A couple of Bespoke readers have noticed that Harlem Vintage has now been shuttered for the past couple of weeks and that there has been some activity next door at the old Nectar space. As most might recall, the wine bar called Nectar at 121st Street
closed its doors back in February and now the sister wine shop appears to be following the same path. Harlem Vintage was one of the first boutique wine stores to open in the lower FDB corridor but a tip mentioned that there was a sign on the door recently that mentioned that back rent was due to the landlord of the building. As for the Nectar space, the activity on site is basically to expand the Kumon Learning Center which is the adjacent shop on the right side of the storefront. Does anyone have any other details on the closing of Harlem Vintage?
I am concerned that the 'New" harlem is really just not gonna work.
ReplyDeletehere you have yet two more failed businesses.
AND they sold alcohol ! best markup in business.
What hope is there for any of the others? :-(
I've bought wine at Harlem Vintage several times over the last 5 yrs, largely due to the convenience factor. But in the past 12 months it's been a poor experience - many gaps on the shelves, limited options by grape or $ and dust on what bottles remain. Plus I drink a LOT of wine and I simply wasn't familiar with 95% of the bottles they had. Maybe I need to broaden my horizons but I prefer to drink what I like! Example from two weeks ago, I needed some rose for guests we were having that night but only option they had was on the sweeter side - which wasn't my taste. I don't know if that's a result of cashflow issues and thus limited inventory, or whether it reflects their view on what to offer for this market. Either way it made it tougher to make them my primary vs occasional fill-in wine store.
ReplyDeleteI think it's a poor conclusion to effectively say that gentrification isn't going to work, just because a few businesses shut down, especially in the food industry. Stuff like that shuts down all the time. Plus, it doesn't seem that closings are higher as a percentage of businesses as anywhere else in the city. And, I see a net increase in businesses.
ReplyDeleteAs a gentrifier myself, I can say that there's plenty more opportunity. There may be too many places trying to fancy it up-- I'd personally eat out more if there were more "normal" fare as options. For instance, though we like Lido, I'd more frequently visit an italian place that is more traditional.
It seems that block where Nectar was and Harlem Vintage "is" (hopefully) has problems, perhaps not enough passersby right there! It seems so needed to have places to stop off and patronize on the way home from the 125th St. station, but maybe not? It would be so great if that tall building opposite finally jump started. Any ideas about what is going on with that location and all the potential foot traffic it might generate were it ever finished?
ReplyDeleteI don't have any inside information, but I can at least speak from my own observations. Harlem Vintage was always busy and should have been bringing in a decent amount of revenue -- at least enough to pay for its expenses and generate a decent profit. However, Nectar Wine Bar was never really popular. I imagine it was sucking any profit made by Harlem Vintage. By the time Nectar closed, it was probably too late. I believe strongly that Harlem Vintage was a good business and would still exist today if it had not been sucked under by Nectar.
ReplyDeleteAn earlier commenter made a good point, Harlem has arrived to the point that we expect some business to fail, especially in such a rapidly changing neighborhood. Yesterday they might have been the only option, now there is more competition. As for wine stores, The Winery on West 116th looks very good, and the owner has gone onto open Jado Sushi which speaks of his positive experience.
ReplyDeleteI would like to start a fund that buys businesses that have been mismanaged (not saying this one has) and breathes life into them.
ReplyDeleteThere is no reason little gym, auberge laurent, harlem vintage, etc. should have gone under.
Or perhaps some smart Columbia MBA students would help local business owners operate and market their businesses effectively.
FYI owners of NEctor/ Harlem Vintage we're stamford MBAs with zero experience in wine/ food. They were absurd in their inventory choices and refused to listen to people who actually know something about the industry. SOrry it didn't work but it could have.
ReplyDelete@fabromsil:
ReplyDeleteYou probably have something there.
I have heard complaints about Nectar feeling like a Airport lounge. I also heard complaints about the food (or lack of same).
