Jump to the intro.

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_1.jpg

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_2.jpg

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_3.jpg

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_4.jpg

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_5.jpg

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_6.jpg

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_7.jpg

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_8.jpg

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_9.jpg

Slidin_Dirty_Schenectady_10.jpg

A look around the new Slidin' Dirty in Schenectady

Slidin Dirty Schenectady

The popular restaurant Slidin' Dirty opened a new location in the Foster Building on State Street in downtown Schenectady Thursday. It's the second location for owners Brooke and Tim Taney, who started out with a food truck in 2012, and then opened a permanent location in downtown Troy in 2014.

The new spot in Schenectady is much bigger than the Troy location, occupying two floors behind a large arch window that looks out onto the street.

Here's a look around the new space, along a few quick bits from the Taneys about why the picked Schenectady and the path from a food truck to multiple locations.

Photos

Look up, they're above in large format -- click or scroll all the way up.

Two quick questions

This is your second location -- why pick Schenectady for it?

Tim: I think the biggest reason is that [Sequence Development's] Jeff Buell -- our current landlord in Troy -- said, hey, I've got this great block in Schenectady that I've bought some property on, think you'd be a good fit. In fact, the first place he contacted us about was the terra cotta hotel, which is now Capocia Wine Lounge.

Brooke: But that was like three months after we opened [in Troy], so we were not anywhere ready for it.

Tim: So, he was like, that's OK, I might have something else for you. Some time went on and he said I've got this space on State Street I want you to check out. We were a little more ready at the time and we came checked it out -- it was a beat-up, old hair salon.

Brooke: Pink carpet, a lobby, and then just hallways with little rooms off of it. So we really had to look beyond it and envision it all open. And then talking with him about going up, because we wanted the same heigh that we have in Troy.

Tim: Jeff had asked us about how we felt about going to a second floor because the design was for this huge arch window. There was some hesitation, but we said, yeah, let's go for it. We miscalculated how much it was going to cost...

Brooke: But that being said, a lot of times in Troy we get questions, hey, can we rent out your space so we can office party or a bridal shower or whatever private event they want to do. And [the Troy location] is just not conducive because it's too small. So this allows us to host private events up there, or maybe do a paint-and-sip event up there, and not obstruct other diners who just want to eat or have a drink.

Brooke and Tim Taney
Brooke and Tim Taney

You guys have an interesting story in that you've built your way up from a food truck to a successful place in Troy, a now another location here. Do you think this is a path that's open for other food businesses to follow?

Tim: I certainly think the model of starting small with something like a food cart or a food truck is something that I would recommend for entrepreneurs. It allows you to not have to get this huge loan that could completely bury you for the rest of your life. And it allows you to learn the business and grow. And I think we're a perfect example of that -- going from a truck, to relatively small space in Troy, to a relatively big space now in Schenectady. If this was our first one, there probably would be no Slidin' Dirty because we would never have been ready for that five years ago. It also allows you to build a brand and learn what you're doing.

Brooke: Maybe you start out with a food truck and think you have a really good concept and then maybe you realize that's not something people are drawn to, and you can re-think it. As Tim said, you have a smaller investment in the food truck to figure that out rather than go all in on a restaurant.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Find It

Slidin' Dirty
512 State Street
Schenectady, NY 12305

Comments

I'm thrilled that the Taneys have had such success with Slidin' Dirty! I can't wait to visit the new location.

Say Something!

We'd really like you to take part in the conversation here at All Over Albany. But we do have a few rules here. Don't worry, they're easy. The first: be kind. The second: treat everyone else with the same respect you'd like to see in return. Cool? Great, post away. Comments are moderated so it might take a little while for your comment to show up. Thanks for being patient.

What's All Over Albany?

All Over Albany is for interested and interesting people in New York's Capital Region. In other words, it's for you. It's kind of like having a smart, savvy friend who can help you find out what's up. Oh, and our friends call us AOA.

Search

Recently on All Over Albany

Thank you!

When we started AOA a decade ago we had no idea what was going to happen. And it turned out better than we could have... (more)

Let's stay in touch

This all feels like the last day of camp or something. And we're going to miss you all so much. But we'd like to stay... (more)

A few things I think about this place

Working on AOA over the past decade has been a life-changing experience for me and it's shaped the way I think about so many things.... (more)

Albany tightened its rules for shoveling snowy sidewalks last winter -- so how'd that work out?

If winter ever gets its act together and drops more snow on us, there will be sidewalks to shovel. And shortly after that, Albany will... (more)

Tea with Jack McEneny

Last week we were fortunate enough to spend a few minutes with Jack McEneny -- former state Assemblyman, unofficial Albany historian, and genuinely nice guy.... (more)

Recent Comments

My three year old son absolutely loving riding the train around Huck Finn's (Hoffman's) Playland this summer.

Thank you!

...has 27 comments, most recently from Ashley

Let's stay in touch

...has 4 comments, most recently from mg

A look inside 2 Judson Street

...has 3 comments, most recently from Diane (Agans) Boyle

Everything changes: Alicia Lea

...has 2 comments, most recently from Chaz Boyark

A few things I think about this place

...has 13 comments, most recently from Katherine