Nominate your favorite shops and spots for Best of Albany

The Albany Chamber of Commerce is inviting residents to nominate their favorite local businesses for its annual Best of Albany awards.

The nomination period, which opened Aug. 10, has been extended through Sept. 18. The contest began in 2017 as a way for the Chamber to honor residents' favorite hometown spots.

Categories include local businesses and services such as restaurants, bars, music venues, clothing stores, gyms and more. This year, residents can also nominate organizations for their community service, as well as their favorite places to people-watch, go on a date or meet new people.

The categories change from year to year based on participation and suggestions from residents, Tod Abbott, an Albany Chamber of Commerce board member, told Albany Scanner.

The Chamber has added and removed categories over the years based on the number of nominations they receive, he said. The Chamber board determines the categories.

Some categories that got fewer than 10 votes in previous years were omitted this time, while several new categories were added based on suggestions from residents.

"There have to be at least three candidate businesses in each category," Abbott said.

The top three nominees in each category will be recognized as representing the Best of Albany. Winners will be honored at an awards gala at Belmont Village Albany this fall.

About 700 responses were submitted last year, Abbott said.

Past winners include Sam's Log Cabin (Breakfast and Brunch, 2025), Bua Luong (Dinner, 2025), Little Star Pizza (Kid-Friendly Eatery, 2021), Abrams Claghorn Gallery (Gallery, 2025), The Ivy Room (Music Venue, 2021), Momo’s Flowers (Florist, 2023), Solano Stroll (Albany Event, 2023) and Blue Glove Crew (Community Service, 2023).

Abbott said the awards are intended not only to recognize local businesses but to raise awareness, too.

"The goal has always been to get the word out about the businesses in Albany, helping people discover the businesses available in town," he said. "We hope that in noticing the certificate in a window or seeing the list of winners, folks will discover businesses they haven't noticed before."

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