After Auberge's failure it may be safe to say that winebars aren't what this neighborhood is interested in. Beer Gardens and Pubs are another matter
They could have probably kept Harlem Vintage running if they had shuttered Nectar earlier.
Kumon is expanding into the nectar space
ReplyDeleteNot sure what this issue is with Harlem Vintage in there last statement they seemed to be commited to staying open
Yeah, this is all to do with the business model. Go to any of Harlem Tavern, Melbas, Harlem Food Bar, Lido, Corner Social etc. in the evenings and these places are packed. I was in Melbas the other day on a regular week night and was fortunate to get a table. The neighborhood is still crying out for a number of places, Thai, Indian for example, but NOT wine bars. Man, how many times will that one be tested?!
ReplyDeleteAgree with @Kathleen though, I feel like that stretch by Nectar just doesn't generate enough foot traffic. It is a real shame the condo development directly opposite is stalled, along with the supposed one coming on the corner of FDB and 122nd.
I agree with Sec2 above. Harlem Tavern, Harlem Food Bar and Corner Social on Lenox- all tending more to the cool neighborhood restaurant bar genre- seem to have been instant successes. Maybe Harlem can only support so many establishments that are shooting for the fancy, "upscale" crowd.
ReplyDeleteI liked Harlem Vintage and Nectar. Threw a couple of social gatherings at Nectar, bartenders were awesome. BUT, they had limited food offerings and were more on the expensive side and didn't offer Happy Hour or any other incentives to stop by and make them more competitive with the new places opening up nearby.
ReplyDeleteAs for Harlem Vintage, I stopped going there because the prices they would charge for vodka and other spirits were usually $10 - $15 more than what I would buy it for near my office in Chelsea at the time (or honestly, almost anywhere further downtown). Never knew why it was so expensive.
I was only in Harlem Vintage once - I don't live near it - in the last month or two and it seemed like the shelves were pretty empty. It's a shame it didn't work out for them.
ReplyDeleteIt appears that Lenox Wines is gone for good. In the last few weeks I've noticed that they've covered all the windows with white paper. I think they had the same problem that Michael mentions Harlem Vintage having - more expensive prices than one could find downtown. If I had a dinner party or something to stock up for, I would usually travel down to the UWS where I could get better prices for the same bottles. I want to support local businesses, but I also don't want to pay more for the privledge of shopping in my own neighborhood.
Harlem Vintage has really gone downhill- I stopped in last week and most of the shelves were empty of wine! I am bewildered by Harlem Tavern's popularity- the food is horrible, the service is poor-go figure.
ReplyDeleteI went to Harlem vintage for a long time, as Nectar was closing, they started having a really bad selection of wine, and what they had had a tendancy to be vinegar. I think they ran out of cash to the point where the couldn't run a wine shop properly, just a guess. I doubt I was the only one who started buying beer at best yet instead.
ReplyDelete^ one major appeal for Harlem Tavern is being able to sit outside, yet not on the sidewalk, you know?
ReplyDeleteAlso, its size gives a real critical mass of people, so it feels like the place to be. success breeds success.
Plus... pubs/beer halls seem not to be failure proof (at least for now). The irish bar guys from downtown should take be all over area. Also, the upscale coffee/hangout/internet thing seems to work too.
I am concerned with the current focus of the City to force affordable (subsidized) housing instead of market rate and condos. There is no financing available to developers unless it subsidized. We are saturated in subsidized housing, we need more people with incomes to support the services. This also benefits the existing population as an improved neighbhorhood and schools is a plus for all.
my opinion.
Jeezy, Mike. Lighten up on the subsidised housing. We beat that with a giant stick all last week! Let's talk booze here.
DeleteLOL ok
ReplyDeleteHere's a fun fact--NY22, which CBS has totally blown off, had two episodes about a stillborn "New Harlem". In one the bad guy had staked his entire future on an upscale wine and liquor store which flopped. He firebombed the house of his weed dealing neighbour.
