The fusion trend over at the former Talay space in Manhattanville might just be over with the arrival of the lounge called Phuket. Many might remember that Talay closed its Asian and Latin fusion operations a couple of years back and was replaced by a short lived Mexican bistro. The name Talay somehow still stuck around in both incarnations so many folks were confused about what was actually going on with the business. To make matters even more perplexing was the fact that the space was trying to be a serious restaurant and a nightclub at the same time which did not quite work out. Check out the new photos of Phuket after the jump.
So the former train station space at the corner of 135th and Twelfth Avenue is now basically a club which might just be the better way to go. We are not sure if a huge nightclub is what Harlem really needs but at least the focus is on one business model. Check out the stark new interior at the Phuket website:
LINK
Other than TWO5th on East 125th, which seems to only be open pretty sporadically, and these couple spots that pop up over on 12th Ave, there isn't really anything in Harlem that resembles a "nightclub"--so I don't know about the comment that it's not "what Harlem really needs" unless you're basically just saying that clubs aren't really your scene, personally?
ReplyDeleteI'd think there's definitely a market for it considering that most people Uptown basically have to head downtown to party. There are a couple places in Washington Heights/Inwood and a smattering of places in the Bronx (that also pop up and disappear, depending on the promoters) but otherwise if people want to go dancing they have to head somewhere far downtown.
It'd seem to me that it'd be a great business opportunity considering that almost all nightlife in Harlem is focused on an older crowd and skews toward lounges where people sit around, not clubs where people get down. We have the old mainstay jazz clubs and the new fancy cocktail lounges, but proper "nightclubs" haven't proliferated.
Phuket. Yes. Very witty. Should imagine they are not aiming terribly high.
ReplyDeletePhuket (pronounced poo-ket) is an island in Thailand. I'm guessing this is will be a Thai Restaurant. I don't think they are swearing with alternate phonetics.
ReplyDeleteI agree with tacony. Clubs are not really my scene anymore as I've outgrown them, but the need to trek downtown to find a decent one is also a factor. Harlem definately lacks this type of entertainment venue, and this is a major drawback with young single professionals (20s-30s). Incidentally, I believe Two 5th has been closed for about a year, as I haven't seen any activity there in a long time. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
ReplyDelete@tacony palmyra : I thought TWO5th was closed for good. I agree with you a place like this is needed. My quibble that a lot of the folks up here will probably continue to go downtown to party just to avoid ghetto B.S. Phuket cant just get by on the fact that its the only real club in the neighborhood. They will have to do a bit more to draw a crowd.
ReplyDeleteI see what Ulysses is saying here, regardless of whether clubs are ones idea of a good time. The fact is - with nightclubs often comes drugs and violence - even in "exclusive" nightclubs. Talk to anybody in the nightclub business. There is a reason that, even in midtown or Chelsea, many clubs - especially those that don't have super strict bouncers - often do bag searches or sometimes even have metal detectors. Obviously this neighborhood does not need more of those things.
ReplyDeleteThat said - hopefully this does well and provides a good place for those from the neighborhood to dance and hear good music.
Pholtzman. Ooops. Thanks for the correction. I think I actually knew that but need to learn to think before I type. Although there is really not much of a chance of that happening.
ReplyDeleteHello? Is everyone forgetting Body, which was at the other end of this building? That place was horrible (for a good laugh, see the reviews on Yelp), apparently very lowbrow, and closed rather quickly. I don't think a club is really what the neighborhood needs if Body was any indication.
ReplyDeleteThis stretch could use a pub more then another restaurant/nightclub. Every time I walk by it seems more like aprivate party venue then a club. Hopefully its not $20 cover like talay was.
ReplyDeleteI went by to Phuket this weekend on my way to Covo for a late dinner. It looked like Phuket wasnt going to open for the night, but getting out of dinner around 11:30 pm, a line to get inside the club had started to form, bouncers were checking IDs, and cars/taxis were dropping guests off. I suppose this is a difficult location if you usually go out on foot. As many of you know, the area is a little desolate (with the exception of a few destination spots!) but I think there is certainly a crowd for a dance club uptown. Before it closed for renovation/completion, the dance club in the underground space of Red Rooster would get PACKED on the weekends with a well-dressed, stylish crowd getting there groove on. (I love that party and can't wait for it to come back!) So given that there IS a crowd to support a dance club in central Harlem, the question may be whether Phuket is going to be able to provide something extra special to convince enough of those late night masses to frequent the corner at 140th and Riverside--or did Phuket arrive too early for Columbia: Manhattanville?
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