Spring Break
Albie's celebrates 20th anniversary
Lindsay Lorenz
Issue date: 2/9/07 Section: News
Fogarty said the drinking was out of hand. One inebriated student mistook a ketchup bottle for a bottle of tea. Dresses were stained by spilled food. There were fights over stolen french fries - food fights were routine. Customers left trash all over the floors and the tables, he said. At one point it was necessary to hire someone just to clean up trash.
"One night I caught someone going to the bathroom. And we didn't have a bathroom," Fogarty said.
For Fogarty, he said running Albie's was a 90-hour work week. When the store closed at 2 a.m., staff members were exhausted. One time, a ROTC employee hung his hammock in the back and climbed in after the store was cleaned up, Fogarty said. Sometimes Greer fell asleep on the countertop, once with a lit Camel in his hand.
Greer left to join his family's business in 1989; though he remained a partner, he no longer worked at the store. Greer renounced his partnership in 1995 and Jason Wichert, Fogarty's nephew, took his place. Fogarty says Wichert brought new life to the restaurant. Albie's expanded, doubling its size in 2003.
The Emporium has had many businesses come and go since the 1980s. Albie's, in addition to Sheer Madness, CVS and Cumberland Farms, has remained throughout the years despite other changes.
"The college mellowed out," Fogarty said.
Albie's now closes at 11 p.m., and Fogarty's 90-hour work week has been reduced to 60, he said.
"I no longer sleep here, which is nice," Fogarty said.
After 20 years and two Bush administrations, Albie's remains a campus favorite, he said.
"Albie's will always be here. I might not be here, but Albie's Place will be," Fogarty said.
"One night I caught someone going to the bathroom. And we didn't have a bathroom," Fogarty said.
For Fogarty, he said running Albie's was a 90-hour work week. When the store closed at 2 a.m., staff members were exhausted. One time, a ROTC employee hung his hammock in the back and climbed in after the store was cleaned up, Fogarty said. Sometimes Greer fell asleep on the countertop, once with a lit Camel in his hand.
Greer left to join his family's business in 1989; though he remained a partner, he no longer worked at the store. Greer renounced his partnership in 1995 and Jason Wichert, Fogarty's nephew, took his place. Fogarty says Wichert brought new life to the restaurant. Albie's expanded, doubling its size in 2003.
The Emporium has had many businesses come and go since the 1980s. Albie's, in addition to Sheer Madness, CVS and Cumberland Farms, has remained throughout the years despite other changes.
"The college mellowed out," Fogarty said.
Albie's now closes at 11 p.m., and Fogarty's 90-hour work week has been reduced to 60, he said.
"I no longer sleep here, which is nice," Fogarty said.
After 20 years and two Bush administrations, Albie's remains a campus favorite, he said.
"Albie's will always be here. I might not be here, but Albie's Place will be," Fogarty said.
