A recent headline in The Liberator Magazine proclaimed, “Harlem Businesses Failing.” It was in response to a December 21, 2006 article that appeared in the Amsterdam News . The Amsterdam article opens with,
The phrase “Closing Out Sale” is becoming all too familiar on Harlem’s 125th street. The place known to the world as the international business Mecca for people of African decent now faces the threat of being swallowed by the upshot of gentrification.
One of the problems cited in the article is the number of ethnically diverse customers being driven out of Harlem due to rising rents.
Other issues contributing to the loss of businesses on 125th Street include “the influx of large corporate entities” and raised rents for commercial space. The ever shrinking population of street vendors believe that large chain businesses like Old Navy, Verizon, Footlocker and M.A.C. are extracting wealth from the community.
In a survey of UPTOWNflavor readers, 58.7% of respondents said that they that sometimes frequent new businesses in Harlem, while 38.7% said that they often frequent them. Of all the respondents only 4% said that they shop in Harlem most of the time.
Although the City of New York is focusing on providing luxury living and promoting tourism in Harlem, one important aspect is being neglected; The redevelopment of existing businesses. Unfortunately many new Harlem residents still spend their dollars either downtown or in surrounding communities.
What do you is think the primary problem with Harlem business? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
Note: Shop Harlem is a logo of the Harlem Business Alliance
Aacoa
December 24, 2007
I love harlem. It is the one place in New York City that we could call our own. There’s a Chinatown, a Little Italy, Little PR and DR, so why cant we have our rasin in the sun or are these areas subject to the same fate. I have mixed feelings about the process. I dont think it should be about pushing the Blacks out, but improving it so that more people can enjoy Harlem. This is not something I am opposed to. I dont think there will ever be a time in which any one person can or should expect to spend their money soley from one race. Just unrealistic. But I think Harlem can benefit from the diversity of big business coming through just not at the expense of the small business. Isnt there room for everyone?
Never have I ever seen so much change happen so quickly in Harlem. I walked and drove up and down Bradhurst Ave for 7 years with all its potholes, lumps and bumps before anything changed. Only now, that there is a Starbucks on the corner of 145th and a new residential doorman building, housing more affluent residents, has this street been paved to the smooth, gliding, pleasure to drive, street that it is right now. Pathmark is one of the best things to happen to Harlem. Big business in Harlem does contribute to job growth in Harlem and I enjoy Starbucks every now and then. I enjoy MAC, Old Navy but I also love the local shops, boutiques, street peddlers and such. Yes, there are a lot of soul food spots in Harlem. Where else should they be? But there could be a little more variety of the healthy sort. The newer of the Soul Food resturants is Manna’s, not Mama’s and if you stop into one of its three locations soul food is one of many options including fresh fruits, salads, vegetables and such. There are also Spanish spots, Jamaican spots, Chinese resturants, fresh fish markets (usually Korean/Asian owned) and all the major fast food chains.
I would definitely like to see the customer service improve in Harlem. That needs to happen like yesterday!
Franky
February 13, 2007
I think that harlem businesses need to have a sense of community instead of competing with each other. If we work as a community to help bring in the money to our community we can all flourish. The problem with alot of our businesses, local organizations and banking organization is the true fact the customer service. 1. the lack of training the staff 2. Over working the little bit of staff that businesses have. 3. everyone to busy competing with each other instead of using that enery to evolve their busienss to the next level or tailor it to what we as a community want to see (so that way there can be a stronger base of support from the people in our community). 4.If local organization would stop working off of NEPOTISM for their existing memebers and reach out to local businesses (this would raise the percentage of the membership level in their organization)and offer businesses the help thats needed to make these businesses successful. Its sad to hear people say that the customer service in Harlem “sucks” and the sadder part isthat many of the people employed in these positions are our very own who live in Harlem. Lack of training is the cause of this sad happening, but its not that business owners do not want to train the staff, its the organization offering these services are only helping 1. members to their organization. 2. Or businesses that only help their personal gain. If these orgaization would reach out to local businesses and offer these services it would help with their membership level and help Harlem busiensses work as a community. I know its easier said than done, but as we already see since none of it is being done (Here we are). And as for the gentrification part of the article in the beginning, i went to the dictionary to look up the word and this is what I came up with:
Gentrification
Main Entry: gen·tri·fi·ca·tion
Pronunciation: “jen-tr&-f&-’kA-sh&n
Function: noun
: the process of renewal and rebuilding accompanying the influx of middle-class or affluent people into deteriorating areas that often displaces earlier usually poorer residents.
In other words: TO MOVE OUT
Banks
February 8, 2007
I agree I’d rather spend my dollars in Harlem. I’m new to Harlem too, but had the pleasure of meeting the women who owned the hardware store on 125th. She was very nice and knowledgeable. As much as I would rather spend black the store was over-crowded and small. With growth of the community, the business has to grow too, be it in size or products offered. Unfortunately, the hardware store nearby took advantage of this in terms of space and products and it makes a world of a difference. It could of been that she was offered a deal she could not refuse or lack the dollars to improve the store. I must admit that there is one thing that can’t be replaced and that’s the satisfaction of supporting your own.
rk
January 29, 2007
I took the poll but I thought it didn’t accurately convey my habits because it didn’t allow for multiple selections.
I’m new to Harlem but I shop in the neighborhood almost exclusively. Given that everything you could possibly need is on 125th St, I think I’d have to go out of my way not to shop here.
With dining, it’s different. I’m on a low-cholesterol diet, so although I love the deep fried pork chops at Amy Ruth’s, it’s not something I can eat on a regular basis. I agree with the others who commented on the lack of diversity in the cuisine available. I’d say I only dine out in the neighborhood 25% of the time, but it’s because I’ve only found two places that have really good food and where the service is good.
I really want to support the restaurant on my block, but the service is so bad. I’ve given it three changes, and each time was worse. It’s a shame.
Joe
January 26, 2007
I remember that hardware store on 125th, very nice woman, sorry to see the store go. The new hardware store close by is very good, bigger choice, they get my business also.
Harlem is my fist choice for spending dollars, if I can get it in Harlem I do, but I do not buy black, that would be racist, just like buying white only would be racist.
Anonymous
January 26, 2007
That’s right Joe. And did you see this new restaurant on 125th? Across the street from Clinton’s Office he’s never at?
What kind of food? “Soul Food”, What’s it called, “Mama’s” or something like that? How original, how creative, exactly what Harlem needs.
At least I saw some new Vietnamese place on 8th somewhere, saw the menu, forgot the name.
There’s an interesting line of characterizing being tossed about with what’s going on in Harlem. It’s called “Ethnic Cleansing”. Economic Ethnic Cleansing. Black business replaced by someone else that ain’t black, that’s for sure.
I’ve lived in Harlem a long time. I used to always spend my money with that Black lady that owned/operated the hardware store on 125th, remember her? She was driven out of business and now when I need local quick hardware supplies, that lady and her business are no longer on 125th. I still though spend black for these items, I though have had to go to these far smaller whole in the wall Black hardware stores scattered about. Shame.
Harlem won’t be Black in 50 years, not a chance. Like all peoples before us (Scandanavians, Jews, etc. we’ve had our time here and it’s not in the twilight and final phases of the temporary stewardship we’ve had).
joe
January 26, 2007
I purchase in Harlem when I can, which is often.
But spend money downtown when I need a book (other than black literature), fresh produce (that lasts more than a day), movie ticket (not Hollywood fan), dining (other than soul food).
Harlem could use some diversity in stores.