Photo by: D. Bell
While some businesses are extending their summer hours during the summer I noticed a couple of businesses that were actually closed with no signs indicating why.
- Well’s on Seventh had their gate pulled down this afternoon. While I’m not a huge fan of their fare, they seem to do pretty well with the neighborhood crowd.
- Tasty News was also closed today. I really like this modern cafe tucked into W.131th Street off of Lenox. They are actually the only place I can think of in Harlem that creates custom salads like you ones you get downtown. They even have free wi-fi. The problem is location, location, location. They are off the main drag and people either don’t know or forget they are there. They are also in direct competition with Le Perle Noire across the street.
- The Old Navy on 125th looks relatively empty and word is that they will be closing.
*Editor’s Note:
A reader added that Cafe Il Latte has also been closed. There are other local businesses that I see closed at odd hours (Harlem Wing and Waffle) which makes it hard to support them when they are not keeping consistent hours. A sign in the window or a notice on a website makes all the difference in the world. Business owners should not assume that folks will just check back.
Cafe Bon Jour on St. Nicholas closed temporary and never reopened and from what I understand Cafe Largo is still closed temporarily.
If you have the inside scoop on what is happening with these businesses be sure to email us at uptownflavor[at]gmail[dot] com.
Valgb
July 20, 2009
Anonymous, what is your problem and why are you in Harlem? You focus on what you choose. I am an African American who could llive pretty
much where I choose, and I choose the culture, creativity and warmth of Harlem. I’ve lived with the trash-littered streets of the cushy West Village on weekend mornings; the difference is that the city rushes in to clean them. What’s the excuse of the affluent jerks who throw down THOSE wrappers, break glass bottles and vandalize bus shelters after they stagger out.of the bars? Most Harlem residents are decent people who work their asses off for low wages, or would if they could find those jobs. If you find Harlem so disgusting, why don’t you leave instead of villifying it from the cowardly shelter of anonymous posts?
HWA
July 20, 2009
Anyone notice the Harlem Book Fair was about 1/3 at best crowded and large as let’s say 2 or 3 years ago? The number of book sellers? An incredible drop off. My guess is the Fair peaked 3 years ago and there has been a gradual decline. This year was rather astonishing with how few exhibitors of books there were as compared to years past, again guessing about 1/3 as many as in ’06 for example. A sign of the times?
AW
July 18, 2009
I’ve spoken with the owner of Cafe II Latte last weekend and she told me that she’s closed due to a situation with ConEd and that she would reopen Monday the 13th I see she’s still closed so I’m not sure what the deal is.
ting
July 18, 2009
Word is? I was in the Old Navy this week and inquired. According to the manager, there is no intention to close this store and, in fact, it was full of customers. Word is UptownFlavor needs to check rumors better.
D. Bell
July 18, 2009
Ting,
Apparently the rumor was not confirmed otherwise we would have said so. We also were not referencing the number of customers, we were referencing the amount of product on the floor as well as sales staff on the floor. In addition, check the business sheets and you will see that Old Navy and parent company Gap are in the process of restructuring.
You also missed the point of the post. If you read to the end you would have seen there was a request for more information on the mentioned businesses and their situations.
Assuming you are a new reader, welcome. Be sure to check out our ABOUT section to see how we do things around here.
Anon
July 18, 2009
Savona & Leo, you’re preaching to the choir here on this blog, no one who reads UF is part of the “Harlem Problem” and you’re decrying the obvious. You’e both speaking to the great density & huge numbes of “the under class” (for lack of a better term) that dominates Harlem. The population of Harlem that lacks self esteem, a decent role model and or mentor in their life, a part of generational welfare & dysfunction, etc. and so forth is GIGANTIC and it is the root of so many of the problems (poor health & food choices, study habits, “don’t snitch”, reading levels, general filth on the streets, satisfaction with poor quality choices and options, etc). This may not be you or me but this who Harlem largely is, a ghetto. A few nice restaurants and a few nice new apt buildings don’t change the prevailing density of the culture.
