New Taco Bell location to open in Albany

ALBANY — Area diners will soon have another dining option in northwest Albany once the new Taco Bell restaurant opens on the corner of Dawson Road and Meredyth Drive.

Sally Webb Schatz, the long-time owner of the corner property that was recently the home to Local Jerry’s, and before that Wagner’s BBQ, confirmed Thursday that she has inked a deal to bring the popular, Tex-Mex fast food restaurant to that location.

“Taco Bell has signed an agreement, and they’ll be leasing the property from me,” said Schatz. “We hope that they’ll be open this summer.”

Schatz, whose father was well-known real estate broker Murray Webb, said she and her father were joint owners of the Local Jerry’s property, as well as the nearby Talbot’s and Cosmo Prof properties, until he passed away two years ago, leaving her as the sole owner.

When Schatz’s mother died last April, Schatz said her mother left her the money to purchase the adjacent Pizza Hut property, which was vacated by the pizza chain shortly after the company did away with its dine-in restaurant concept in 2015.

After securing the properties, Schatz, who characterizes herself as a “low-profile” person, said she worked with a local consultant who helped her secure the deal with Taco Bell.

According to that consultant, the Taco Bell building will likely measure somewhere in the neighborhood of 2,700 square feet and is expected to be operational in either late June or early July.

Once open, the new restaurant will be the third Taco Bell location in Albany, with one located at 2006 E. Oglethorpe Blvd. and another at 1505 N. Slappey Blvd.