What’s happening on the Harlem food scene?
First the good news, Tea and Things of that Kind has opened! I’m not sure how long they have been open and they are a bit inconspicuous, but they are indeed open for business. You can visit them at 137th and Adam Clayton Powell Blvd.
Heading west one avenue over, Charles’ Country Pan Fried has scaled back to one storefront rather than two. If you remember in its past life as Charles’ Southern they had an eat in buffet and a separate take out location. Seeming resolving their tax issues they have changed the name of the establishment and consolidated the take out and buffet into one tight space.
Heading back downtown, we got wind that a new Wendy’s is opening on 125th and Park Avenue. This will cap the new Checker’s at the opposite end of 125th and Broadway.
Finally, stepping it up a few notches, word has it that celebrity chef and Harlem resident Marcus Samuelsson plans to open up a new eatery in Harlem called the Red Rooster. The name pays homage to the original establishment housed at 138th and Seventh Avenue in the 1930s. No word yet as to where the new Red Rooster will be located, but it probably wouldn’t be a far stretch of the imagination to think it will give some competition to Sylvia’s and the new restaurants along 8th Avenue.
Now on to the bad news. Let’s start with Well’s which had high hopes of reclaiming their spot as the chicken and waffle kings of Harlem. They are no more. An article appearing in The Uptowner last year told a tale of woe as to the challenges Well’s has faced.
Down the boulevard we had high hopes for the sustainability of family owned and operated TJ Bakery and Cafe. After several attempts to support them over the past couple of months, a For Rent sign appeared on the gate the other day. We wish the family the best as they move on to other pursuits. Thank you for bringing a little sweetness to an area otherwise deprived of variety.
Also on Seventh Avenue the newly opened Cheesesteak Factory was dark with a Marshal’s Notice in the window. I hope they can resolve their rent issues because their waffle fries were delicious!
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WOW CrystalM sounds like you have some great memories and yup you are right all the places that you mentioned are no more with the exception of Better pie crust on 139th and 7th it is now called make my CAKE. Those others places are long gone distant memories replaced by substandard overprices below average fair. I mean hey Sylvia’s still exists and having had it exactly one week ago can confirm that the food is delicious. Famous Fish on 145th and St Nicholas is still there and business is booming. Sherman’s Barbecue on 145th-46 is still holding on if only just barely. So somethings do remain.
A lot of shops have closed and will continue to close. However, many more have opened and will continue to open. Markets forces and/ or conditions determine this. Hopefully more will open than close though.
Edmunds is gone too. closed for a few months now. i cant tell you how many friends i have who would travel to harlem for Edmunds. One of harlem’s best kept secrets.
Wow…Wells is gone? I have to tell my mother. We have been out of NY for over 20 years and I was happy to see this sight because we left in 1984 for Florida but are still Harlem at heart
I wonder if anyone knows what happened to AKA 3 sisters on 144 and 7th ave, better pie crust on 7th and 139th st, are the muslims still serving good fried fish at seafood haven, what memories but I am sure all these places are closed by now? Just wondering…
Hi Crystal. Thanks for reading. The original Wells has been long gone. This was an attempted come back by a family member. A short lived one at that. All of the places you mentioned are now part of Harlem history. Everything from M&G to Pan Pan are part of Harlem’s past. You probably wouldn’t even recognize Harlem these days.