Category Archives: business

Beauty shop alert in Central Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 20, 2010 @ 13:57
By HarlemGal
Taking my usual stroll up Frederick Douglass Boulevard, I noticed another store front papered with question marks. Is it just me that notices this approach? Practically most new businesses use this method in Harlem.
The store I am talking about is at 2220 Frederick Douglass Blvd right across the street from the upcoming Chocolat.
Several sources say this piece of real estate is being prepped as a beauty salon. Hmm? Not a bad addition to the area if it is in fact true! Do you know anything about this space? If so, diganos!

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Her Garden balloon and gift store opens joining small businesses in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jul 6, 2010 @ 10:44

HarlemCondoLife

By HarlemGal

West 116th Street in Harlem became a bit brighter two weeks ago. That’s when Her Garden, a gift and balloon shop, opened up as a small business right here in Harlem. Central Harlem is the second location for the gift and balloon shop. They have one other store in Ridgefield, NJ.

When I went by the store over the holiday weekend, I saw their portfolio of balloon artistry. It was impressive! If you want a bridge full of balloons for major events, such as a wedding or political convention, they can build it for you. If a bouquet of balloons is more your style for a birthday or thinking of you moment, Her Garden in Harlem can create that special gift as well. What if you want a single balloon in the color of your choice, they have that too! At Her Gardens in Harlem, you can spend $2 dollars on a balloon or go as high as $500 dollars for an amazing balloon creation.

There is one unique aspect to this store that really caught my attention and I am interested in purchasing something like this for my Harlem home and that is doll sculptures made from recycled balloons (see photo of doll in slideshow). As balloon artists, they go through a ton of balloons whether it be the color is wrong for a bouquet or the balloon pops when blowing it up. So this store takes those used balloon pieces and creates wonderful dolls. I think this is a unique, green gift. I like it and plan to purse getting one.

If your on 116th Street, between Frederick Douglass Blvd. and Adam Clayton Powell, head on over to Her Garden by foot to order some balloons. Their website is under construction right now so the best way to see their work is to drop by!

Her Garden (Gifts & Balloons)
227 West 116th Street
New York, NY 10026
212-280-2403/917-273-8111

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Lee, Lee’s Baked Goods in Harlem reopening today

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 19, 2010 @ 9:32

Watercolor by Lynn Lieberman

By HarlemGal

We received some wonderful news at 12:45 AM this morning about our favorite Harlem baker, Alvin Lee Smalls.. A reader left the following message:

“It is time to celebrate again, Lee, Lee’s Baked Goods is reopening on Saturday, June 19, 2010. The phone number [to order] all of your favorites is; 917-493-6633.”

I called the number above to confirm and it is true.  I spoke to Mr. Lee himself. He said he is opening after 10 AM and will be offering all the same products and more.

I asked what happen that he was able to reopen after a month of closing.  He said he was able to catch up a little financially.

This is great news for Mr. Lee and all of us!  Spread the word! Lee, Lee’s Baked Goods is reopen for business!!! Visit the bakery at 283 West 118th Street in Harlem.

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Marcus Samuelsson wins Top Chef Masters

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 10, 2010 @ 2:02
By HarlemGal
HarlemCondoLife would like to congratulate Marcus Samuelsson, celebrity chef, owner of the up and coming Red Rooster and Harlem resident, for winning Bravo TV’s Top Chef Masters. Way to go Marcus!

http://www.hulu.com/watch/153860/top-chef-masters-its-about-time-for-marcus

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Posted in Bars, business, Harlem, restaurants

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Two Harlemites set to launch Harlem Delivers

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 9, 2010 @ 17:52

By HarlemGal
Michael Leopold and Steve Friedson, who reside in Harlem and have been for five years, were brainstorming one day about how they would like to have an abundance of food delivery options in Harlem right at their finger tips. Leopold and Friedson love their Harlem community they live in, however, they feel there is limited food delivery options in the area. After wishing and brainstorming further, they decided to put those thoughts into action. The result, a service called Harlem Delivers. Harlem Delivers is exactly just that, a delivery service that will bring food to Harlem residents only from outside food vendors. Leopold, a co-founder, tells HarlemCondoLife that they already have six Upper Westside food establishments that have signed on the dotted line to deliver their food products to Harlemites. They are: Soy y Sombra, a Spanish restaurant, Gabriela’s, offers Mexican, Earthen Over, serves Indian, Bodrum offer Turkish cuisine, Fusha West, and Blossum, which is no meat and Kosher.
But don’t start dialing up to order some dinner just yet. Harlem Delivers plans to open at the end of June, if they have all the staff power in place, and they are only offering the initial service to a targeted area, which will be from 145th Street to 149th from Frederick Douglass Blvd to Edgecomb Avenue. Once the business is launched and they have this particular area fully serviced, Harlem Delivers hopes to expand the business and service throughout Harlem. “Our strategy will be similar to a business like Fresh Direct. They expanded zip code by zip code,” said Leopold.
I asked about where local businesses/restaurant establishments fit in their business strategy and Harlem Delivers plans to work in partnership with them as well. Leopold said they already have one local business that is interested! So sit tight hombres, all of us in Harlem may soon get to order food delivery from wherever and whenever!

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Emmitt Smith Harlem project receives green light, high end grocery store and hotel expected

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 8, 2010 @ 21:43

By HarlemGal
Crain’s New York is reporting that Emmitt Smith and his partner/investors received federal tax-exempt financing today. ESmith Legacy Harlem was approved for $19.7 million in Recovery Zone Facility Bonds, which it received through the New York City Capital Resource Corporation. I believe this was the last hurdle Mr. Smith’s firm was waiting for. Now they can proceed to build on the empty lot at 125th Street and Lenox Avenue. Once that happens, the entire make-up of that area will continue to change.

