When the critically acclaimed Mountain Bird shuttered in the beginning of the month because of increased rent issues, many wondered where one of Harlem's hottest new restaurants will relocate. The Japanese husband-wife team that owns the notable business dropped by at Sugar Hill Market in July and quickly chatted with us about their search for a new space. Since the duo lives on Sugar Hill, they would definitely like to be closer to the 145th Street corridor and ideally by an express subway line. Since we posted the previous article on the closure, Mountain Bird has received quite a few phone calls but nothing has been confirmed as of yet for the next move. It was also mentioned that kitchen-ready locations would probably be higher on the list for possible choices but those too are not always readily available. Check out the original comment thread on possible areas in Harlem that Mountain Bird should move to based on reader suggestions in our past post:
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They should open up in the old Lundy's space - http://harlembespoke.blogspot.com/2010/07/walk-lundys-at-147th-street.html.
ReplyDeleteseems like anywhere on Lenox would be a good location, especially with so many eateries popping up.
ReplyDeleteHey Ulysses, could you encourage them to take a look at lower Lenox? It's quickly become a nice stretch of impressive eateries. Mountain Bird would be in good company, and we have some empty storefronts that would be great for a restaurant of this caliber (not far from Barawine, Cheri, etc).
ReplyDeleteNo we want them to stay in Sugar Hill!
ReplyDeleteMy choice would still be 142 Edgecombe ave, next to the new Manhattanville Cafe. Ulysses mentioned possible competition but I don't see it since the cafe doesn't offer much in the way of a real lunch; some quiche but otherwise all sweets. They would complement each other. And the workers are just now finishing up the raw space so the owners could set it up the way they want.
ReplyDeleteThey mentioned that they looked at the spot and will probably pass on it since they did not want to compromise Manhattanville Coffee's daytime business.
ReplyDeleteI spoke with the owners and leaving the area around Sugar Hill is out of the question. They live over near 145th and Saint Nicholas and want to keep MB in the immediate area.
ReplyDeleteThere are many options for them. I wish them the best and will see them on their grand re-opening.
This makes me (selfishly) happy, as I found their old location inconvenient.
ReplyDeleteHow about the St.Nicks Pub location or on 145th next to library, there is a narrow space available. Around 139th & Amsterdam there's been a sign for an Indian restaurant coming but I've never seen development perhaps its free. I miss Mountain Bird.
ReplyDeleteI wish they would come south a little and take over the old Perk's space on 123rd.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to follow-up on this thread. I don't really know the history of the building but there is a vacant pizza place on the southwest corner of 145th and Lenox. It is a decent sized space with a lot of foot and vehicle traffic, right outside the subway and was previously a food-service business. I'm not sure what's going on upstairs from that location (all of the windows are filled with cinder blocks) but perhaps that is a location that could work?
ReplyDeleteThey should set up in the old 400 tavern spot on 148th and st Nicholas avenue! The heart of sugar hill!! Right off the express ABCD trains
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