Tag Archives: HarlemGal

Harlem’s restaurant row, Frederick Douglass Blvd., has its own map and alliance group

Posted on January 29, 2012 | 1 comment

It’s official…again! Frederick Douglass Blvd in Harlem from 110th to 125th Street, also known as restaurant row, has its very own map, according to The New York Daily News. And the folks behind the map is an alliance group called Frederick Douglass Boulevard Alliance (FDBA). Check out the map below. It mentions all existing businesses from 110th to 124th Street. The map does not include up and coming places on FDB, such as the Harlem Food Bar or Marcos Leatherlab, the cobbler store.

Lia San Filippo, co-owner of 5 and Diamond Harlem restaurant and co-president of the recently formed FDBA, tells the Daily News “the map was created to help people know that Harlem is here and helps customers find us more easily.” Amen Lia!

Back in 2008, I wrote a blog posting asking if FDB is turning into Harlem’s restaurant row? Looks like we have our answer not only in a map but in the form of an alliance group!

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Posted in 5 and Diamond Harlem, apartments, art and culture, baking, Bars, bier international, business, Cedric French Bistro and Bar Harlem, commercial real estate, Community, drinks, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, Harlem blogs, Harlem businesses, Harlem Restaurant Row, Harlem restaurants, Harlem Tavern, health and wellness, Lido Italian Restaurant and Bar, Melba's Restaurant Harlem, music, New York, New York City, NYC, real estate, restaurant row, restaurants, shopping, spending

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Is there still a possibility for Andy Shallal’s Busboys and Poets to expand into Harlem?

Posted on December 11, 2011 | 3 comments

Around this time last year, I blogged that Busboys and Poets’ plans to open in Harlem at 2280 Frederick Douglass went bust. Ironically, I am now blogging about them same time, but a year later, asking: is there still a possibility that Busboys and Poets could open in Harlem?  According to a recent article in The Washington Post, there is a smidgen of hope. Andy Shallal, the owner of the Washington, DC eatery and longtime activist, recently told the Post that “he has been courted to put a Busboys in a proposed National Jazz Museum near the Apollo Theater…” How cool would that be if Busboys and Poets opened in Harlem on 125th Street?

Shallal tried landing the retail space at 2280 Frederick Douglass a little over a year ago, but something happened and the deal went south. I wonder if the developer of 2280 FDB is having any regrets now on not cutting a deal with Shallal, especially given all the enormous/positive press coverage Central Harlem has been receiving over the months? The most recent praising news clip comes from The Wall Street Journal.

In my view, the developer of 2280 FDB totally lost out by not scoring something with Busboys and Poets in their commercial space. As the WSJ said, there’s a restaurant boom happening in Harlem. With this recent article in the Post,  there’s hope the folks behind the National Jazz Museum could pick up where 2280 FDB left off and seal the deal with Shallal. Let’s all hope so! I think Busboys and Poets is a perfect fit in Harlem!

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Posted in 125th Street, art and culture, Bars, business, commercial real estate, food, Frederick Douglass Blvd., Harlem, jazz, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants

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SUBSCRIBE and CONTACT HarlemGal Inc.

Posted on July 7, 2011 | 3 comments

Follow HarlemGal and her blog posts by subscribing via email. This function is located on the lower right hand side of the blog page or better yet, send her feedback, or story ideas by clicking on the contact link located at the top of the page.

If these options are not your thing, feel free to reach out through twitter, tumblr or Facebook!

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Posted in art and culture, business, Events, Harlem

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Harlem Tavern goes unisex with you know what!

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 3 comments

Jun 17, 2011 @ 14:09

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By HarlemGal
First we told you about Harlem Tavern’s menu and drink list as part of our Inside Harlem Tavern series. We continue our series with a topic that some might find odd or unnecessary, but we think it is important strategic information to have. And hey…this topic everyone deals with. It is commonly know as mother nature and when mother nature calls-at least for me-the question I will immediately ask to anyone and everyone is “Where the h** are the bathrooms?”

When I visited Harlem Tavern recently I actually asked to see the lady’s room. I wanted to know where they are located. Well, I found out there is not exactly a lady’s room. There is not a men’s room either. Harlem Tavern went…UNISEX with their bathrooms. There are several stalls with closed doors lined up against the wall to the right when you walk indoors. It is all closed off. Don’t worry. Its only when you wash your hands that you may or may not know the person standing right next to you.

I was sort of surprised when I saw this. I thought with all that space inside why not send the men one way and the gals the other way? I guess the owners figured let’s save on space indoors and give patrons more outdoor space for eating and drinking. Oh well. See you in the Harlem Tavern bathrooms.

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

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Inside Harlem Tavern

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 5 comments

Jun 12, 2011 @ 12:48
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By HarlemGal
There is a lot of excitement building, on and offline, around Harlem Tavern, the latest establishment soon joining Harlem’s restaurant row. There is so much excitement that every where you turn either on local blogs or Facebook someone has new photos of Harlem Tavern evolving in their look. We haven’t seen this much excitement around one place since the rumors on Busboys and Poets trying to enter into the Harlem market.

We are excited as well about the opening of Harlem Tavern, located on the corner of West 116th and Frederick Douglass Blvd. To celebrate the upcoming opening, we are going to be giving you an “inside look” at Harlem Tavern. What does this mean? You are going to be able to find out the little things, pre-opening, about this indoor/outdoor establishment that is owned and operated by…you guessed…Harlemites. Stay tune!

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Posted in Bars, business, Community, entertainment, Events, Harlem, Harlem Tavern, music, New York, New York City, NYC, restaurant row, restaurants, review

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Levain Bakery to donate gross sales to support the people of Japan

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Mar 20, 2011 @ 11:16
By HarlemGal,
Levain Bakery, which recently opened up a store in Harlem, announced on their Facebook page that this coming Wednesday, March 23rd, they will donate 25 percent of their gross sales from their Upper Westside and Harlem shops to the Red Cross for Japan. They are asking friends/supporters to spread the word.