Online reports are saying that the plan could bring a Whole Foods to Harlem, a Hyatt-branded hotel along with 129 construction jobs and 81 permanent jobs. Nice. Let’s just hope the project does not take forever to build.

I  have one message for Emmitt Smith: build it in a timely and reasonable manner. Please do not take forever!

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5 & Diamond in Harlem launches supper club and cooking class

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 6, 2010 @ 18:03
By HarlemGal
Ever wondered about how to learn to butcher, prep, cook and serve lamb? Well, now is your chance to pick up that skill right here in Harlem at 5 & Diamond located at 2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Starting Monday, June 7, Five & Diamond is launching its first bi-weekly supper club/cooking class. For $55 bucks a person, you can learn all the attributes of lamb! And the interesting part of this course aside from learning about the lamb,  is you’ll get to learn from bad boy chef Ryan Skeen. Hmm…could be fun and interesting! Let’s just hope the cooking class is much better than his hand/keg stand shown below.

Five & Diamond flier

Photo by Joannie

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Posted in Bars, business, Events, Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Workers seen on site in Harlem at expected Bier International

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 1, 2010 @ 7:30

By HarlemGal

A month ago, we mentioned that 2099 Frederick Douglass Blvd is expected to be the home of Bier International, Harlem’s first beer garden; and that we didn’t think it would open at the end of May. The opening did not happen in May. However, we’re happy to report we have seen work activity on site recently. Over the Memorial Day weekend, we saw workers outside of the property and one side of the rolling steel doors up.

From the photos below, there is something happening inside the retail space. However, the real question is what type of deadline are these workers on? We asked when the beer garden in Harlem is scheduled to open, one replied “a month from now.”

What a complete bummer-if in fact that is the case! With the 2010 World Cup starting on June 11 and lasting for several weeks, that is prime beer drinking time. Maybe the worker on site meant to say “we’re opening in two weeks for the World Cup or midway through the World Cup.” We are keep our fingers crossed hoping that one of those scenarios is the case! If you have heard otherwise, chime in!

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Posted in Bars, business, Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

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Lee, Lee’s Bakery in Harlem to bake no more

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

May 27, 2010 @ 11:08

By HarlemGal
I called over today to Lee, Lee’s Bakery to order a large red velvet cake for an upcoming summer party. Cake is a product I ordered often from Mr. Lee, especially red velvet cake, cause it tastes delicious and it was always a hit at parties. But now, I cannot do this any more. I was told the unthinkable today by someone answering the phone at Lee, Lee’s. They said I had to order now and pick up ASAP in order to have my cake. I was told the last day of business for Lee, Lee’s Bakery in Harlem is this Monday, May 31.
I immediately asked what the H, E, double tooth pick happened? The person said, it’s the red, we are in the red. I said, I thought things were looking up with new orders of your product to places like Best Yet Market. The response I got was orders such as this stopped. Total silence. Then we hung up!
I have to say upfront, I am so heart broken to hear this news. Not only did I like my red velvet cake from Lee, Lee’s, but I enjoyed talking to Mr. Lee himself, who I found to be so sweet, kind and loveable. In addition, I encountered a loyal following of this place when I moved to Harlem more than five years ago. When I needed sweets, most people in Harlem would direct me to Lee, Lee’s Bakery on 118th.
The only thing I can think of now is to make a public plea on this site to try and save Lee,
Lee’s Bakery in Harlem. It’s worth a try…right?
Is there anyone out there who can help Mr. Lee? Does anyone know of someone who has revived local businesses before? If so, here is an opportunity. This man has wonderful baked products. He may need help with marketing, PR, and business management. But overall the goods are there. If you can help or know someone who can, call 917-493-6633 or visit the bakery at 283 West 118th Street in Harlem.
In closing, all I can say is Where is Construction Intervention for bakeries? Where is ABC’s Extreme Home Makeover when you need them? And most of all, where is Oprah Winfrey or Ellen DeGeneres when you need them? Fans of Lee, Lee’s Bakery in Harlem are calling!

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Wild Olive Market opens in East Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

May 23, 2010 @ 18:42

By HarlemGal
Over the weekend, we headed over to the east side of Harlem to visit Wild Olive Market, the brand new grocery store located on the southeast corner of 125th and Fifth Avenue. We received word from a reader that the new store was going to open up any day. Well, that day arrived. May 21 was the first day Wild Olive Market opened, so we took our readers recommendation and went on over on Sunday to see the new grocery digs in East Harlem.
First off, what a wonderful addition to this part of Harlem. Harlemites have several options to choose from when it comes to buying groceries. There is Fairway, Best Yet Market, and Pathmark. And of course, there is all the charming bodegas throughout Harlem to shop at.


As for Wild Olive, it is a nice place and a good size-not too big and not too little. All of the products are on one floor and proportioned strategically where one can see almost everything right when you walk in.
Wild Olive appears to have taken over two retail spaces side by side. Bola, the African fabric store was located where Wild Olive is now, but has moved to the southwest corner of 125th. I assume they moved to make space for the new grocery store and because there was a better deal down the street.
And speaking of location, Wild Olive is easily accessible from the west and east side of Harlem by subway. The 2/3 at Lenox Avenue and 125th is not that far. Taking the 6 train at Lexington to 125th is another option or one can walk or urban scooter over. That’s what we did!
From what we saw today, Wild Olive Market is a wonderful store and their only one in Harlem. Should do well given all of its positive attributes!

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Posted in business, Community, Harlem, shopping

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