, but also think there goes a small business owner incubated in the Albany but taking energy someplace else.
... said daleyplanit on May 1, 2015 at 10:38 AM | link
I LOVE the food there – and am saddened that they closed. From my experience with restaurants, this had little to do with “concentrating on Saratogaâ€, and much more to do with bad ownership/management. I had watched the front end deteriorate for quite some time, while the food was still amazing. Chef will be missed in Albany – but I doubt things will get any better in Saratoga with her son Jose still running the show. Sad – he just has no idea how to run a business profitably.
... said Jacob on May 4, 2015 at 8:53 AM | link
I'm always surprised at how easily people will "name names" in business reviews ; restaurant , hair stylist, etc. to purposely slam an individual's' professional reputation after one visit, idle gossip; or just to be snarky.
It's irresponsible, unkind and can impact an individual's ability to make a living. Everyone has an off day and/or makes mistakes.
... said Carol on Aug 13, 2015 at 4:16 PM | link