Tuesday, July 24, 2012

☞ SHOP: The Coffee Shop Trend in Harlem




After Society Coffee shuttered on the lower FDB corridor in the past year, it appeared specialty coffee shops might not have a good run in Harlem but several new contenders have opened and seem to be doing well.  Lenox Coffee at 129th Street takes the lead with its reclaimed wood floors, tin ceiling and vintage milk glass pendant lights while the neighboring Astor Row Cafe just up the block at 130th and Lenox appears to be doing well at its corner location. Both offer specialty roasts and the neighbors have made each newcomers a welcome addition to this section of Central Harlem.

Over on the west side, a few new spots have opened that have been attracting locals to grab some java and work on their laptops. Chokolat opened up by Broadway and 125th's Street just this fall and Kuro Kuma Coffee opened up just two blocks south in the past month.  Both appear to be doing well and proves the point that even a couple of blocks makes a different for most New Yorkers when it comes to convenience. The Chipped Cup up in Hamilton Heights also is providing some much needed caffeine to that section of Broadway over by West 148th Street and has become the spot to hang out at during the day.  Good coffee, a warm environment and free WiFi appear to be a successful combination these days and uptowners have taken notice to those shops that serve it up.

15 comments:

  1. East Harlem could use a Lenox Coffee type establishment.

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    1. East Harlem Cafe
      1651 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10029

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    2. Yeah, that is about as far away from me as Lenox Coffee.

      I am near Costco...

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  2. as could lower FDB... Dunkin Donuts ain't it!

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  3. This article missed Frederick Cafe Bistro at 114 and FDB... Even tho I been there only once, it looks decent.

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  4. Well Setapanni has been around fro 12 years and their coffee rocks

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  5. Settepani is now a white table cloth, sitdown restaurant--excellent, but no longer a bakery/coffee shop. fyi.

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  6. come on up to Jumel Terrace!!


    maybe as a combination wine/sake bar , coffee, lounge....

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    1. There's a wine bar right near the 168th Street stop on Broadway... haven't been in a few years so maybe it's gone but that would be pretty close, no?

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    2. I will check it out!

      thanks

      and yes there are some places closer to the hospital.

      But, we could use a place near the Mansion...

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  7. Astor Row Cafe is nice but the space is cavernous and echoes, also they play loud fast music, not conducive to relaxing while reading, I sense they would rather be a night club than an intimate coffee shop. May favorite is Lenox Coffee, it has proven a big hit and could well be reproduced in other Harlem neighborhoods. I miss Settepani as a café and agreed, the coffee trend is underway in Harlem, there is room for more.

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  8. Tanto dulce is hands down the best coffee shop with real food not just breadstuffs and a welcoming spot

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    1. I personally love Tanto Dulce. I wish they could expand though. I'd love to just hang out there for a couple hours.

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  9. The Chipped Cup is really good. Small, but really nice, cozy atmosphere. Beautiful espresso machine, excellent iced tea and delicious French pastries. Go in and meet Andrew, the owner. Really nice guy who saw a need and filled it. MUCH needed addition to Hamilton Heights!

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  10. I miss Society and wish something like it would open on FDB. I would loooove it if the Lenox Coffee guys were to open an outpost on FDB. I'm visiting Paris now, where you can't walk a block without stumbling onto 2 or 3 cafes. I hear the French government subsidizes their operations, so they will never run into Society-like troubles! I wonder if the NYC gov't would consider such subsidies....

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