Douglas Albert Gallery is moving to a new downtown State College location this spring after more than 40 years in a small storefront on what is now known as Pat Daugherty Walkway.
The art shop plans to open by early May at 126 E. College Ave., which was previously home to People’s Nation and Sample Sale clothing stores.
“It’s a perfect space for me to move into,” owner Douglas Albert said. “I’m very lucky.”
Albert has operated the gallery on the alley between East College Avenue and East Calder Way since 1981, but was informed by the building’s owners in recent months that they would not renew his lease and that he must be out by April 30.
The new location is approximately 3,500 square feet, about three times the size of his current fine art and collectibles store, Albert said.
“I really like this location a lot. Things happen for a reason I guess,” Albert said. “I don’t want to get too philosophical, but this is such a great opportunity for me because I’ve got so much more space and I’m going to be getting a lot more exposure.”
He looked at other locations further out, but, Albert said, “I decided to keep my horse hitched to the wagon downtown because I think downtown is important.”
The new location offers a more open atmosphere and will allow Albert to display more art from his collection, he said.
“I’m kind of invigorated. I’ve been doing this for a long time but I’m very excited about the expanded space,” he said. “A lot of the artwork that I have in my inventory that hasn’t really been seen will finally see the light of day. That’s a good thing because I have a lot of really great pieces here that nobody knows I have. I’m going to pretty much be on the same path of inventory and selection and variety that I have here, but it’s going to be a lot more space and a lot more open.”
Albert also continues to operate his first business, Uncle Eli’s Artist Marketplace, which was founded in 1970 at 129 E. Beaver Ave. Uncle Eli’s currently handles framing for the gallery, but Albert said he is also looking at hiring a framer for the gallery’s new location.
“We do all my framing up at Uncle Eli’s, but I’ve got enough room there I’d like to be able to offer framing services in the new location,” he said. “We are looking to hire another picture framer. We haven’t found anybody yet. It’s a hard position to fill.”
