Just one block away from the rumored Harlem Macy’s [video] is a rumored Harlem ESPN. See below:
Finally, if this is true, it’s a real doozy: “The NE corner of 126th and Lenox, just 3 storefronts away from Starbucks, is under redeveolopment (old Mutual Life Insurance Building well known by Harlemites). It’s under active redevelopment at the moment, total overhaul. A worker tells me it’s planned to be an ESPN Sports Zone Bar/Cafe.” [PLYWOOD?]
Source: Eater/Curbed
[...] it’s planned to be an ESPN Sports Zone Bar/Cafe.” Uptown Flavor readers have since been debating the rumor, declaring it plausible, if not possible. [Eater, Uptown [...]
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According to ACRIS – the City’s real property document search program – the property is owned by Off-Court, LLC and will be used by another LLC called, Full-Court Tenant, LLC.
Both LLC’s were created in Oct. 2006, so they are just shells for the corporate owner. Some of the documents were signed by G. William Hunter, the Executive Director of the National Basketball Players Association. So, it appears the NBA rumor is the winner.
It is hard to tell what they are going to use the building for, but as the NBA fans out there will know, Full Court is the name of the NBAs college basketball pay-per-view sports package. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESPN_Full_Court
That makes it seem the property will be office space, which is cool. But, based on zoning and local uses, I would not be surprised to see some ground floor retail.
Damn…once you add Macy’s and ESPN Zone it’s a wrap! Harlem will officially be giftwrapped with a bow! I mean…all bs aside, i am really excited about it! I love ESPN zone. It’ll be my official Friday night spot. Then I’ll do Suite 308 on Saturdays.
I think it’s definitely possible. If it’s a full fledges ESPN zone I hope it doesn’t put suite 308 out of business
yeah NBA was the rumor last year. it’s definately a store, as the permits say it’s a commercial renovation…so it wont just be offices. the owner is listed as “off-court LLC” which could be NBA affiliated. i went back to the old curbed chain and people were saying then it wasnt the actual NBA but the players union that bought it.
so who knows….
A couple of years ago I heard from a reliable source that the NBA bought the building and were going to put offices there.
I’ve heard this and my knee jerk reaction is “no way”. But I also thought this about the Disney store (now closed), H&M, etc. When you think about it, as a business model, it kind of makes a little sense (and it’s odd for me to say this).
1. 125th & Lenox is a major intersection in the major city in America.
2. Blockbuster there is one of the most profitable in the USA (for Blockbuster, I know this as I am a B consultant, know the details).
3. Before they tore down that bldg. at 125th and Lenox, it was used Exclusively for brand/sports marketing by Adidas or Nike or someone.
4. Trend setting edge in fashion/brand marketing in the merging of young urban culture and sports is 125th St. The whole Hip Hop Sports Convergence. Consider the recent big money sales of Phat Farm and Rocafella fashion/clothes.
5. 106th & Park, BET’s version of MTV’s TRL often out rates TRL and their prime time Times Sq locaiton.
6. Harlem is major on the tourist route and a ton of business goes to Sylvia’s uncontested. We all see the numerous bus loads of European/Asian tourist at that spot right thee.
Just some quick thumbnail points, it’s not a crazy rumor/concept/model that has no foundation to be justified in a business model context from a stand point of sports/youth culture/hip hop/branding/trend setting, capturing the eyes of the world, etc.