In our opinion, just calling it Lenox might have been more appealing since it is just the name of the boulevard and provides a connection to the history of the neighborhood. More details in the Daily News: LINK
Thursday, December 20, 2012
☞ READ: Lenox Lounge Becomes Notar Jazz Club
In our opinion, just calling it Lenox might have been more appealing since it is just the name of the boulevard and provides a connection to the history of the neighborhood. More details in the Daily News: LINK
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Pretty lame if Notar really didnt reach out to him. The name is worth something, although maybe he can keep the sign, and people will still call it "Lenox Lounge" even though it will have another name officially. But truly classless of Notar and NOT a good way to ingrain onself in a new nabe ...
ReplyDeleteSorry but I have heard that the former owner of Lenox Lounge is not an easy guy to deal with and I actually tend to believe that based on the Lenox Social now Corner Social situation.
ReplyDeleteSo why would Notar work with a difficult person when running the place will be a huge challenge in and of itself?
I suspect that may be true, but at least try. Perception matters. Now Mr. Notar looks like a carpetbagger ...
DeleteHarlemBBC, you are right on the money, because of that situtation with the Corner Social, Notar had no reason to deal with him.
DeleteI would take this with a grain or two of salt. Earlier reports quoted the former owner's insistence that the name would not be transferred. Now this report quotes him saying that he was not even approached about. I have no familiarity with any of the players here but there is sufficient inconsistency in what I see in the report that I would be very cautious about drawing a conclusion.
DeleteWhat, you don't want to buy the name for a million dollars?!! To put it politely, the owner of Lenox Lounge seems like a money grabbing fool. Have fun sitting on your naming rights earning you $0 for the next 50 years. GC, Mr. Notar will actually come out of this alright.
ReplyDeleteIf the landlord put the place up for rent becaus ethe current tenent couldn't afford it any more, why would the new tenant want to partner with them? When you get an apartment, do you reach out to the people who are moving out to see it they want to room with you?
ReplyDeleterumor has it, he actually doesn't own the name
ReplyDeleteLAME!!!!! He'd better keep the lettering.
ReplyDeleteMuch like Cotton Club, Lenox Lounge has been living off of their name for years (horrible service, over-priced drinks, etc).
ReplyDeleteFor me the last straw with Lenox Lounge was the threatened lawsuit against Corner Social for attempting to name itself Lenox Social. The owner sounds spiteful and vindicative, not to mention not a very good businessman if he couldn't make a place with such amazing name recognition work when new places are thriving all around it.
Lenox Lounge is the only preserved Jazz establishment in Harlem that has continuously retained its original look and location from the 1940s. The current Cotton Club was built in the 1970s on an old gas station site far removed from the original Lenox Avenue location founded in the Harlem Renaissance years. The Cotton Club is purely a tourist attraction in a location that does not have any foot traffic.
ReplyDeleteComparing the two is a little far fetched for Lenox Lounge has been authentic to its origins from the beginning and has been a regular hangout for locals. It was never a crowded space in the past years but always had tourists in one wing and many older locals hanging out at the bar or booths.
The comparison is that at this point they have legendary names with little business because they are poorly run (not comparing the physical locations).
ReplyDeleteLenox Lounge was in business for decades because it did a decent business. Rent increase is the culprit here and maybe poor business planning for the future seeing that a secondary plan was not formed.
ReplyDeleteMost thriving small business either move on to another neighborhood or decide to shut down after a commercial lease is up. Most small businesses can not afford a double rent increase after a 10 year contract is up. This happens all the time.
There was a popular, iconic diner in the Meat Packing District called Florent that had to close down when the rent increased drastically after their contract was up. The landlord decided to open his own diner in the same spot but it failed. Florent had meant something to downtowners but nothing to the new Meat Packing District crowd that did not know anything about its past.
With that said, running a business is not easy and the majority of them fail. Let's hope for the best in this situation but be respectful of those who have worked hard keeping a part of Harlem history intact when most did not think that was important.
Well said!!
DeleteUlysses, good point, the only surviving Jazz spot from Harlem’s past. The Lenox Lounge is not just Harlem’s history but part of America’s Jazz history. It is great to point out to visitors, that Billie Holiday among other giants performed there. To give credit where credit is due, Lenox Lounge survived because of Mr. Reed, taking it on from the bad old days and keeping it alive. I was impressed on first visiting to see the zebra print décor, as Mr. Notar says, it is an art deco gem. It is a small spot but it’s red frontage is such a signature of Lenox and 125th and reminds us of Harlem’s past. I am encouraged to see Mr. Notar wants to keep the Lenox Lounge alive, I only hope that they can make a deal and allow the Lenox Lounge to continue in its entirety.
ReplyDeleteBoth sides have definitely been stubborn from reports. Selling the name would seem to be the only way to meet half way if both parties were in agreement but no such discussion has been brought to the table.
ReplyDeleteUnfortunate.
ReplyDeleteNot unexpected though. Notar probably thinks that his history with Nobu is of more value the the Lenox Lounge name.
He may have a valid point if he is shooting for the same crowd that Red Rooster gets.
why a jazz flavor to this restaurant. can't he just make it a great sushi place? jazz was dead a long time ago.
ReplyDeleteWow. How can you say something like that and stay alive? Sushi is great. but jazz is not ever dead.
DeleteWow. That is totally off the track of logic. Why would you want to kill jazz in HARLEM? Jazz is NOT dead, anyways.
DeleteThis makes me kind of sad, but it's not surprising. Two pig-headed business men who can't behave like grownups come together to save an icon.
ReplyDeleteI really don't like the Lenox Lounge. In addition to the over-priced drinks, the bad service, and the Lenox Social debbacle, I've had my purse stolen there and had a bartender treat some guests of mine horribly. But I may go one last time. I'm almost positive that I'll horrible time, but I still feel the need to say goodbye.
Douglas, you have to be the silliest person ever to post on this blog. Please think before you post geez.
ReplyDeleteI hope that Notar gets it right by sprucing up the old place while keeping it's character, with better service and food. Most importantly with good pricing.
Clearly everyone on this board is forgetting that Lenox Lounge sucks. If it was well run and people wanted to go, this would not even be an issue.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, notar's negotiation tactic is the right one. His plans should be built on resources he contols. If he can pull the LL brand and it will help the business, then he should do it at the last minute when the seller has no other alternative but to just walk away with some worthless brand that people will forget about in 6 months.
As eloquently said by Harlem BBC some people need to thing before they post. The history of LL will not be forgotten in 6mths.
ReplyDeletePlease think before you blogg. I am a Jazz lover and wished this Historic location could have survived and thrived. And no it will not be forgotten by everyone in 6mths.
ReplyDeleteIt is most unfortuante that the name could not remain and I am sure the present owner wanted to keep the legendary name of the Lenox Lounge. Saw the same thing happen with a cab company on Boston Road. It has to do with the former owner not willing to sell the name. Do not believe the new owner would not want to keep the name. Still happy it will remain a Jazz Lounge and yes Jazz is still very popular and younger, mature audiences are starting to like Jazz. I wish the new owner all the best!!!
ReplyDelete