Before I describe yesterday's "progress walk" ...

First and foremost, I know from the sheer volume of inquiries that many readers are eager for information about Bistro New Albany.

Undoubtedly, there has been a degree of ambiguity surrounding the eventual opening date, thanks in large measure to my own considerable eagerness to help the founders tout the establishment, which in turn had led to my jumping the gun more than once with regard to the Bistro’s impending arrival date.

My apologies for these errors of enthusiasm, which should not be construed as conscious attempts to mislead NA Confidential’s readers.

There’s nothing whatsoever to indicate that the BNA won’t open soon, but there have been (and continue to be) unexpected delays that were not part of the original business plan.

Just like everyone else, I'm waiting for the next update from our intrepid downtown bistro pioneers, and will forward it to you when it comes across the wire. The opening might yet be February 6th, or a day (or a week) after that.

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During the course of a warm, cloudy day’s walk on Thursday morning, it was apparent that good things like the impending advent of Bistro New Albany continue to happen in downtown New Albany. Here’s a brief compendium of a few of these positive developments as experienced during my stroll.

Jane Alcorn of Develop New Albany reports that another potential buyer is interested in the old Lewis commercial building on the north side of Market Street, next to the Fair Store building.

While acknowledging the obvious structural problems with the building, i.e. visibly deteriorating exterior bricks, Jane notes that the interior isn’t nearly as bad as one might imagine looking at it from the outside, and that the asking price is reasonable. Does it still fall within the realm of fixer-upper? Let’s hope for the best.

Sometimes, downtown actually benefits from addition through subtraction, as is the case of the forthcoming shutdown of Von’s Place, the wretched Budweiser & karaoke den located on the southeast corner of Market and Pearl in the 146-year-old (1950’s-era exterior remodeling) Bank of Salem building.

Last week, the hand-lettered signs were taped to poles by the sidewalk, offering aluminum-clad swill for a buck as part of the bar’s going-out-of-business sale. The building has considerable potential, and it’s up for grabs; see the informative listing on the Historic New Albany web site, and give Mike Kopp a call if you’re ready to get into the game.

The big news downtown is unfolding on the opposite (northwest) corner, and the sale (specifically, a lease-to-buy) of the former M.T. Dearing building to owners of Louisville Stained Glass, who I’m told eventually plan to reside on the second floor, and possibly convert the third floor – currently a vast, open space with hardwood floors -- into a party room or loft apartment.

See also Downtown New Albany building gets tenant, by Amany Ali (News-Tribune).

East across Pearl from Louisville Stained Glass is the Digital Resource Center at 302-B Pearl Street (the old drug store space). DRC is doing a Kinko’s style business with expanded technology and capability, and looking into offering even more services the likes of which our teammate Bluegill is invited to describe.

Here’s a clear daylight view of the window refurbishment work that Dave Scopoletti is doing above the Federal Hill Café …

… and the humidor at Kaiser’s, where I stopped for a handful of quality cigars.

The original reason for the walk was to visit Joy’s Coffee Nook on its first day of operation, so after procuring cigars, it was a short jaunt to the corner of State and Spring – to be precise, to the premises of State Street Flooring, to which the coffee shop is attached (and owned by the same people).

Service was friendly though a bit awkward, which isn’t surprising given the absence of a routine, which is so terribly important in retail and will come quickly. Joy’s carries a few types of sandwiches and wraps, muffins and some pastries, and makes espresso-based drinks with Consumer’s Choice coffee. My choice of a single shot of espresso elicited mild surprise, but was competently and promptly rendered. Hopefully, evening hours are planned. Seating is very limited. I’ll certainly go back.

Factor into this mix those existing businesses located along the route that I walked, ones that have weathered the many years of downtown uncertainty; consider projects like Stephen Beardsley’s façade restoration & upper floor housing additions; note the Scribner Place construction about to begin … see all these different people working toward something better, know that each and every one of their individual endeavors help to add momentum to the overall effort to revitalize downtown … and realize that although no one ever said it would be easy, it’s happening – piece by piece.

Conversely, you might turn to the spitwad blogyard or the home office of the 3rd District councilman to get an opposing viewpoint, which stripped of the inarticulate verbiage and habitual malapropisms, can be summarized as this:

“We’re New Albany – we can’t.”

As is being proven on a daily basis, in a number of different ways, and by people far too numerous to mention, the naysayers are entirely, utterly, damningly wrong.