Tag Archives: business

Harlem neighborhoods experience price jump in rental market

Posted on July 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

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According to RentJuice®, a Zillow® business and provider of lease marketing technology to thousands of real estate property managers and brokers, the uptown part of Manhattan, specifically Harlem neighborhoods, experienced a price jump in the rental sector of real estate. In a news release distributed today, it stated that “over the last quarter, the city’s average cost for space remained stable at $4.98 per square foot-exactly the same as at the close of the first quarter. The largest hike in price per square foot occurred uptown in Harlem. Neighborhoods such as Central Harlem, Harlem and Morningside all experienced 11 percent jumps in average price per square foot in the second quarter. Renters in Hamilton Heights, however, saw a five percent decrease in average price per square foot.”

To read the full news release, click here.

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Posted in 110th Street, 116th Street, 125th Street, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd., apartments, commercial real estate, Community, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Lenox Avenue, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate

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Drinking Liberally launching Harlem Chapter, first gathering is tonight at Lenox Lounge

Posted on May 16, 2012 | Leave a comment

For those of you that are left of center on social issues, that would mean the Big L for liberal, listen up! Drinking Liberally, a national organization that focuses on “promoting democracy one pint at a time” is launching a Harlem Chapter. And the launch party is tonight (May 16) at Lenox Lounge. Start time is 6 pm! If you are interested, sign up on their Facebook page or go to their national website to learn more.

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Posted in Community, drinks, Harlem, Lenox Lounge

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Lenox Social becomes Corner Social in Harlem avoiding legal drama with Lenox Lounge

Posted on April 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

As most of us know already, last week the owners of the former Lenox Social in Harlem decided to change its name to the Corner Social because that’s where they are actually located in Harlem, i.e. on a corner, and to avoid confrontation with the historic Lenox Lounge. It has been a smooth transition from what I have heard and patrons are flowing in at a steady pace to that “Corner” on 126th Street and Lenox. And if you’re wondering-like I was-if the former Lenox Social and Lenox Lounge ever really came to blows in court, I have confirmation from the Corner Social’s peeps that it never happened and there was never any settlement around a trade infringement. The folks behind Corner Social told me they decided to change their name because they wanted to “take the high road” and move on with building a successful dining and bar establishment in Harlem!

So there you have it. No court drama ever happened between the two entities. We can now all move on, which most of us have, and party on at the Corner Social and Lenox Lounge in Harlem!

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Posted in 125th Street, Bars, drinks, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, Lenox Lounge, Lenox Social

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Lenox Lounge in Harlem goes after Lenox Social on trademark infringement?

Posted on April 9, 2012 | 24 comments

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I am so disappointed right now by Lenox Lounge in Harlem if this article in Crain’s New York proves true. Crain’s reported April 8 that “Harlem’s Lenox Lounge sent “representatives” to the bar [Lenox Social] to inform the newcomers that using the name Lenox Social “constituted trademark infringement.”

Get outta here! Can you believe this? This just smells of pure desperation and greed on one side. Why is Lenox Lounge going after Lenox Social when they can’t even pay their rent, according to a recent article in the Daily News? Shouldn’t the owners of Lenox Lounge worry about saving their own home before going after someone else’s? And why can’t there be a Lenox Lounge and Lenox Social on Lenox Avenue in Harlem? There’s room for everyone to play in the restaurant sand box and who ultimately has the rights to the name “Lenox?”.

This is just sad and making me want to sort of retract my earlier blog post on Lenox Lounge. I really hope this article proves to be wrong or I hope Lenox Social doesn’t end up caving to this potential nonsense and change their name.

This story is clearly not over. Stay tuned.

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Posted in 125th Street, Bars, business, drinks, food, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, Lenox Lounge, Lenox Social, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurants

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Gateway Condo in Harlem near capacity in commercial and apartment space

Posted on April 8, 2012 | Leave a comment

The diligent PR folks over at Halstead Property have let us bloggers know, through a press release, that The Gateway Tower in Harlem is more than 90 percent sold. However, the release did not mention the commercial space of the Gateway Condo is full. It’s all gone! There is Express Dry Cleaning, Coco Nail Salon and Marcos Leatherlab that are already open for business.  And two more businesses will be opening soon, which is Harlem Food Bar and Frederick Cafe Bistro. This area has shaped up nicely with Melba’s Restaurant leading the way in dining area and I believe Gateway Condo was the first new condo on this block and immediate area?

