A storefront that spent 52 years fixing bicycles is now pouring biodynamic wine. JAJA Natural Wine Bar opened at 466 Madison Avenue in Albany, in the space long occupied by Downtube Bicycle Works, bringing a curated lineup of natural wines, vermouth and small plates to a corner near Washington Park and Lark Street.
The bar is owned by Alejandro and Jake Griffin-Diaz, who also run the Jacob Alejandro coffee shops in Troy and Albany, along with JA. Pequeño in Albany, according to news10.com. JAJA celebrated its launch with a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, marking the formal debut of the couple's wine-bar project. The pair opened their first Jacob Alejandro coffee shop in downtown Troy in 2020 before expanding to JA. Pequeño in Albany in 2023, per the Times Union.
Jake Griffin-Diaz said getting the wine bar together took a great deal of work and called it an honor to share their passions with the neighborhood, according to WNYT. He also credited the Capital Region for making the venture possible, saying community support helped turn the project into reality, and added that he felt honored to be part of the community and share his dreams, per the station's report.
A Former Bike Shop Finds New Life
Downtube Bicycle Works closed in March 2024 after 52 years in business, leaving a long-familiar storefront empty on Madison Avenue, the station noted in earlier reporting. The Lark Street Business Improvement District said the new wine bar brings fresh life to a familiar Madison Avenue storefront, according to the same WNYT account. JAJA now occupies that space at the corner of Madison Avenue and Willett Street, just steps from Washington Park.
Inside, the wine bar seats 10 people at the bar, 16 in the dining room and 12 more in the lounge, the Times Union reported in its restaurant roundup. The bar initially leans heavily on Spanish natural wines to start, paired with a large by-the-glass selection, per the same account. JAJA is open 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursdays, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays, according to news10.com.
From Espresso Shots to Wine Glasses
JAJA offers a selection of natural wines and vermouth from small producers, emphasizing bottles made from biodynamically farmed grapes without additives or excessive processing. The small-plates menu draws on Hudson Valley, Spanish and Central American influences.
The owners have described their move from coffee into natural wine as a natural progression rather than a departure, according to the Times Union's earlier coverage of the opening plans. That philosophy extends beyond Albany: a similar natural wine program is planned for an expanded Jacob Alejandro shop in Troy, according to Daily Coffee News. That outlet reported that Jacob Alejandro expanded its Albany shop into the adjacent space in November 2025, adding seating and laying groundwork for an additional bar area tied to the JAJA concept.
Joining a Small But Growing Scene
JAJA isn't the Capital Region's first foray into natural wine. Troy's Lucas Confectionery, which opened in 2012, has been described as the region's first natural wine bar, according to Clark House Hospitality. Troy also has 22 2nd St. Wine Co., a retailer that has described itself as serving natural wine drinkers both in Troy and those traveling over from Albany. JAJA's arrival gives Madison Avenue its own dedicated outpost for the natural wine trend, built on the same small-producer ethos that has shaped the Griffin-Diazs' coffee shops since 2020.
