POUGHKEEPSIE – A mixed-use project that was supposed to spark a revival of downtown Poughkeepsie, is changing its business model to better meet the needs of its clients, according to sources familiar with the announcement that The Academy is temporarily closing. The Academy announced on Monday, June 26, that the facility had closed the day before as they transition into a new business model.
When the developers celebrated the groundbreaking in October 2020, Baxter Builders said the long-vacant buildings at 35-37 Academy Street, at the interaction with Church Street, were going to be transformed into an anchor for the city’s business district as a result of a $13 million investment.
The first floor was slated for a food market and a 67-seat restaurant along with an outdoor beer garden while the second floor was supposed to have an 8,700 square-foot event space and brewery.
Additionally, 28 income-restricted apartments were built on the top floors. The first floor opened last year as a food hall and bar.
The second floor was a large empty room, used for events including Poughkeepsie Mayor Marc Nelson’s State of the City address earlier this year. The brewery never arrived.
The announcement of the transition to Academy Events indicates that the first-floor food hall and bar are being replaced with event space on the first floor while noting that the cafe will reopen with a new menu.
The second-floor space, branded as “Keepsake,” will continue to be available for events. The recently opened Bread and Batter is still open, and the apartment residents are said to be unaffected by the changes.
Former employees of The Academy are eligible to apply for positions at Academy Events and Keepsake.
When asked about the changes on Tuesday, The Academy spokesman Josh Sommers told Mid-Hudson News, “The Academy has deeply appreciated the widespread support it has received by launching a unique business model in Poughkeepsie.” The food hall concept was the first of its kind in the area. “We now believe we have identified the use that will ensure sustainability and longevity for this versatile space,” Sommers added.
