Harlem Bespoke: We received a question this week inquiring more on the location of the Clam House made famout by LGBT Harlem Renaissance icon Gladys Bentley. The famous Jungle Alley on West 133rd Street between 7th Avenue and Lenox is still intact but the aforementioned building with the triangular cornice detail was never landmarked so only the above government tax photo from the 1940s show what it looked like before it was demolished 20 years later. Also another point to note is that Covan's Morocco Club took over the space later on and that awning can be seen in the archival snapshot.
As most in the neighborhood know by now, Harlem has never been particular good at preserving the proud jazz heritage of the community as far as buildings are concerned and Number 146 West 143rd Street would be an empty lot for a long time until the new construction was built in 2003 which has no reference to any history on the street. Fortunately the brownstone with the more classic cornice shape that now is the address for Bill's Place at 148 West 133rd Street can be recognized in both photos if you look to the far right of the images. Read more about Gladys Bentley in our past post: LINK
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