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Posted in apartments, business, commercial real estate, Frederick Cafe Bistro Harlem, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants

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The Harlem Business Alliance is taking applications for business plan competition

Posted on April 3, 2012 | Leave a comment

The Harlem Business Alliance is holding their Annual Business Plan Competition once again. This year is their fourth year for the competition. The HBA competition is designed to support small business ventures in the Harlem area. The competition’s participants need to meet the following requirements; be at least 18 years old and a legal resident or U.S. citizen; live in Upper Manhattan and have an interest in establishing a for-profit start-up business in Harlem; or be an owner of an operating for-profit business located in Upper Manhattan with maximum annual gross revenues of $500,000. This competition provides the grand prize winner with $5,000.

Important dates to remember if you’re interested in competing:

  • Business Plan Information Session, Wednesday, April 18th l 6:30 PM-7:30 PM
  • Application Deadline: Wednesday, June 6th l 6:00 PM
  • Business Plan Deadline: Wednesday, June 20th l 6:00 PM;
  • Finalists Selected: Thursday, July 12th
  • And Finalists Presentations: Thursday, July 19th 6:00 PM-8:00 PM.

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Posted in business, Community, education, Free!, Harlem

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Lenox Social in Harlem is open, grand opening expected in April

Posted on March 19, 2012 | 2 comments

If you haven’t heard, a new bar and restaurant called Lenox Social, located on the northwest corner of Lenox Avenue and 126th Street  in Harlem, is open for business on limited hours! Lenox Social had a soft launch this past Saturday night (March 17) and will now take patrons from 6 p.m. to 2 a.m. Stop on by and tell us what you think of Lenox Social!

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Posted in 125th Street, Bars, business, drinks, food, Harlem, Lenox Avenue, restaurants

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OMG…Lenox Lounge in Harlem could close. Please no!

Posted on March 8, 2012 | 6 comments


According to The New York Daily News, Harlem’s famed music establishment Lenox Lounge “could be on its last set.” The current owner, Al Reed, says the landlord of the property wants $20k a month from the prior $10k. The article states Reed is shopping the place around and that there are interested parties, such as Harlemite and celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. I hope that is really true about Samuelsson.

Overall, this is sad news to hear. Closing Lenox Lounge would be like closing the Apollo Theater. These establishments are Harlem/American icons. Our community and New York City needs to desperately try to hold on to these treasures. It’s part of NYC’s fabric of life. Lenox Lounge is so special cause of its long history. It’s vintage. I will go as far as saying it should be a landmark and should be preserved. Let’s keep our fingers crossed that an investor views it that way…soon!

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Posted in 125th Street, Bars, business, Community, drinks, entertainment, food, Harlem, history, jazz, Lenox Avenue, music, New York, New York City, NYC, Red Rooster Harlem, restaurants

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Meet the woman behind 125th Street Business Improvement District in Harlem

Posted on October 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

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There are plenty of exciting things happening throughout the Village of Harlem and numerous people are behind it. However, what I personally find fascinating-and what I am learning from blogging about Harlem-is that some of those individuals who are making things happen in Harlem are…women. Yup, that’s right…women! There is a boat load of women power in Harlem that are doing great things for our community. I will blog more about that later.

My immediate point is we have an opportunity to meet one of those women I am talking about tomorrow, October 6. In Mount Morris Talks, a speaker series hosted by the Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association, Barbara Askins will be the guest speaker! Barbara Askins is the President and CEO of the 125th Street Business Improvement District (BID) in our neighborhood. Askins created BID in 1993 and is first and only one of its kind in the Harlem Community.

If you would like to meet this woman executive, who is making things happen in Harlem now, not later, check out Mount Morris Talks! Details are below!

Who: Mount Morris Talks to Barbara Askins!
When: Thursday, October 6, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM
Where: At the Harlem Branch Library Community Room, 3rd floor
9 West 124 Street, between Fifth Ave & Mount Morris Park West

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Posted in 125th Street, business, Community, education, Events, Free!, history, Lenox Avenue, real estate

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Harlem Tavern to open next week

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 24, 2011 @ 7:08
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By HarlemGal
UPDATE: Harlem Tavern is having a soft opening this coming Wednesday, June 29! Not the 27th!
The day is near when Harlem’s newest beer garden will officially open to the public. Harlem Tavern recently had their gas turned on, all the hires are in place, and this week several days of training occurred. When I last spoke to the owners, they said “give us one more week.” That was this past weekend. Plus all the major traditional New York press are reporting what we have known all along, Harlem Tavern is scheduled to open next week.

We hope our series called Inside Harlem Tavern was helpful and that it provided you with first-hand information on what’s expected to be one of Harlem’s hottest establishments on restaurant row. See you at Harlem Tavern!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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