Honor B. Lodge’s 150th Anniversary

Senate Resolution No. 3246 BY: Senator BRESLIN COMMENDING B. Lodge and Company upon the occasion of celebrating its 150th Anniversary WHEREAS, It is the intent of this Legislative Body to commemorate the long histories of certain family-owned business endeavors, which are the cornerstone of economic success in this great Empire State; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend B. Lodge and Company upon the occasion of celebrating its 150th Anniversary; and WHEREAS, A retail business that opened in downtown Albany, New York, two years after the conclusion of the Civil War, B. Lodge & Co. was established in 1867, by Barrington Lodge and his two sons, Charles and William; and WHEREAS, During this time, B. Lodge & Co. was a discount store that supplied school uniforms, nursing scrubs and more to the local community; as business grew, they moved to 91 N. Pearl Street, where they produced Powdora Puffs filled with powder, air cell washcloths and dish cloths upstairs while running a thriving business on the main floor; and WHEREAS, With much success, the business once again expanded to 109 N. Pearl Street through to Orange Street for a city block next to the well-remembered Cash Market; after a devastating fire in 1952, Lodge's moved to its current location at 75 North Pearl Street and rented side stores to different business', including a liquor store and barber shop; and WHEREAS, The Lodge family, with no interested heirs, sold the business in 1960 to Eve and Sid Ginsburg; their son Barry ran the store very successfully until 1995, before selling the business to Jack and Elaine Yonally; the couple's son Mark and daughter Sharon took over the business in 2011; and WHEREAS, Today, B. Lodge & Co. is known for offering clothing and other merchandise at discounted prices, along with supplying school uniforms to more than two dozen local schools; and WHEREAS, Dedicated to its community, B. Lodge & Co. graciously supports several local charitable organizations such as the Albany County Adopt-A-Family program; and WHEREAS, Throughout its distinguished history, B. Lodge & Co. has been the proud recipient of numerous awards and accolades including the NYBDS Excellence in Small Business Award and the ALDC Jacob H. Herzog Leadership Award; and WHEREAS, Under the luminous leadership of its owners, Mark Yonally and Sharon Freddoso, B. Lodge & Co. looks forward to many more years of continued excellence and growth serving the residents of the City of Albany, and the surrounding areas; and WHEREAS, It is with great pleasure that this Legislative Body acknowledges this exceptional business and its contributions to the local and State economies, fully confident that it will continue to enjoy the sparkling successes it has experienced thus far; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to commend B. Lodge and Company upon the occasion of celebrating its 150th Anniversary; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to Mark Yonally and Sharon Freddoso, Owners, B. Lodge & Company, Albany, New York.