Where did that new American classic Chicken and Waffles come from? Harlem legend would have it that Joe Well's, proprietor of Well's Supper Club came up with the idea in the wee hours sometimes in the 1930's. Apparently, after all the jazz clubs had shut down, it was too late for dinner and too early for breakfast. So when performers such as Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday would arrive for a post performance meal, Mr. Wells came up with the now famous dish of fried chicken with a side of waffles. Even with this innovation, Well's Supper club would go through many ups and downs over the years but would eventually close by 1999. Located at 2247 ACP/7th Avenue, between 132nd and 133rd Street (top photo), the address has seen a couple of restaurants come and go at Well's former site. The lower photo shows the spot in its current incarnation today. With such a strong history and name, wouldn't it be wise for someone to finance the original Well's and transform it back into an iconic Harlem institution? Closest subway is the 2,3 or B,C at 135th Street.
Where did that new American classic Chicken and Waffles come from? Harlem legend would have it that Joe Well's, proprietor of Well's Supper Club came up with the idea in the wee hours sometimes in the 1930's. Apparently, after all the jazz clubs had shut down, it was too late for dinner and too early for breakfast. So when performers such as Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday would arrive for a post performance meal, Mr. Wells came up with the now famous dish of fried chicken with a side of waffles. Even with this innovation, Well's Supper club would go through many ups and downs over the years but would eventually close by 1999. Located at 2247 ACP/7th Avenue, between 132nd and 133rd Street (top photo), the address has seen a couple of restaurants come and go at Well's former site. The lower photo shows the spot in its current incarnation today. With such a strong history and name, wouldn't it be wise for someone to finance the original Well's and transform it back into an iconic Harlem institution? Closest subway is the 2,3 or B,C at 135th Street.
Actually the Well's family has a small place on 7th avenue that has been open for a couple of years now.
ReplyDeleteThere's hardly any press on the newer restaurant about ten blocks north. We will have to drop by this week to check it out. Thanks for the tip.
ReplyDeleteMy new husband and I stopped in Wells in 1966 on our honeymoon. It was a dining room on the second floor. There were pristine white tablecloths and napkins and lighting was dim. It was crowded.
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