Tag Archives: new restaurants

Harlem couple invest in where they live creating Harlem Tavern

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 3 comments

Aug 20, 2010 @ 15:27
l_1365_768_ef9c6e76-63ea-4870-b78b-087c9fcc4dd5

By HarlemGal
What does The Tonic Bar located in Times Square have in common with Harlem? The Tonic Bar is owned by a couple who live in Harlem. They’ve been residents of Harlem since 2006. The couple behind The Tonic Bar in Times Square have now decided to invest 100 percent in where they live by launching Harlem Tavern, a neighborhood bar & grill, at 2153 Frederick Douglass Blvd. This is the space we told you about back in April how the corner gas station/auto shop was up for lease. (Oh…and a reader too had sent us an update on the recent construction happening at this corner space.)
Today, one of the owners of the upcoming Harlem Tavern spoke directly with HarlemCondoLife to tell us why they are putting their dinero dollars into where they live-particularly Frederick Douglass Blvd.
According to Sheri Wilson from SoHa 116 Restaurant Corporation and co-owner along with her husband says Harlem Tavern will be a restaurant that is representative of Harlem. “Harlem Tavern is going to be a place for everyone. Harlem is such a diverse place. We are creating Harlem Tavern to capture and accommodate that diversity,” says Wilson.
Wilson says word recently got out about their exact plans cause their website was just finished and hit the internet. She said “you’re the first we are speaking to.”
They still have several processes to complete with NYC’s Department of Buildings. However, they’ve built-in plenty of time to open in their business timeline, which is not soon. Wilson says they are aiming to open after the new year. “If all things go as planned, we plan to open in February 2011.” She said if they make that deadline they will get heating lamps to accommodate customers and the winter weather.
In closing, Wilson explained why Frederick Douglass Blvd? “Harlem is a great place to live and Frederick Douglass Blvd is a wonderful street that holds enormous potential for growth.” We could not agree more with Sheri Wilson! We have dubbed FDB as “restaurant row” and the “gold coast of Harlem.” As each day passes, our predictions are becoming more and more of a reality.
A special congrats to our fellow Harlemites on their plans with Harlem Tavern! May everything fall in place and so that we have another new and interesting place to hang! Salude!

l_2048_1536_54375fda-b965-413f-9925-365ae247f439l_2048_1536_ebda2de6-1bc5-4fce-b3b0-06dc87e811a3

3 Comments

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

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

Busboys and Poets plan to expand into Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Aug 10, 2010 @ 12:00
By HarlemGal
While apartment hunting throughout Harlem with a good friend this past weekend, I stumbled across some interesting information. A sales representative at 2280 Frederick Douglass Blvd., one of the new condo buildings built from the ground up in West Harlem, made a point to say to the potential buyer that their retail space was in contract with Busboys and Poets from Washington, D.C., a restaurant, bookstore, fair trade market and gathering place where people can discuss issues of importance.

The 2280 FDB sales rep was emphatic to the potential buyer about how their retail space was taken. They said Busboys and Poets is moving into their large retail space and then a florist is moving into the smaller part where the sales office currently resides. The florist will move in after the majority of apartment sales are complete.

When I heard this information, I was dumbfounded. I did not know who Busboys and Poets was even though I lived in D.C. for many years. That’s because I was long gone from D.C. when Busboys and Poets opened, which was in 2005. My friend, who was looking to buy an apartment in Harlem, knew of them and said it was a good business to come to Harlem. Interesting stuff.

So I called over to the press office of Busboys and Poets to see what the deal was and the person who answered the phone confirmed they do have plans to open another restaurant outside of the Beltway and into Harlem. However, the individual could not confirm the exact location, say when or if an agreement was signed for the first level retail space at 2280 FDB, nor say exactly when Busboys and Poets will open for business in Harlem. They had to direct me to the owner for further clarification, which I reached out to but he was not available for comment.

If all this checks out, looks like Busboys and Poets will be joining many other restaurant establishments, who have decided to make Frederick Douglass Blvd. their home! Let’s see what happens. Stay tuned!

