The affordable new rental building at 2080 FDB by West 113th Street will apparently now have a wine and champagne bar called The Park arriving at its lower commercial storefront. New taverns and pubs have been doing pretty well in the past but a successful wine bar has yet to arrive uptown. If we can make any judgements based on the signage so far, it seems that The Park has a pretty decent taste level. Thoughts anyone?
Given Nectar's inability to generate sufficient interest and revenue, The Park will be a huge gamble. I have heard neighbors and friends comment that Nectar would have succeeded if it were also a bar, also serving beer and mixed drinks. If that's that case, then I wonder if The Park will also be destined for failure. Regardless, I hope it succeeds.
ReplyDeleteI hope it succeeds too but it will be a gamble. IMHO, people are not rushing out to sit in an overly nice lounge and pay $11 for a glass of wine. All over NYC beer gardens and craft beer bars are opening and every single one has been successful so far even in areas with lots of competition. Casual is the way to go in this economy. Look at Corner Social...
ReplyDeleteAuberge Laurent
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely a need. For us its about hitting the right price point, and offering the right munchies to entice those friends who aren't heavy drinkers.
ReplyDeleteReally glad there isn't "Harlem" in the name :) We all know where we are!
I guess they have not reading our comments re: wine bars !
ReplyDeleteI do wish them well. a Happy hour , daily specials, or an affordable house wine will help. and yes, some food at a reasonable price.
I believe its easier to get a beer/wine license rather then a full liquor license, so that is why you they pop up ...
If they did something that catered to everyone (i.e. not $15 for the cheapest glass) and really made an effort to get the community involved with regular wine tastings etc., I think they might do alright. I'm more of a beer person, but I have been to a few wineries and they really nail down the business model of making wine accessible to everybody with the option of wine samplers and not just $$$ for a single glass.
ReplyDeleteI like my wine bars! One of the best wine bars I've been to is Bin 71 on Columbus and they seem to always be busy! I'm trying to think why that place works. It's sad that Nectar didn't work out, but I wonder if what they were lacking is good food options? I also don't know why a wine bar needs a TV unless it's for the Oscars...I think no matter where you are, if you have the right combo of what people are looking for, tehy will come no matter what! Crossing my fingers that The Park will get it right.
ReplyDeleteSome folks have to learn the hard way, I guess.
ReplyDeleteHope it works out for them.
champagne!? wake up! this is 2012. coffee and beer are where it's at. why are so many places up here striving so hard to be "sophisticated?"
ReplyDeleteI am a huge wine drinker, but never put a foot into Nectar. I took one look at the crappy wine list posted by the door and moved on. This new place has a nice sign, but their website doesn't look promising in terms of taste www.theparkwinebar.com
ReplyDeleteCouple of questions...would an irish bar do well in Harlem? (Probably looking at the FDB area..b/w 110-125th).
ReplyDeleteWhat is the largest stumbling block with opening a bar/pub? Investor money aside, is getting the liquor license the biggest hurdle?
Liquor license
DeleteIrish bar=a Blarney Stone? Are there still Blarney Stones? They used to be everywhere.
Sanou...Irish bars in nyc have come a long way since the Blarney Stones (and yes a few still exist....) . But look at all the bars downtown with a wood front, gaelic sounding name (or not), they mostly seem to do very well, get a lunch , afterwork and nighttime crowd. They are clearly doing something right.
DeleteI think the one that opens up here do very well.
So then basically a pub. I'm all for 'em.
DeleteProblem with Irish bars/pubs is that they tend to be after-work venues. Not that many people work in offices in Harlem. People don't go home and then go to the bar, they go straight to the bar from work. There aren't a lot of Irish pubs outside of Midtown, where most of the office crowd works.
DeleteHarlem has so many low brow places like Kennedy Fried Chicken and now so many high priced restaurants. What the heck happened to a good old Chipotle???
ReplyDeleteYou're pining away for a Chipotle? Seriously? Yeah, let's make sure every neighborhood feels the same, with the same chains. You want Chipotle? Try most of NYC, and every suburb in the country.
ReplyDeleteI think the point of Guest , was something nice , clean and quality and in between a fried chicken and Red Rooster. Everyday, efficient and affordable. nothing wrong with that. it is very much needed.
ReplyDeletecome one entrepenours!