UNKNOWN FUTURE

A year after blaze, ex-restaurant property sits vacant

NORTH GREENBUSH » It’s been one year since the three-alarm blaze which destroyed the landmark Villa Valenti Restaurant. While the vacant site is now under-contract to be purchased, the cause of the fire is still unknown with the police still conducting an active and ongoing investigation.

The fire started around 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2014 and soon became a fully-involved blaze, officials said.

Ralph Valenti, whose family owned the 64-year-old restaurant, had initially said it was his family’s intention to rebuild the restaurant, but the lot on 369 West Sand Lake Road went up for sale this past fall.

Realty USA broker Charles Curto said this week that the site is under contract to be sold but could not give any further details.

The corner property, with more than 37,000 square feet, is listed for $75,000.

“I wish I could [re-open] but I cannot go it alone,” said Valenti citing health issues and mourning his son, Jarid, who died in 2012. He said the restaurant was owned by his mother but he owns the sauce business.

“So many memories the Villa has for many of us, both employees and its many loyal followers. I am so torn on whether to start another Villa for all of them or whether I can physically and more importantly emotionally do it. That is why going alone is not an option.”

The third-generation business has garnered more than 5,000 “likes” and dozens of entries from former customers on a Memories of Villa Valenti Facebook page, plus thousands of fans on other pages.

Villa Valenti has family roots which go back to a restaurant that opened in Troy in 1908 called the Volcano Restaurant, which was open for about 70 years, according to the Villa Valenti website.

The same people who brought the community that eatery later opened Villa Valenti in 1950.

According to county records, a foreclosure process had started at the site a month

prior to the fire despite Valenti stating that December 2013 was one of the business’ best months.

North Greenbush Police Chief Robert Durivage has reached out sporadically for help from the public throughout the past year with regards to their investigation into the fire. This week, he said there were no updates.

“It remains an active and ongoing investigation,” he said.

PHOTOS BY MIKE MCMAHON — THE RECORD These file photos from Jan. 14, 2014, show what remains of the Villa Valenti restaurant on Route 150in Wynantskill after it was destroyed by a three-alarm fire.