ReplyDelete(in the second a couple went broke when their condo conversions didn't sell. Defenestration ensued.)
A few things: one … the space where Harlem vintage and Nectar was is the gateway to that areas newly found glory. There’s PLENTY of passersby on that corner and what’s more because (like someone mentioned) alcohol/wine is something people travel for. Other than Harlem Vintage you have the Winery (which is not on 116th) and up until a little while ago, both seemed to be doing well. Two … the letter that was taped to the door of the store wasn’t for back rent it was for an outstanding water charge of about $33,000 . Not sure how a water bill gets that high for a place that had very little water usage (maybe fines etc) but I’m sure that the issue was between the developer of the property (Bluestone) and Harlem vintage. Blue stone retained control of the commercial spaces on the first floor so the residents have no idea what’s going on because the residents don’t have any profit sharing in that. To llchivee’s point … Both Jai and Eric were Columbia Business grads (not Stamford) and Jai had a little experience as a vintner and their inventory (I didn’t care for it much myself) was what they wanted to “specialize” in. Many of the wines where from black vintners. …as to Auberge's failure… you can’t be the sole manager/owner and have a fulltime job. That’s what he was doing. He kept his fulltime, and made Auberge's his part time. My speculation as to Nectar’s downfall and harlem Vintage’s is this… Jai had been fighting with the residents of the building regarding her upgrades to Nectar. She wanted outdoor seating and to have real food there … this was fought to the end by the residents in CB meetings. She won out with the outdoor seating but residents continually called the police about noise. So Nectar closed with sour feelings on both sides and the subsequent water charge … my speculation is that they left when the lease was up. Ok, there’s mention of Harlem Tavern, Melbas, Harlem Food Bar, Lido, Corner Social and the other establishments … lets call it what it is. Black business don’t have investors to support them when times are lean. Ellis at Chocolat and Mocha seems to be the only one who does have that backing because he suffered a HARD hit when he was closed by the health department. Maybe his rent is really cheap. Not sure. And the Owner of cedric’s around the corner had an issue with a group of women that didn’t stop his business either because again … they have the backing if things go quirky. Anyway - Nectar was a great anchor for that corridor…just as Five and Diamond is at the other side.
ReplyDeleteYou can have a water bill that high if there is an uncorrected problem with the meter. You will be charged "full flow".
DeleteLearned that one the hard way.
>>Both Jai and Eric were Columbia Business grads (not Stamford) and Jai had a little experience as a vintner <<
ReplyDelete-
Jai Jai did not go to Columbia, she went to Northwestern Business school (Kellogg). Her experience in wine was primarily centered on trips she enjoyed with her husband to the wine country (Napa) of Northern California. Eric however grew up in a home where his father collected wines.
>> Black business don’t have investors to support them when times are lean.<<
Few businesses have 'investors' to support them when times are lean and that's an unsatisfactory explanation. Do you think Londel's has seen lean times? Don't over think it. Jai Jai and Eric are terrific people with fabulous educations but together contrived an awful business model for a wine store in Harlem. Too boutique, obscure, & random. You simply could not find a familiar product that you knew and wanted there. I love them both and I never shopped there. Many of these business just have bad models. Patrice Clayton is a dear friend, the founder/owner of the Harlem Tea Room. She's a hot shot from Wall street like Eric and Jai Jai. Her business model was horrible.
Meanwhile I am not sure Londel of Londel's even went to college, yet he's doing just fine. I though am surprised with how they've eased out of business on the 'low'. Very contrary to how they had Nectar say goodbye.
I find many of these comments odd. I no longer live near Harlem Vintage so have not gone much in the past year or so, but I found it to be one of the best wine stores in Manhattan. It had an interesting selection of very good wines that were not super expensive. The fact that the wines were organized by grape rather than region/country was fabulous. I hope that whatever the problem is it is worked out and that Harlem Vintage is not shut down permanently. It will be a loss for the neighborhood if it is gone.
ReplyDelete