ALBANY, NY… The Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) announces the grand opening celebration of JB’s Capital Convenience, located at 52 S Pearl Street, on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at 10:00 AM. Albany Mayor Kathy M. Sheehan and BID executive director Georgette Steffens are expected to speak. The media and public are encouraged to attend the event which includes free samples of menu items and specials on breakfast and lunch combos beginning at 10:00 AM. “Downtown’s streetscape is rapidly changing with the rebirth of Wellington Row, new Renaissance Hotel, construction of the Capital Center slated to begin later this month, upcoming Times Union Center expansion, and 150 new residential units coming online,” says Steffens. “As these projects progress and new ones begin, the need for retailers that can provide quick, easy access to everyday items will only continue to grow. The Downtown community is excited to welcome JB’s Capital Convenience, another one-stop shopping option for visitors, residents and employees.” Across the United States, over $700 billion was spent in convenience retail stores in 2012, according to the National Association of Convenience Stores. Recognizing the positive trend and economic significance, co-owners Joe Brown and Gabriela Rabelo-Brown opened JB’s Capital Convenience in November, where customers can find grocery items, beverages, snacks and more. A Capital Region native, Brown says after over a decade of working in a warehouse he had an accident that necessitated back surgery – and finding a new career path. “I decided after the accident that if I had to start my professional life over, I was going to do it on my own terms and went back to school for business administration,” he says. “Once Gabriela and I found the Downtown location, we knew it would be a good area for a convenience store. We looked at several options, and after looking near the Times Union Center and understanding the foot traffic levels, we knew this was the best place for us.” JB’s Capital Convenience is located at 52 S Pearl Street. The shop is open 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday. For more information, call 518.512.3567, visit them online at http://www.jbscapitalconvenience.com/ or find them on Facebook and Twitter. From international corporations, regional giants and locally owned proprietors, downtown Albany is more than business as usual. Accented by the powerful currents of the Hudson River to the motivating forces in the State Capitol, downtown Albany stands in good company with some of the greatest names in business today. Over 250 companies call downtown Albany home and signs like IBM, Microsoft and Windstream are seen throughout our historic streets. Since 1996, the Downtown Albany Business Improvement District (BID) has worked to restore, promote and maintain the character and vitality of improve the quality of life and overall image of downtown for those who work in, live in and visit the  Capital City of the most famous state in the world. The Downtown Albany BID is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. For more information about the Downtown Albany BID please visit downtownalbany.org | @AlbanyBID or call 518.465.2143.