In support of Levain Bakery and the Japanese people, HCL is encouraging all of its readers to stop by Levain Bakery on Frederick Douglass Blvd and 116th Street on Wednesday for treats and let’s help out those in dire need! See you there!

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Posted in baking, business, Community, Events, Harlem, New York, New York City, NYC, shopping

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UPDATE: 371-373 Manhattan Avenue in Harlem back on the market

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Oct 21, 2010 @ 7:00
By HarlemGal

Okay…so the church located at 371-373 Manhattan Avenue, which we first told you about in 2009, is back on the market for around the same price it was listed in the first business quarter of 2010. But what’s confusing is that some are reporting/blogging that the church in South Harlem  is represented by Corcoran. Hmm. My online research shows that this property is with Prudential Douglass Elliman and that the broker is Brian Phillips, who I believe is based right here in Harlem.  I don’t think Corcoran is involved any more. Maybe Brian will  step forward and tell us if Prudential DE has taken the lead with the property?

There is something else worth mentioning about this property. Back in April, we blogged about how the mosque on Frederick Douglass Blvd between 115th and 116th Street was moving to 371-373 Manhattan Avenue. We now know that deal fell through. However, a reader left us a message saying they were looking at an apartment in The Livmor, one overlooking the mosque, and that the realtor commented the mosque was sold…”over a month ago.” If that is in fact true, we have questions: where is the congregation of the mosque going, who bought the space at 2136 Frederick Douglass Blvd and what is going to be built there? Answers anyone!

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Posted in Harlem, real estate

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Harlem rezoning plus Frederick Douglass Boulevard equals restaurant row

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Sep 24, 2010 @ 6:00

Frederick Douglass Blvd. street sign

By HarlemGal
Frederick Douglass Blvd is in the news again! Some entities are clearly getting it that FDB from 110th Street to 125th Street is the place to be! DNAinfo.com and The New York Times have recently filed stories about FDB and how it’s experiencing a boom in drinking and eating establishments. These articles even mention the buzz words “restaurant row.” Hmm…sounds familiar?

Frederick Douglass Blvd. (Circa 2008)

On September 23, DNAinfo wrote about the booming restaurant and bar business along FDB.  It was a good story. They introduced us to new information about what the Livmor is up to with their commercial space. However, I was wondering why they left out other notable places, such as Mojo, Billie’s Black Bar, Questan’s and Cafe Amrita? Amrita is at the base of 110th and FDB. Mojo and Billie’s are technically on 119th Street, they are less than a block away from FDB and Mojo and Questan’s opened for business in the last five years. I think all these venues deserved a mention in DNAinfo and The Times. Also, why not mention the proposed Cupcake Suite opening on FDB, Aloft Hotel or the rumored Busboys and Poets coming to Harlem? I guess there is so much action happening on or near FDB, it is a challenge for these news outlets to keep track!

Frederick Douglass Blvd. today

In addition, I noticed that both publications did not mention much about vacant commercial space. What are The Douglass and Gateway Condominiums planning for their commercial space? I would bet that they are aggressively trying to sell their space. I hear Society Cafe is interested in expanding their space right next door once Gateway finishes their construction. If that ends up being true, that would be great for them. They appear to have outgrown their current space.

Overall, it is awesome media coverage for Harlem once again. I love it! Out of the two articles, I will end with my favorite quote from Chris Pollok, co-owner of bier international. “My sense is that this [Frederick Douglass Blvd.] is going to be the Restaurant Row of Harlem.” I will drink to that, Chris! Strawberry beer, please!

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

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220 Saint Nicholas in Harlem looking to sell apartments in Spring 2011

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Sep 14, 2010 @ 7:35

By HarlemGal
Construction around 220 Saint Nicholas Condominiums remains the same. The building has most of its scaffolding down leaving the structure partially visible to the public, which led me to wonder if they are getting ready to market these apartments. They are not! 220 St. Nicholas is hoping to start selling in the Spring of 2011. That’s not too far off if you’re looking for a full floor, 1500 square foot apartment in Manhattan!

220 St. Nicholas is offering full floor apartments with the exception of floors seven and eight, which are two bedrooms, two baths. Whomever buys on those floors has to share a floor and pay around 650 to 700k! Not bad of a price given these floors will have either a balcony or terrace. According to the 220 St. Nicholas website, all apartments will have either a balcony or terrace. I think that is an interesting aspect to this building given there are unblocked views of Harlem in that area…for now. Plus most of the new developments around Harlem do not offer outdoor space with every apartment. It’s one or the other.

So if you’re in the market for a full floor apartment with a terrace or balcony in Manhattan near Harlem’s up and coming corridor, Frederick Douglass Blvd., then this new development might be the place for you!

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Posted in Harlem, real estate

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Another Subway sandwich shop and dry cleaner coming to Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Sep 9, 2010 @ 22:27

By HarlemGal
Walking home this evening (Thursday night), I noticed two new shops getting ready to open on Frederick Douglass Blvd. At 301 Cathedral Parkway, right next to the State Farm Insurance office and near Frederick Douglass Circle, there is a Subway shop opening. The sign is up! Then at 2098 FDB, I noticed neon lights and signage were up saying Express Dry Cleaners.

I am happy to see the retail space is filling up along FDB. However, I was really hoping something else new and different for these type of commercial spaces, such as a 24-hour diner or an Asian restaurant (Thai, Japanese or Korean) or another vegetarian restaurant. Definitely not another Subway shop. What do you think? What would you like to see in some of these commercial spaces in Harlem?

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Posted in business, Harlem

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