1851

<a href="https://franchise.wbu.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=wilds-birds-unlimited-targets-albany-for-further-upstate-new-york-expansion-2712432" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wild Birds Unlimited</a> has brought people and nature together for nearly 40 years, and the premier backyard and birding nature retail franchise is continuing to grow. Today, <a href="https://1851franchise.com/wildbirdsunlimited">Wild Birds Unlimited</a> has set its franchise development sights on Albany, New York. The brand is already doing very well in New York, with more than 10 stores up and running throughout the Empire State, and a store in the state capital would boost its regional profile.&nbsp;Nearby bird-watching opportunities include the Christman Bird and Wildlife Sanctuary, the Ann Lee Pond Nature and Historic Preserve and the Papscanee Island Nature Preserve, all of which are within a one-hour drive of Albany.&nbsp;“The timing is perfect for a Wild Birds Unlimited store in Albany,” <a href="https://1851franchise.com/wildbirdsunlimited/how-wild-birds-unlimited-has-become-a-legacy-brand-with-a-legacy-culture-2710659#brand-latest-stories">Chief Development Officer Paul Pickett</a> said. “Not only is the city surrounded by several nature preserves that provide plenty of bird-watching opportunities, but our brand already has proven success in the region. A Wild Birds Unlimited franchisee in Albany can build upon the strong momentum we have in the area and really hit the ground running in their community.”&nbsp;One Wild Birds Unlimited franchisee who can vouch for success in the region is Matt Kosty. His <a href="https://fayetteville.wbu.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=wilds-birds-unlimited-targets-albany-for-further-upstate-new-york-expansion-2712432" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Wild Birds Unlimited Fayetteville store</a>, which he purchased in 2018 from the former franchise owner, is located about a two-hour drive west of Albany and within a one-hour drive of major nature sites such as the Derby Hill Bird Observatory, the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.&nbsp;“The main reason that Upstate New York is so great for Wild Birds Unlimited is that we have such a variety of places we can bird,” Kosty said. “From a birding standpoint, this region is really a mecca. We’re able to see a very diverse population of birds and Wild Birds Unlimited helps us really take advantage of those opportunities. We can educate and show people all of the different ways to view birds.”&nbsp;At the Derby Hill Bird Observatory, for example, bird watchers can see up to 10,000 broad-shouldered hawks, Kosty said. Kosty also noted the large amounts of falcons and bald eagles in the area.&nbsp;Kosty, who grew up in a franchise family and worked for a Fortune 500 company prior to joining Wild Birds Unlimited, had originally explored other franchise opportunities, but nothing came close to the nature-centric brand. A Wild Birds Unlimited franchise requires a brick-and-mortar location, but since products are only sold through the brand, franchisees do not need to worry about being overshadowed or pushed aside by e-commerce. This was a huge draw for Kosty.&nbsp;“Wild Birds Unlimited checked all the boxes for me,” he said. “First and foremost, it’s a shopper-motivated business. I’d worked in retail before and I wanted to be in a place where people were happy to come in. That’s definitely the case at Wild Birds Unlimited. Our customers love the brand and they love to visit our stores.”Kosty, a self-described “farm kid from Michigan” who is now happy to live in Upstate New York, loves how franchising with Wild Birds Unlimited allows him to give back to his community and help fulfill the brand’s mission of bringing people and nature together. His Fayetteville store frequently gets high online reviews from enthusiastic customers who gush about the store and thank specific employees for the help they provided.&nbsp;“Franchising with Wild Birds Unlimited allows me to run my own business and control my destiny,” Kosty said. “I felt comfortable with the leadership team and with my fellow franchisees from day one. They are all like family to me, and the brand’s Franchise Support Center, in particular, is incredibly good about linking me with any resources I need. There’s a reason <a href="https://1851franchise.com/wildbirdsunlimited/the-cultural-and-lifestyle-benefits-that-come-with-being-a-wild-birds-unlimited-franchisee-2711555#brand-latest-stories">why Wild Birds Unlimited franchisees are the most satisfied in franchising</a>. We are always treated as part of the solution.”&nbsp;With proximity to major nature preserves and proven regional success, it’s no wonder that Wild Birds Unlimited wants to grow in Albany.&nbsp;Wild Birds Unlimited is the original and largest franchise system of backyard bird feeding and nature specialty stores with more than 340 locations throughout the United States and Canada. The investment level to open a Wild Birds Unlimited location is $170,382 to $281,606. To learn about franchising opportunities with Wild Birds Unlimited, please visit <a href="http://www.wbufranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=wilds-birds-unlimited-targets-albany-for-further-upstate-new-york-expansion-2712432" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">www.wbufranchise.com</a>.

Wilds Birds Unlimited Targets Albany for Further Upstate New York Expansion 

1851 Franchise

Fayetteville, New York franchisee Matt Kosty notes that the plethora of bird watching opportunities in Upstate New York make the region ideal for Wild Birds Unlimited. 


This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

wilds-birds-unlimited-targets-albany-for-further-upstate-new-york-expansion

TruBlue Home Service Ally

TruBlue Featured in USA Today as Key Player in Helping Seniors Age Safely at Home

trublue-featured-in-usa-today-as-key-player-in-helping-seniors-age-safely-at-home

Right at Home

Right at Home Marks 30 Years With Continued Franchise Growth

Right at Home Marks 30 Years With Continued Franchise Growth, Tech Advancements, and Strong System Engagement in First Half of 2025

right-at-home-franchise-growth-2025

KidStrong Franchising, LLC

Unlocking Superpowers: How KidStrong Is Building the Next Generation of Confident Kids — and Thriving Franchise Owners

kidstrong-franchise-confident-kids

Image of a kid growing up, developing with kidstrong, high fiving and smiling. 

How KidStrong has Become the Franchise Disrupting Child Development by Partnering with Purpose-Driven Franchise Owners 

kidstrong-franchise-opportunity-child-development

Picture of kids for franchise business Kidstrong which focuses on child development and fitness

KidStrong Is Pediatrician-Recommended for Raising Confident, Capable Kids and Families Can't Get Enough

kidstrong-child-development-program

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

From Franchisee to Franchisor: How Howard Picker Is Using His Experience to Drive Sustainable Growth at Floyd’s 99

howard-picker-floyds-99-barbershop-franchise-franchisor-hot-seat

Jollibee -Launch-Story-Brand-Page-Deep-Dive-2025

Jollibee Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

jollibee-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

Bringing Robots to Main Street: How Elad Inbar’s RobotLAB Franchise Is Powering the Local AI Revolution

bringing-robots-to-main-street-how-elad-inbars-robotlab-franchise-is-powering-the-local-ai-revolution

HTeaO Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-hteaos-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photos of Danielle Rosemond & Usman Khan & TruBlue logo

Family Members of Local Physicians Bring TruBlue Franchise to North Central Nassau, Long Island: A Health Care-Inspired Approach to Aging in Place

family-brings-trublue-franchise-to-north-central-nassau

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Wilds Birds Unlimited Targets Albany for Further Upstate New York Expansion

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS