After the scaffolding went down on the landmark shop fronts at 170 Lenox and 119th Street, there was also a flurry of activity outside the surrounding space itself. We were getting our hopes up that something new might be coming along, but it now seems that the exterior was just getting cleaned up a bit for the new tarp that is currently advertising the space for lease. Apparently, the 4,670 square foot ground floor retail will be promoted as a possible restaurant venue, but the interior is currently a total gut job. What do folks think should arrive in this corner of the Mount Morris Park Historic District? The closest train to this location is the 2,3 at 125th or 116th Street. Photos by Ulysses
After the scaffolding went down on the landmark shop fronts at 170 Lenox and 119th Street, there was also a flurry of activity outside the surrounding space itself. We were getting our hopes up that something new might be coming along, but it now seems that the exterior was just getting cleaned up a bit for the new tarp that is currently advertising the space for lease. Apparently, the 4,670 square foot ground floor retail will be promoted as a possible restaurant venue, but the interior is currently a total gut job. What do folks think should arrive in this corner of the Mount Morris Park Historic District? The closest train to this location is the 2,3 at 125th or 116th Street. Photos by Ulysses
Some bar/grill joint.
ReplyDeleteHow about a nice Household Goods store on the level of a Laytner's linens. I am so tired of going downtown for that sort of thing and I am sure alot of my neighbors feel the same way.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Greg, a good household goods/hardware store would be super. Since the space is so large it could also be divided into I believe 2 or 3 stores...so maybe 1.Household/Hardware, 2.Cleaner, 3.Bakery...I guess the list of needs is long.
ReplyDeleteThe space is too big for one retailer to handle. It should definitely get subdivided into 2 or 3 stores. Abelive hit it on the mark.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of dry cleaners nearby - and between Toni's Minis and Lee Lee's and Make My Cake are both not too far away (not to mention Cafe Latte sells baked goods).
ReplyDeleteI vote for Thai or Sushi, and second the homegoods/hardware store.
a better grocery store would be great for the area. not as expensive as Citarella but more boutique-like than Best Yet.
ReplyDeleteGreg hit the nail on the head. A home store would be brilliant! Even a Pottery Barn would work out since it is moderate enough and can handle the square footage.
ReplyDelete1: home store
ReplyDelete2: grocery store ( mini market)
3: bar/grill
Home store (a good one not a dollar store),
ReplyDeleteHair salon,
restaurant,
even another coffee place,
But please no Bars.
Why no bars? Bars will make Lenox seem less desolate at night - as long as they control the type of crowd that gathers there, but this is done easily.
ReplyDeleteRestaurant/Bar will continue to add to the budding local eateries in the neighborhood (and be a great counter to all the fanfare 8th Ave is getting!). I'd be totally against a chain-type store (that Pottery Barn was mentioned nauseates me).
ReplyDeleteWe need more food/drink options, of the mom and pop sort, bottom line.
there's already One Bar planning to open one block away and enough cafe's for this corner. other options needed. For a space that size, you might have to consider the lesser of two evils and go with a decent chain store that will fit in with the neighborhood and bring foot traffic. Barns and Nobles could work.
ReplyDeleteNo bodegas or supermarkets! There is one directly across the corner and one two doors down. And my beloved Fine Fare is right on Lenox and 116th. Where tinned tuna is always on sale!
ReplyDeleteA hat store. OK, I know, not practical really unless those sites are subdivided but with all the biggish churches how utterly damn cool to have a mid to high end millinery store. Then every time I turn the corner I can go “oooooh!”
Housewares also a good idea but in a pinch Paramount on 125 does the trick.
FDB is a short walk away, so I think all of the development there is good. If you live on lower fifth avenue in the village, for example, there really isn't any retail - you've got to walk over to 6th, 7th, or broadway. But Lenox will one day be nicer than FDB. It's got so much more physical charm.
ReplyDeleteThis area is basically the West Village of Harlem. Commercial retail on the avenues are further out with the charming landmark brownstones on Lenox.
ReplyDeleteNO Franchises! More cafe's and smaller shops sans bodegas and liquor stores.
ReplyDeleteA small store will not be able to make the $40 square foot asking price since this is the city-wide average. The new owner will need to invest a lot of money to fix the place up so will probably need a rent reduction for this to happen.
ReplyDeleteThis is an absolutely stunning building- just needs some TLC. Would be great with a housewares store or restaurant not sure they can afford the build out unless it's a chain.
ReplyDeleteActually I think a Barnes & Noble is a great idea!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's the problem with Harlem real estate - $40 per sq foot is overpriced. Small businesses have a short life span in Harlem. The primary reason is operating cost i.e. price per sq foot. Owners have to be reasonable. Commercial real estate vacancy rates are on the rise...
ReplyDeleteI think the space is pretty raw...so it would take a lot of money to be fixed up. Not sure the if the co-op (?) can afford to pitch in.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading all these ideas I am changing my list:
1. Household/Hardware
2. Bookstore/Hatstore
3. Thai/Sushi/Grill
I also like that anon called the area the "West Village of Harlem" it is beautiful!
I'm for anything that improves the quality of living for the community and helps property values.
ReplyDeleteLenox Avenue - the West Village of Harlem.....I like it!!!
ReplyDelete...or Lenox Avenue - the Platinum Coast?
I know I m missing something here but never the less I hope it will be explained to me. I do not see the need for more upscale “boutique” grocery stores. I have my son and myself to feed, a house to keep clean. I want my Bounty, my Tide on sale and my generics to be good and cheap. If I am entertaining I can go to Whole Foods. I hit the 14th Street market every Wednesday but just cause I always have. I want to shop where I and my neighbours shop and can afford to shop and I want to be able to haul my shopping cart down the street to my house and have people on the block ask me if I need help with it.
ReplyDeleteI want to not just be in my neighbourhood but of it. Episcopalian cliche.
Anoynmous number whatever. . .we needn’t make up phoney labels. It’s Lenox Avenue. It’s Harlem.
Sanou will become a community activist! I agree it is Lenox Ave- it's Harlem! none the less the issue is, what retailer can afford the space and what retailer can move with the lenox stretch into successful longevity
ReplyDeleteHOw about an Italian Salumeria?
ReplyDeleteWould love a little diner of some sort. Missing the milkshakes from my old neighborhood! As for the comment re. the short life span of businesses, hopefully that will no longer be the case. The influx of new residents will see to that. Give us a decent diner/restaurant/cafe and it will last.
ReplyDeleteOne other thing I would love to see up here is a farmers market, similar to the Union Sq. market. The area by the state building on 125th would be perfect.
@ Chris. Where in UK? Ladbroke Girl here. Back when we wore leather jackets, hung at the Alex and had Carnival.
ReplyDeleteThere is a farmer's market if you're willing to walk 15-20 minutes to Morningside Park around 110-112 street.
ReplyDeleteDiner would be great! And it could cater to a variety of residents and budgets.
Anonymous whichever. Sanou would run for Mayor—he's all charm— but he is severely handicapped kid. Just turned 18.
ReplyDeletea
Totally welcomed here Our pool at Marcus Garvey Park? Beyond wonderful and welcoming.
True Harlem will always be Harlem; however as parts of Harlem lead the charge in development, pseudo micro neighborhoods will be created e.g. Morningside Heights.
ReplyDeleteThere will soon be a gourmet market coming to 125th between Madison Avenue and 5th Avenue called Wild Olive Market.
ReplyDeleteI'd vote for a housewares/hardware store but it would be hard for a mid-sized store like that to compete on price with Target and Bed, Bath and Beyonds.
ReplyDeleteMuch as it pains me to say it, there's no future in a physical bookstore.
What's missing in the neighborhood is a good (pick any) Chinese/Thai/Vietnamese/Indian restaurant. There's also no pizza shop on Lenox and the only ice cream place is the generic Baskin-Robbins on 116th.
No pizza or chinese! There are plenty of pizza places that deliver (pizza 123, presidential) that are within the neighborhood. I always find it funny that people think FDB is a different area - it's 2 avenues over people! There is a new Chinese restaurant opening there that will deliver to Lenox. Agree about Thai/Vietmanese/Indian but would add Japanese to that list (though I am really picky about sushi so Thai/Vietmanese/Indian is probably better).
ReplyDeletedoes anyone know anything about the apartments in this building?
ReplyDeleteLow/Median income co-op. They are listed on http://www.uhab.coop/
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see something like a Hummus Place, Better Burger, or a Le Pain Quotidien, or a even a Pinkberry (although maybe 125th for that), or a solid Ace Hardware if we are talking any chains...at least those are good & reasonable price points.
ReplyDeleteNon-chains: basically more Asian food other than Chinese. Would love to see a Middle Eastern spot. A good diner or neigborhood bar & grill, different enough from Native (which I love) to serve the community. Folks could go after church on Sundays or people could go grab a drink on a week night, or just a casual bite at any point during the day. More good, but moderately priced dining options for all of Harlem, not just Lennox.
The well-known apartments, built in as an ideal example of modernist style living in the seventies, have the advantage of a mountain view and stream weaving between the different apartment blocks. This prime location lead to a variety of people living in the apartments over the decades, from the working to middle class, elderly and nature lovers attracted to the mountain location and artists drawn to it's Cheap Apartments and history.
ReplyDelete