Savona, how do you change the prevailing behavior of the majority of the culture? Solve that and you will be elected Mayor of NYC. I walk Harlem streets daily, and daily I see young teens and teens litter with no concern or regard of what they are doing. Sure I see adults litter too, however what saddens me is when “the future” exhibits horrible characteristics and behavior. It’s really amazing how people simply consume a product that’s packaged, might be a soda, a hamburger, a candy bar, etc. and simply toss the wrapping material on the ground with absolute comfort and no regard to the impact on their community. What I just described is RAMPANT and COMMONPLACE, not isolated or occasional. Even kids in school uniforms with bookbags, I might see groups of them walking down the street and leaving quite a trail of litter with no regard or concern, they are oblivious and disconnected to the ramifications of their behavior.
Like it or not, This is Harlem. Not a small subset of Harlem, but the general typical nature of “Harlem”. Most all the Harlem problems boil down to the home. Dignity & Esteem for self and community? No, sorry, you’re kidding yourself if you think these are attributes the majority of Harlem embodies, they are not. Harlem is a place where people are content with a welfare existence and 2nd class services and choices. They (the underclass) want for nothing more, or greater for themselves or their families.
Think about it, if you had little education, maybe a child or two…why on earth would you live in Manhattan? You’re only insuring and securing that you’re life will be wedded and locked to “welfare”. But this is okay with the underclass of Harlem. God forbid anyone suggest they underclass move to PA, NC, SC, VA, where their kids have a better shot of breaking the family generational welfare cycle and their $30K / yr job goes a lot further than it does in Manhattan.
The unavoidable fact of the situation is anchored in Harlem, truly deeply entrenched and anchored in Harlem, are the underclass with vast numbers and huge density. Social welfare programs of the last or 6 decades (rent control, sec. 8, foodstamps, etc.) have only further rooted and anchored them in place. Most of these households lack a decent role model or mentor, welfare, sec. 8 housing and foodstamps are an accepted aspect of life, they are comfortable living on the back of taxpayer’s and want for nothing greater or more. It’s okay to be on welfare, it’s okay to litter, it’s okay to have 2nd rate stores and eateries and options in life. In fact the underclass of Harlem cannot imagine or relate to better options than they see before them. They’ve never known clean streets, their own grass in their own backyard, quietness & calm. Social order is a concept they’ve never known (social order means using a trash can to dispose of litter, respecting the rule of law, that means no motorcross dirtbike riding and popping wheelies on the street with unlicensed motorcyles, that are illegal on the streets). You see, this is Harlem, things like this above are commonplace and accepted, as if filth, as is littering, as is wanting for no more than your welfare class lifestyle.
I’m humored by people like Savona who state the obvious that no one would disagree with – however fail to acknowledge and declare the obvious problem, and solutions to the problem. I am addressing the FACTS. Speaking to the facts is not “negative”, it’s honest. The Harlem problems have not been solved in that last 20 and 30 years because most people don’t want to identify and speak to the problems. The problems are the institutions that preserve generational welfare, the “constructs” that enable people to be irresponsible and disconnected from real life, parental and fiscal responsibility. And that’s what no one wants to speak to, the truth.
Again, quite humored by Savona saying, “There is a reason we are a poor community because WE think we are a poor community”. No Savona…We are a poor community because we are a poor community, it’s not metaphysical, it’s not that deep or complex”. We have social welfare programs in place that preserve our community welfare state and anchor us to welfare status. We don’t want people to assume pesonal responsibility or determine that maybe, just maybe they cannot afford “Manhattan”. We’re a community of assumed entitlement of place and other invalid notions. We’re not honest and truthful about who we are Savona. Collectively we’re a hot mess on a rainy day.
Leo
July 17, 2009
I agree with Savona… irrespective of background, class, race, color, there is NO excuse for the trash on the streets, discourteous behavior, rudeness, shouting. Contrast this aspect of our community with the values we share and hold dear, the values that take us to Church on Sundays… shame on us – where is our own responsibility to our community.
valgb
July 17, 2009
Does anyone know what’s up with Cafe Latte on Lenox suddenly being closed for days? We LOVE this place and it seemed like they were doing good business.
Savona
July 17, 2009
Harlem needs to understand that it MUST support itself. We cannot be lack about this. Too much energy is focused on the negative and not enough on positive. In other community, they have created lemonade out of lemons. There is a reason we are a poor community because WE think we are a poor community. There is no excuse for the garbage we see on the streets, or support multiple 99 cent stores or too many urban wear stores instead of dress shops or fine mens wear. It’s about self love. If you love yourself, then you will take care of yourself.