1 Comment

Posted in business, Harlem

Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Introducing Cupcake Suite Cupcakery & Cafe in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | 1 comment

Aug 4, 2010 @ 14:18

By HarlemGal
Frederick Douglass Boulevard in Harlem just got a little sweeter! Why? Because 2211 FDB will be the home of the brand, spanking new Cupcake Suite Cupcakery & Cafe. According to their website, the Cupcake Suite is founded by the Get’em Girls (pictured in this post) and their vision “is to create a swank upscale bakery and communal cafe with the comforts of the Carolinas and the inspiration of boulangeries in France.” Ooh la la! I am so there! I love sweets!
The Cupcake Suite will be located on what they call-not us- Harlem’s budding restaurant row, Frederick Douglass Blvd., between 119th and 120th Street and will offer signature cupcakes for $2.00 each; and specialty cupcakes for $2.50 each. View their menu here!
The Cupcake Suite plans to open late September/early October so put your taste buds on hold and start to figure out how to manage your desire for sweets! Harlem will now have Tonnie’s Minis, Make My Cake and Lee, Lee’s Baked Goods all close by in Central Harlem. Let the cupcake competition begin! Hmm…can you say cupcake throw down! Quick, call the Food Network!

1 Comment

Posted in business, Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,

LeBron campaign brings out video preview of the upcoming Red Rooster in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Jun 19, 2010 @ 15:33

By HarlemGal

We had no idea that there was interior video footage of Marcus Samuelsson’s Red Rooster restaurant out there in the internet universe until a reader informed us about. Thank you to DJ Jaffe for the heads up. Much appreciated!

Apparently, our celebrity chef  from Harlem made a video pitch to James LeBron, like almost every other NY celebrity has done already, to come to the Big Apple and play basketball. To entice LeBron, Samuelsson is giving LeBron, and us, a sneak peak of Red Rooster and a guaranteed table at the Lenox Ave restaurant.  Check out the video here as well on NYC.gov.

Honestly, I do not see what the big deal is about begging this athlete to come to NYC, but I assume it has to do with cha-ching/moo-la/dinero to the City.

Well, since everyone is making a pitch for James LeBron, HarlemCondoLife.com will join in, but take it a step further! Here we go:

HEY KING JAMES, TAKE ALL THOSE CELEBRITIES’ ADVICE AND COME TO THE GREATEST CITY ON THE PLANET, NEW YORK CITY, TO PLAY BASKETBALL. AND IF YOU DO MOVE TO NYC, WE THINK YOU SHOULD MOVE TO HARLEM AND BUY A BIG-O-GIANT PENTHOUSE/CONDO OR A GORGEOUS, MILLION DOLLAR TOWNHOUSE. THESE ARE ITEMS FIT FOR A KING. YA, THAT’S THE TICKET!

By moving to Harlem, we think this will definitely set you apart from the  NYC athlete pack. You could move right next to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar! What do you think? Do you like our idea? C’mon move to Harlem!  If you need more reasons why, just ask Marcus Samuelsson.

Leave a comment

Posted in Bars, entertainment, Harlem

Tagged , , , , , , ,

Chocolat to be Harlem’s next restaurant on Frederick Douglass Blvd

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Apr 7, 2010 @ 12:56

By HarlemGal
I would like to introduce you to the space that will house Chocolat Restaurant Lounge at 2217 Frederick Douglass Blvd. There has been all this speculation about this space pictured below, but speculate no more! I have spoken directly with the owner of Chocolat and he tells me this corner space will be his second restaurant on FDB, also known as 8th Avenue. I believe Chocolat was previously located on 5th Avenue and the first place was Moca Lounge, which was one of the early establishments to open on FDB way back in the day. It is safe to say Moca Lounge is the pioneer on FDB!!!

As for additional details, the owner shared that Chocolat will offer mixed cuisine and will open soon. Exact date to be announced later!

Now that the restaurant rumors are a little bit more clear. I guess this means Red Rooster will now open at….?

Leave a comment

Posted in business, Harlem, restaurant row, restaurants

Tagged , , , , , , ,

What a difference a day makes for Ryan Skeen’s 5 & Diamond in Harlem

Posted on July 5, 2011 | Leave a comment

Mar 17, 2010 @ 7:30

HarlemCondoLife

By HarlemGal
As that familiar saying goes, what a difference a day makes. I walked by 5 & Diamond, the latest addition to Harlem’s restaurant scene, Tuesday evening and the place looked completely different from Sunday night, which then looked a bit disheveled. The tables are now organized and set with glasses. The bar, or what looked like a bar, was being stocked and one of the investors was on site, i.e. Chef Ryan Skeen. He was there talking away on the phone in what appeared to be a telephone media interview. Clearly, they had some sort of PR push Tuesday cause there are several online articles about the place and the menu was released to NY Magazine.

HarlemCondoLife

I inquired again about opening day.  The folks on site said they would not be ready to open on Wednesday, hopefully Thursday or Friday (March 18 or 19th)  at best. Either way, we all have another option for dining to choose from in Harlem and you can pretty much count on HCL to visit the place soon!

2072 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York 10026
(Btwn 112th & 113th St)
T: (646) 684-4662

Leave a comment

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

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,