This past September, Albany’s Madison Theater, a movie theater which has been running since 2006 in the College of St. Rose neighborhood, announced something new on their overhead marquee. However, it wasn’t a new film addition, but the words “under construction.” Shortly after, news surfaced that the neighboring coffee shop, Tierra Coffee Roasters, had purchased the theater.

For those not familiar, Tierra Coffee Roasters have been around since 2011 on Madison Avenue, taking the place of the former Muddy Cup, a small coffee shop with a key location next to the Madison Theater. Earlier this year, Tierra also purchased the former Ultraviolet Cafe, located next to the Spectrum 8 Theater on Delaware Avenue, offering another location on Albany’s “Main Street.”

Both shops offer a wide variety of locally-roasted coffee and specialty drinks, along with sandwiches and other pastries, many of which are vegan-friendly, made with organic ingredients. Additionally, both shops contain shelves of the company’s coffee for purchase, in a variety of different blends.

Tierra’s purchase of the Madison Theater will reinvent its original structure. Instead of seven screens inside, the number will be cut down to two, one a much bigger screening area with 400 seats. The concession stand will also get a face lift, serving gourmet popcorn and other specialties that are likely to be aligned more with the deserts offered with Tierra’s two locations.

Secondly, Tierra Farms, of which Tierra Coffee is an offshoot, will open its first retail store in some of the space that currently adjoins the coffee shop to the theater. The store will elaborate on the Valatie, NY company’s selection of organic nuts and fruits, but will offer other local, organic foods as well.

Still under construction, it is currently unclear when the Madison Theater will reopen or when the retail store will see the light of day. Although a planned opening date of November was estimated, things still appear to have a ways to go, but when finalized, the Tierra Coffee Roasters certainly have the possibility to become one of Albany’s staples. Time will only tell.