When Stephanie Deli, at the north east corner of West 116th and FDB/8th Avenue, took down their front sign this weekend, we ended up getting a couple of messages from readers who were excited to see a little bit of the history underneath. What was revealed to all is that the corner shop used to house Bogan's Corner Bar and Grill. The painted on signage is still very clear today and one can see the holes where the neon lights used to be connected (click on image to enlarge). For those who don't remember what was there originally, the lower photo shows the shop as it was before. One reader pointed out that they don't make them like this anymore and we are in total agreement. This old sign still looks classy to us even with all the age to it. Does anyone out there remember the original business and when it closed? Also, if you have any other tips, contact:
HarlemBespoke@gmail.com. All photos by Ulysses.
When Stephanie Deli, at the north east corner of West 116th and FDB/8th Avenue, took down their front sign this weekend, we ended up getting a couple of messages from readers who were excited to see a little bit of the history underneath. What was revealed to all is that the corner shop used to house Bogan's Corner Bar and Grill. The painted on signage is still very clear today and one can see the holes where the neon lights used to be connected (click on image to enlarge). For those who don't remember what was there originally, the lower photo shows the shop as it was before. One reader pointed out that they don't make them like this anymore and we are in total agreement. This old sign still looks classy to us even with all the age to it. Does anyone out there remember the original business and when it closed? Also, if you have any other tips, contact: HarlemBespoke@gmail.com. All photos by Ulysses.
Wow, you know you've unearthed a major archeological find when a Google search for "Bogan's Corner" (plus "Harlem", or "bar" and "grill") turns up nothing but for this very blog post...
ReplyDeleteHopefully someone is able to track something down.
I remember the diner. I think it closed down in the late 80s. I was a teenager at the time. I just remember the booths. I never ate there. I wish we had one there today instead of all the so-called white table cloth style restaurants.
ReplyDelete5:19, I agree that a diner or burger place would be great -- or perhaps even a fully-retro automat!
ReplyDeleteHow fun would it be to not only have a great little diner, but one w a vintage feel.
ReplyDeleteYup, I'd take that over another bodega any day.
ReplyDeleteSearching the Amsterdam News archives turned up a little bit of information. Bogan's was around as early as 1947 and as late as 1984. A 1984 article said that it, along with the nearby Roma Gardens, was popular with athletes such as Ray Robinson, Jack Johnson and Babe Ruth. I've got more details here.
ReplyDeleteI remember combing through old "there are social problems in Harlem!" articles in the NYTimes archive and finding a quote from some minister talking about how Harlem had the most bars and nightclubs per capita in NYC and that the social ills of alcohol were destroying the community etc etc. Looks like the social reformers of the era got their wish! I haven't done a scientific survey but I'd put money on Harlem today having the lowest number of bars per capita in Manhattan, if not NYC. It's amazing to find all the grand old bars, nightclubs, and social meeting places which are now replaced by bodegas and fast food. What was once Small's Paradise is now an IHOP! Let's wait for the next backlash.
ReplyDeleteLeave it to the ministry to vilify what was a broadly positive and edifying set of social interactions and institutions -- and to effectively work toward an order that ultimately became more isolating and destructive to the social fabric.
ReplyDeleteThe churches have basically tried to take up all of the social oxygen for themselves, and effectively won the physical exclusion of alternative social venues from all of Harlem, through proximity-to-place-of-worship zoning restrictions. (Note: It is interesting to tour the islands of the southern Caribbean, where the churches took the opposite approach by providing for the sale of alcohol either in or next to most houses of worship).
The problem is, they can't support the fabric of society all on their own. Their influence, though strong, is insufficient -- and not always positive on some issues.
I noticed the sign as well and find it very interesting to read all this information. Does anyone know what happened to the sign after the dismantled it?
ReplyDeleteYes it closed around the early to mid-1980's. It wasn't that much it was pretty run down by then. My stepdad used to work there. I'm sure it was probably nice in it's heyday when it first opened. There were many Bars & Grills in Harlem in the 1970's. There was "The Footsteps" bet 115 & 116 on St. Nick next to Trumbo's funeral home, there was "The Madrid" right across the street, they were a bar & a restaurant very nice. Then there was "The Moonlight" on the corner of 115 & 7th. "The Princess Lounge" down the block from Bogan's on 116th st. and many others.
ReplyDelete