|| Home Page | Welcome | Contents | Staff ||

 What do the New Commercial Establishments mean to the Cultural Heritage of Harlem?

 Reported by Devan Hankerson and Saleem Sharif
Photos by
Jamal Severin
Intro by
Nicole Farrow

What would a new Starbucks or Pathmark do for Harlem? It would finally give Harlem the recognition that it deserves from major corporations. This means that Harlem is finally being recognized as an economic influence in society. Previously, major corporations were hesitant placing financially stable companies in areas where they assumed they couldn't make a profit. People might be concerned that growth of all of these new corporations will chase the African-Amercan heritage out the community. But a simple coffee shop and grocery market could never stripe Harlem of its heritage.


HarlemLive went out recently to ask Harlemites what they think.

Brother Africa

Name: Brother Africa

Age: 55

Residence: Harlem

Occupation: Teacher

 

 

What does the opening of Starbucks on 125th mean to the community?

I think that it's a definite improvement. I think it's a model for getting more of our own people involved in business using downtown or mainstream vehicles. We have a brother by the name of Magic Johnson who has invested and who is one of the owners of the business and there needs to be more models like this.

What effect do you think this big business has on the smaller business around the neighborhood?

I think it's a good thing because more stores like this needs to be opened up in the neighborhood." It's only competition I can see right now is a bakery up on 139st and 7th Ave. You can come in and sit down and order coffee. It doesn't have the range as this but it's more of a community location than Starbucks so this opens up possibilities for competition and more shops and I'd like to see that."

How do you feel about the number of people from different races moving to Harlem? Is it good or bad and why?

I think there's nothing wrong with it,. I think there needs to be more economic control of Harlem by a lot of us who are in the neighborhood now. The problem with other people of different races coming, is in whose hands is the economic control of Harlem going to end up in? That's my question.

What do you think 125th street will look like in 5 years?

In about five years, one hundred and twenty fifth street will go through definite and dramatic changes. Your going to have at two ends of it which is central Harlem at one end and east Harlem at another end. You going to have two Polar shopping centers, there both are going to be the anchors of 125st.

 


Gwendolina BattleName: Gwendolina Battle

Residence: Harlem

Occupation: Street vendor

What does the opening of Pathmark on Lexington and 125th mean to the 125th street community?

I think it's a great idea because first of all the vegetables are fresh and we've heard a lot about Pathmark in the past, the 207th street store having great bargains. So now we have it here at Lexington and 125th. We have the Starbucks they opened up, Magic Johnson's place. I think it's great and it would be inspirational to a lot of business people like Black entrepreneurs because he's a Black man and he wants to help his people. I heard him talk about it on KISS [FM radio radio station, featuring Classic Soul and R&B]. He wants to help his people so I think it's a great idea

What effect do you think this big business has on the smaller businesses around the neighborhood?

I don't think it's going to harm them, because people buy from who they want to buy from.

How do you feel about the number of people from different races moving to Harlem? Is it good or bad and why?

It's okay, because the world belongs to everybody. I don't think that people should divide neighborhoods, this is God's earth. I think people should feel free to live where they want to live. We, as the Black race of people, we have the biggest heart. We buy from everybody. We accept everybody. We are not going to do anything about it, we are just going to let them come here, because that's how we are. They have a small minds, and we have big hearts.

What do you think 125th street will look like in 5 years?

I would say in ten years, it's going to be entirely different because they are going to have Harlem USA on 8th Avenue down there [further west on 125th Street] and Magic Johnson's [Starbucks] . In about ten years it's going to be an exciting place, and a lot of people are going to come to Harlem and there's going to be a lot of money made in Harlem. They have the flee market at 125th between Lennox and fifth, Malcolm Shabazz market. It's going to be great.  


Charles

Name: Charles

Age: 50

Residence: Harlem

Occupation: Housing Department

What does the opening of Pathmark on Lexington and 125th mean to the 125th street community?

The Pathmark makes minorities feel proud, and that they are getting something. The prices are very, very, very high compared with two or three other Pathmark's I used to buy from. On the Grand Opening or the second week they should have more sales, and better prices.

What effect do you think this big business has on the smaller business around the neighborhood?

The bodegas are run by a lot of shady people. I can tell you this because too many times they try not to do the right thing by people. Even if it [the new business] affects them it will show people to do the right thing.

How do you feel about the number of people from different races moving to Harlem? Is it good or bad and why?

It's good because from the beginning it was diversified. It will be good because more people are coming into Harlem. Minorities coming into Harlem, there are several other areas where minorities can't go to. There are so many undeveloped so many empty buildings in this part of Harlem, where housing is difficult.

What do you think 125th street will look like in 5 years?

It will look better than 10 years ago, but 10 years from now 125th Street should be better, much better.


Name: Jesse AndersonJesse Anderson

Residence: Harlem

What does the opening of Starbucks on 125th mean to the community?

Revitalization of the community, as well as new business ventures in the 125 area. As long as it's positive, I'm for it.

What effect do you think this big business has on the smaller business around the neighborhood?

It depends on the service. It depends on the type of service offered.

How do you feel about the number of people from different races moving to Harlem? Is it good or bad and why?

If it's positive I'm for it, if It's not you can keep it in your own community. We don't need it here. We have enough problems. It looks like it's positive, sort of an eclectic type of living.

 


Name: Joice KeelerJoice Keeler

Age: 55

Residence: Brooklyn

Occupation: Social Help technician

What does the opening of Pathmark and Starbucks on 125th mean to the community?

I think it's a good idea to put Starbucks into the community. I think we deserve to have some good coffee for a change. I think that it's a wonderful idea that they put Pathmark in the Harlem community, because the Bodegas were robbing people. We may not have enough money to go to bodegas but we will have an economy store like Pathmark to help the people that are in the low income bracket. I think it's long overdue.

What do you think 125th street will look like in 5 years?

I think 125 street in the next five years will be so beautiful with all kinds of cultural and ethnic and affordable stores for people that live in the community. It will be the number one stop where everybody is going to want to be come when they come to New York.

 

 

|| Home Page | Welcome | Contents | Staff ||

Back to the top

 

editor@harlemlive.org

 

There was a man in the bus that would not give his name. The police wanted to take him to the precinct as John Doe. He began to get fresh with the police. He then became aggressive. I didn't quite understand what was happening. Apparently, the officer wanted to cuff him, although he was already cuffed. The officer asked the man to stand up to be cuffed. He refused. So the officer told him that if he didn't get up, he would forcefully cuff him. There were two cuffed men, shielding us from the struggle between the police and the cuffed man. So, it was hard to see. 'John Doe,' complained that the officer had punched him in the face. The officer denied it. At first I just thought that the guy was lying and that he just wanted to make a scene.