Walking by the Harlem USA Complex on 125th Street this past Saturday, we noticed the lines forming out front in anticipation of a big sale day opening. Old Navy was one of the first major chains to establish themselves in Harlem when new development started to happen and their seasonal sales have shoppers up very early in the morning and lining up to get a piece of the mark-down action. With all the issues the mall in East Harlem is having these days, we are surprised that Target did not try to establish themselves on central Harlem's main shopping thoroughfare instead of picking a location far away from public transportation. The foot traffic on 125th Street is definitely there and multiple subway lines make it easy for shoppers to arrive from any part of town.Some planners want to make 125th Street the 42nd Street of uptown but being a little more low scale like downtown Union Square or 23rd Street might be more befitting for Harlem's charms. As far as wishful thinking on stores go, a Home Depot would really do well here. More better restaurants such as Mobay and Island Salads would also be nice to have around. So what do people think we need on 125th Street these days? Photo by Ulysses
Anything that's open after 8pm. 125th Street's biggest problem is that it closes early. By the time I get home from work the grates are starting to go down. A bar or sit-down restaurant would help attract more foot traffic after dark. Mobay is really the only thing there, otherwise the sidewalks roll up at night.
ReplyDeleteWhole Foods with a Cafe for night traffic.
ReplyDeleteBarnes & Nobel
ReplyDeleteEstablished businesses that stay open until midnight or later on 125th. Harlem needs proven businesses, not experiments.
ReplyDeleteWhole foods would be a dream come true for 125th.
ReplyDeleteWhat would it take for them to setup shop here, I'm sure
financially that would be successfull?
How could Whole foods not be successful on 125th Street? Everybody from 110th to 210th Street would be the customer base.
ReplyDeleteAn area where there is an amazing amount of potential is West 145th Street. There is retail waiting to be filled and the area has gentrified with many middle class families moved in. In fact, there was an effort to get Trader Joe's into the retail in the Langston. Also a Children's Place, Baby Gap, a Wine Store and other businesses have been flirting with the area retail available.
ReplyDeletePlaces to sit down and get a bite to eat. There really is a dearth of restaurants and bars near and north of the Old Navy. I agree with the late night business sentiment. A grocery store near the 125th ABCD stop would be very successful.
ReplyDeleteTraders Joes in the Langston....now your talking!!
ReplyDeleteWhy near the ABCD lines? What about central Central Harlem? More like around Lenox Ave where you have the 2/3 and close proximity to 4/5/6. Lenox Ave is certainly the heart of Central Harlem.
ReplyDeleteAnon, I passed Wild Olive Market yesterday on 125th b/w Madison & 5th and it looks great. This will be a wonderful addition to the neighborhood. 125th is ripe for development moving forward...from the east side all the way to the west side. There is so much activity along this stretch (4,5,6, Metro North on Lex, 2,3, A,C,B,D) and the potential new Metro North stop on 125th and Riverside (think that is the spot).
ReplyDeleteAnyway, tons of activity and a huge potential customer base (esp. with all of the recent development along FDB).
It's funny, walking up yesterday on Lennox from 110th to 122nd it felt a lot like what the village used to feel like (and still does, but maybe not to the same extent..come on, it is so damn expensive!). Communities, old and new, out and about enjoying the wonderful long evenings. Decent cafes and restaurants and just a nice, relaxed vibe. Yeah, I love this time of year ;)
Chris,
ReplyDeleteWild Olive Market will certainly be the catalyst for better retail on the east side of 125th street.
Of course having more established retail business and dining options are needed but 125th also needs some beautification projects - more trees, planters, benches, public art, fountains - anything to break up what, at present, is somewhat of a relentless parade of discount and second rate stores dotted by a few big retailers. Is the empty lot on the SW corner of Lenox and 125th going to get developed? If not, then maybe that is the perfect spot for an outdoor oasis.
ReplyDeleteAs for a wish list...my wish would be for a Trader Joe's.
Developing that lot into a park is brilliant. Then they can put a shake shack there!
ReplyDeleteInstead of more stores, how about more garbage cans and security?
ReplyDeleteYes, more garbage cans and more BID employees to help keep the sidewalks cleaner.
ReplyDeleteI know this is off topic but I live closer to 110th St and I have thought that it would be a great idea to open a Pain Quotidien or even an Au Bon Pain in one of the retail spaces in the high rise at Lenox/110. There are so many tourists and park goers in the summer who could use a place to have lunch or pick up something to take to the park - these places are not overly expensive. Also I think people would enjoy sitting in a space that looks out over the park - even if just for coffee.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the last comment! East 110th Street has so much potential and need some good restaurants and cafes!
ReplyDeleteAlso, I am sorry if I am affending anyone here, but the area (around E110th) has to much public housing to be sustainable! This helps neither the area or the people receiving housing help from the government...
FDB around the oneteens is starving for a good Thai restaurant. A mini Dylan's candy bar type of place in the smaller retail nooks would be cool. Not a necessity of course but indulgent nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteMaybe a bar/restaurant place that serves good drinks for under $14 (unlike 67 Orange) and doesn't have their patrons spill into all out fights every night. Art gallery with Jazz nights. Endless possibilities but for godsake please no more banks!
Barnes and Noble, Bed Bath & Beyond, and restaurants. Not sure about a Whole Foods - the Wild Olive Market on the Central part of 125th and Citarella on the Western part takes care of this. But I agree about foot traffic at night would be nice. But really, neither 14th street nor 23rd nor 42nd nor 34th have much in the way of nice restaurants (there are a ton of nice places NEAR fourteenth street and plenty of lower end/takeout type places.
ReplyDelete