Here at the Franklin Plaza Ballroom, we are not content simply delivering a lovely event. Our aim is to make your fantasies come true, exceeding expectations and ensuring you receive the wedding or special event of your wildest dreams. As a longtime member of the Troy community, we take great pride in delivering the highest caliber events and fine dining to our clientele. Our guests aren’t just customers, they are family, and our staff is committed to going the extra mile to give you the type of experience that will keep you coming back to the Franklin Plaza Ballroom for years to come.
Franklin Plaza Ballroom is renowned as the place to go to make dreams come true, and is the cornerstone of historic and enduring events. Its character has an instinctive connection in time which creates monumental memories and your very own time honored traditions.
For over 170 years, the Manufacturers Bank of Troy has housed some of the most powerful financial institutions in New York State’s history. Designed by world-renowned local architect Marcus Reynolds, the historic building was rebuilt in 1923. Its Doric architecture and grand entrance stood as a pillar of security at the edge of the Hudson River. In 1992, the building was restored to its original grandeur.
Many key features of the building now have new meaning. The bank vault has been renovated into the Cloak Room. The main entrance and teller’s counter, with its beautiful and now extinct Tennessee pink marble has been transformed into the Grand Ballroom and the Main Bar. Other grand features include the Brazilian Mahogany Boardroom, made with wood harvested from a single tree, and the original steel conning tower, used as the gun turret, clearly marked with an eagle, its wings spread, still over seeing its domain. The historic Monitor Room, constructed from Bird’s Eye Maple, was preserved from the original building for its rich heritage. In this very room the plans and financing were put in place to build the “Monitor”, the ironclad battleship that served the North in the Civil War. Be immersed in tradition and elegance with exquisite and lavish décor and celebrate with opulent style.
Meet our Chef
Over the past five decades, Michael A. Cocca, Jr. has established himself as one of the Capital Region’s foremost providers of fine dining, elegant catering and event planning services. A native of Green Island, New York, Michael is a member of the Catholic Central High School Class of 1974, and holds an Associate degree in Restaurant Management from SUNY Cobleskill.
Michael’s professional journey has been a long and rewarding one. His career in the service industry began humbly in the summer of 1976 with a job working at Twin Peaks on Trout Lake, a kosher hotel. In the fall of that same year, Michael purchased his aunt’s restaurant in Green island, and began Michael’s Catering Service. The company went on to become one of the pioneers behind the practice high-style, elegant weddings in the late 70’s and 80’s, holding large cocktail hours and elaborate dessert courses before and after the main dinner course, using fine china, wine service and waiters in tuxedos.
In 1992, Michael purchased the Franklin Plaza Ballroom at the corner of Fourth and Grand street, formerly the home of the Troy City National Bank, the first of many ventures that have proven invaluable to Downtown Troy’s renaissance. He has gone on to convert the space into the Capital Region’s most elegant and grand ballroom, creating memories for countless clients who have chosen the venue to celebrate their special occasions. In 2001, Michael purchased the Super 8 Motel, located across the street from the ballroom, and transformed the run down building into a Best Western Plus 1000-point hotel over the past 12 years. Cocca purchased his second catering facilitiy, the Franklin Terrace Ballroom on Campbell Avenue in Troy, in 2005 at the former Mario’s Theatre & Banquet House.
A proud member of Chaine des Rotisseurs – Baillage de Albany, the Escoffier Society, the American Culinary Federation and the Rensselaer Chamber of Commerce, Michael’s career accomplishments and philanthropic work have earned him a host of honors, along with a reputation of excellence. He is a three-time recipient of the Hudson Valley Magazine Caterer of the Year Award, Metroland Magazine’s People’s Choice Caterer of Year, and the 1997 New York State Resaurant Association’s Restauranteur of the Year Award. Additionally, his charitable work with the Franklin Hospitality Group earned him the Father Flannigan Humanitarian Award in 2005. Michael looks forward to continuing his charitable endeavors, while steadily growing his business and providing top notch service to his many clients.
