We’ve all been waiting with bated breath for it to arrive; wondering if it was all a front…a tease…a cruel joke. Well, I am thrilled to say that I heard from an extremely reliable source that Maroons Uptown is on the way!
We are pleased to advise you that the build out of Maroons Harlem has begun in earnest. According to the construction plans we received this past Friday, the construction should be completed this Fall. We are looking forward to this addition to the neighborhood and the role it will play in the revitalization of Harlem.
Maroons will be located in the commercial space directly across from the Langston which will have a Starbucks, NY Sports Club and more. A New York Times article from September 2005 had the following to say, “Maroons Harlem Arlene Weston, who owns Maroons in Chelsea, will take her blend of Southern and Jamaican food uptown to a spacious dining room designed by Glen Coben: 300 West 145th Street.” and The Strong Buzz posted the following (which may very well be outdated at this point.)
I don’t know how many of you remember chef Patricia Williams, but I do. She cooked at Butterfiled 81, City Wine and Cigar (remember that place?), Berkley Bar & Grill, the short-lived Drew Nieporent venture in the Sony building, and most recently at Morrell’s on Broadway, before it closed. She is a quiet little talent and I was happy to hear that she will once again be working the stoves. She is slated to be the chef at the second branch of Arlene Weston’s Southern-Jamaican restaurant Maroons, set to open in Harlem this June (300 West 145th Street, at Bradhurst Avenue).
The restaurant, designed by Glen Coben of Glen & Company, will feature a formal 140 seat dining room, with a private party room, and a 20-seat café offering more casual dining, serving breakfast, take out and delivery service.
Maroons Harlem will be working directly with The Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation to ignite business development and create jobs for residents in Central, East and West Harlem, Washington Heights and Inwood. Stay tuned for more details on this cool new project.
Anyone up for the UPTOWNflavor meet up dinner when Maroons is completed? This is sure to be a neighborhood hot spot!
Related: Maroons ::
why say
September 11, 2007
The chef you mentioned is not the chef slating maroons in harlem instead its Jamie Poole. Please Update you information
Anonymous
April 10, 2007
I think they’re going to have to scale down their menu from their Chelsea spot to be successful @ 145th. Their average dinner entre price seems to be $17 – $18 and I’m not sure there is sufficient critical mass of people within walking distance to support this on a daily basis, day in day out.
SugarHill Bistro was more upscale and found that out the hard way. I hear that new New Orlease spot there is having a tough time at it. Anyone know what typical Copeland (quite successful) price points are at?
A Manhattan restaurant needs a certain critical mass of walk by (not destination) but daily walk by traffic to stay a float. Based on what I read above, the square footage,number of seats and needed number of servings every night to support that, looks like a major roll of the dice with the current Chelsea many simply transferred uptown.
140 “Formal Seating Dining” at that location? That’s a lot of tables to support at that scale and I don’t see it @ 145th. If you look at Menupages or anywhere else, The Chelsea spot is considered a $$$ price level restaurant. My commentary is on can a $$$ scale spot with this means seats, this size be supported at that location every single night?
Pier 2110 is empty and unsupported on 125th most every night. I hate to compare the two because Pier 2110 lacks authenticity to me and is just,….”blah”, no character. Maroon has character that’s not manufactured but genuine.
I’d prefer to see a smaller more intimate and less ambitious Marroon open, one that I know can survive and not be taken away, as they took Sugar Hill Bistro away from me
I loved that place.
dasit
April 10, 2007
The only phrase better than “delivery” is “serving breakfast”. I’m like bout to faint with delight!
Hugo
April 10, 2007
I’m definitely up for the meet-up dinner. Afterparty at my place!!!
Hugo
April 10, 2007
SWEET! Thanks for the update!