Thursday, July 31, 2014

SHOP: BUSINESSES HEAD NORTH FOR OPPORTUNITY

Just a couple of years back, hot new spots were opening around Lenox or FDB by 125th Street but now boutique businesses are looking further north for better opportunities.  We gather that openings have since slowed down further south because new leases are surely costly so savvy shop owners now see that the lack of competition further north and more affordable rents make sense for new businesses launches.

For 2014, there will 7 new notable openings in the upper 130s and the 140s mostly concentrated on the more western locale of Harlem.  At The Wallace just opened its bar at Broadway and 149th Street and has been an instant hit.  The same can be said for Manhattanville Coffee which arrived earlier in the summer at 142nd and Edgecombe and it now looks like Anchor Wine Bar will be next to open its doors over on Broadway by 143rd Street.   Hog's Head Tavern at 142nd and Hamilton Place will surely receive much of our entertainment budget when it opens in the next couple of weeks while Grill On The Hill just 2 blocks south will also be a notable debut in a similar time frame.  Finally The Edge cafe at 139th and Edgecombe or La Tarenga's contemporary French-Senaglese offerings just an avenue over will totally complete the restaurant revolution of the more northern reaches of Harlem.

5 comments:

  1. this is so great. go hamilton heights.

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  2. Kudos to Harlem Public. Really smart business owners. Open a new business right next door to their old one? Absolutely brilliant. The neighborhood cant support it, wanted and needed it... why compete with anyone but yourself?

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  3. As someone who has lived in the neighborhood almost a decade, I'm not surprised. Accessibility to Hamilton Heights is fantastic and apartments are reasonable, especially considering you're in Manhattan and the big increases in Brooklyn, so the influx has really increased in the last two years. Houses were a relative bargain, but they're getting very expensive, so you have people with money moving into the area without a full range of local bars, restaurants, and services.

    There are a lot of very nice empty storefronts remaining in the neighborhood, so these seven openings will certainly not be the last.

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  4. Great news and also an update, the spot opening at 139th and ACP now has a sign in the window saying it's going to be Ponty Bistro.

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  5. I agree with the area now gaining popularity with a set of people who are priced out of Brooklyn, and happily surprised with the housing, community and in Manhattan neighborhood. Well done on the part of these smaller non chain restaurants. I would love to see a west side market or trader's joe.

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