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New York paper made a big deal about tough times in Harlem because of Nectar Wine Bar's demise last week but there appears to be a lot more drinking establishments opening these days to replace the one closing. The
New L Lounge on FDB at 115th has just opened this past weekend and more of the same appears to happening elsewhere.
Six Lounge (or Vinateria) will be opening just down the block between 114th and 113th Street sometimes soon while
Bleu Violin lounge has debuted a little further east on 116th Street. Further up on Lenox, the
Lenox Social will also opening its doors in the upcoming months and its neighbor at West 126th Street called
Cove Lounge appears to be ready to premier in Central Harlem's newly revived commercial strip.
As far as wine establishments are concerned,
Auberge Laurent on lower Lenox provides a more warm ambiance than some of its previous predecessors and forthcoming
Jado Sushi and Wine Bar should add a needed food element to the lower FDB corridor. So for the one drinking establishment closing in the past year, it now appears that at least a half dozen new watering holes have arrived to take its place.
Great story, this puts the closing of Nectar in perspective. From reading the list it seems Harlem is getting a healthy mix of establishments catering to different clientele, no doubt some will be more successful than others.
ReplyDeleteI'm a fan of any new business in Harlem but I do wish investors/entrepreneurs would widen their scope beyond "lounges". We already have several in the community (67 Orange, Chocolat, the new L Lounge) and some that haven't worked out (17 Below, Mojo, possibly Nectar). I simply question how much sustainable demand there is for a stream of lounge-like drinking establishments? The recent home-runs, in terms of buzz and patronage, in this neighborhood - Bier International, Bad Horse Pizza, Harlem Tavern, 5 Diamond, Cedric - all identified an un-met need and executed it well. I really haven't heard anyone in this area begging for another lounge or three. Gastropub, Thai place, Sushi restaurant...absolutely. Maybe the demand for more lounges will be there, and it's the investors time & money after all, but I wish they'd do a little market analysis first.
ReplyDeleteNothing in Hamilton Heights once again.
ReplyDeleteIs Cove Lounge close to opening? I haven't seen any activity here for months. A few weeks ago they had posted a sign stating that they have applied for a liquor license. I'm not sure how long that approval process takes, but I get the feeling that this place won't be opening for a while.
ReplyDeleteHHH Maybe this is due to investors seeing what works and repeating.
ReplyDeleteCMB, Cove Lounge is very slow while Lenox Social is moving fast, different management style.
ReplyDeleteHHH I do agree ... Though I don't think Lenox Social is really a lounge, strikes me as a pub. I think cove lounge is far enough away from the other haunts to do some business. Also I believe Six Lounge will actually be Harlem Food Bar ... Who knows what that means but hopefully at least focused on food not small plates.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit shocked when I looked in the window of the L lounge - very much a 1980s-1990s look; my friend said "Miami Vice." I want any business to succeed up here but honestly are people really doing their market analysis correctly? I agree with some of the others that maybe they haven't. Take for instance Harlem Savour. What is that place about?
ReplyDeleteCan we pleeze have a gay oriented spot in Harlem? God knows there are enough of us up here to sustain it!
ReplyDelete@Guest: Picante (138/Broadway) has a gay night, from what I understand.
DeleteA 'night' simply won't do! The Harlem LGBT community requires a 'spot' or 'boite' of its own. We had them up until the mid 80's; Jays, Andres, Celebrity Club. Its time for a spot of our own. God knows if I had the money or knew where I could get the money I'd do it in a heartbeat
DeleteMy pal who knows such things (he truly does) is baffled by the jump of gay bars from Hell's Kitchen to Washington Heights, skipping over Harlem. He does, however, predict an influx of art galleries as they are priced out of Chelsea.
DeleteSpeaking of Cove. I started googling and found this little tidbit: 'Cove Lounge (Harlem, NY) – 4,000 square feet gut renovation for 2-level bar/restaurant' on http://www.epengineer.com/portfolio/restaurants.php That's one more piece of info for now.
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone know about the lounge on Lenox and 133rd Street in the same strip as the Associated Super Market? I heard they were supposed to open in January?
ReplyDelete