If you’re looking to dine at 5 and Diamond in Harlem tonight, forget about it! Orange is the new black (ie in creative reference to the color of the signs) for the windows at 5 and Diamond located on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 112th and 113th Street in Harlem. There’s several signs that say SEIZED due to the failure of paying taxes.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Five and Diamond was slated to participate in Marcus Samuelsson’s Harlem Eat Up, which is happening soon.
Stay tuned. Maybe things will turn around for this establishment in time for Harlem Eat Up. Let’s hope for the best!
HarlemGal Inc. 
Harlem Gal,
Thank you so much for your blog post and email. Your article has brought much needed attention to the issues faced by 5 and Diamond management and many other Harlem’s small business owners in their efforts to sustain their businesses. As we all know, Harlem is experiencing unprecedented commercial and residential growth. It is truly exciting to be a part of this “Second Harlem Renaissance” as a small business owner and one of FDB’s pioneers restaurants. This growth also presents unique challenges for small business owners to sustain their businesses while facing the increasingly competitive marketplace that is now Harlem. With escalating rents, increasing tax assessments, increasing labor costs to retain highly trained staff and financial debt related to opening a business, many of Harlem’s pioneer businesses also deal with what can be the downside of being a pioneer….the struggle and financial cost to “hold on” while the market develops. “Holding on” for many businesses often means exhausting capital reserves while “waiting” for the market to shift. The unfortunate consequence of this is that many businesses do not have the resources immediately at hand to address an unanticipated matter when it arises which is what occurred recently for 5 and Diamond.
Entrepreneurs by nature are resilient and when faced with a challenge see it as an opportunity to demonstrate their strengths and innovation. 5 and Diamond is no exception. We are excited to reopen on Monday having successfully resolved the recent matter. We hope that you will join us for a complimentary glass of champagne this week to toast 5 and Diamond and all of Harlem’s small businesses. And we hope to see you next week for our Harlem Eat Up! Dine event.
Again, thank you for your continued support.
Harlem Gal has been a valuable resource to the both the residential and business community as a key marketing platform for our neighborhood. We look forward to working with you again in the future.
Lia , Selene Djo and The Senior Management t
team
I’m so glad you are reopening! Gotta get me some wings and Mac and cheese! we’ll come over and support you!