I was involved with the partnership that purchased the facility out of bankruptcy in October 1986. I managed it for 32 years. My grandfather (Frank Lotz) at one time ran the 40,000 sf shipping floor, my grandmother Letitia Lotz ran the kitchen on the third floor. My Dad who became a Vice President (Walter B Lotz Sr.) in 1959 took me there in 1945 when he went back to work there after World War ll. I have had lunch with my Dad many times on the third floor. Also, two of my younger brothers worked there during their college years Brian and Gary Lotz. When I with my partners purchased the plant all my relatives except my brothers, had since passed away. My goal was to bring the railroad station back to Albany where it belonged along with a major hotel in the early 90's, however the three controlling agencies Albany's mayor Thomas Whalen, Colonie's mayor Fred Fields and Gerald Jennings head of the Albany County IDA did not always get along even though the railroad would have put NY on it's tourism packages along with committing 3000 hotel rooms per year for training, sadly we did not have the cooperation necessary. Over the years I rented freezer, cooler and dry storage space and many startup companies over the years while many attempts to repurpose the plant came and went. Richbell Capital who purchased this famous facility in July 2018 will honor what this plant was by keeping the name First Prize Center alive. Tobin First Prize once employed more than a thousand workers over many decades. I am now retired and live in Summerfield Florida but travel back to the Albany area every summer. Thank you, Walter B Lotz Jr.
What a grim place. I went to grammar school with a fellow whose parents were Polish immigrants. His father worked at Tobin's but I never asked what he did. Whatever it was paid well enough because his dad bought and drove a Camaro the first year they came on the market..
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I was involved with the partnership that purchased the facility out of bankruptcy in October 1986. I managed it for 32 years. My grandfather (Frank Lotz) at one time ran the 40,000 sf shipping floor, my grandmother Letitia Lotz ran the kitchen on the third floor. My Dad who became a Vice President (Walter B Lotz Sr.) in 1959 took me there in 1945 when he went back to work there after World War ll. I have had lunch with my Dad many times on the third floor. Also, two of my younger brothers worked there during their college years Brian and Gary Lotz. When I with my partners purchased the plant all my relatives except my brothers, had since passed away.
My goal was to bring the railroad station back to Albany where it belonged along with a major hotel in the early 90's, however the three controlling agencies Albany's mayor Thomas Whalen, Colonie's mayor Fred Fields and Gerald Jennings head of the Albany County IDA did not always get along even though the railroad would have put NY on it's tourism packages along with committing 3000 hotel rooms per year for training, sadly we did not have the cooperation necessary.
Over the years I rented freezer, cooler and dry storage space and many startup companies over the years while many attempts to repurpose the plant came and went.
Richbell Capital who purchased this famous facility in July 2018 will honor what this plant was by keeping the name First Prize Center alive. Tobin First Prize once employed more than a thousand workers over many decades. I am now retired and live in Summerfield Florida but travel back to the Albany area every summer.
Thank you, Walter B Lotz Jr.
I remember it well; my Dad worked there from the early ‘60s until they closed in the mid ‘80s.
Nothing like I remember it 40 yrs ago. 😢😢😢
What a grim place. I went to grammar school with a fellow whose parents were Polish immigrants. His father worked at Tobin's but I never asked what he did. Whatever it was paid well enough because his dad bought and drove a Camaro the first year they came on the market..
They tore it down now
I can still smell it.
Thought a shopping center was going there??
No. Plans are for apartments and shops once the buldings are down and soil and surrounding tested for toxins.
I worked there 3/79 to 12/81. Didn't look like this.
Is there a way to reach you? I'm writing stories about Tobin past.