When a growing number of Black families started moving into Harlem in the early 1900s, they transformed the neighborhood into a cultural powerhouse. The Harlem Renaissance of the ‘20s produced legends like Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, and Ella Fitzgerald.
Although the Great Depression, racist housing policies, and decades of disinvestment took their toll on Harlem, the neighborhood emerged as a symbol of Black resilience. Today, the area has undergone significant gentrification, but small businesses started by longtime Harlemites keep the community strong in what’s known as “Black Mecca.”
Comedy in Harlem
Manhattan’s only Black-owned comedy club serves up laughter with a side of legacy. Comedians Nicky Sunshine and Jamie Roberts opened Comedy in Harlem in 2021 to create their own stage after noticing a lack of diversity downtown. Their venue pays homage to Sugar Hill, a neighborhood with an important jazz pedigree: Malcolm X and Redd Foxx once worked at a now-shuttered eatery and nightclub nearby, called Jimmy’s Chicken Shack.
“To walk the same steps and to just take it all in, it’s really incredible,” Sunshine said. “We feel a very strong sense of responsibility on our shoulders to represent the culture and to usher in a new wave of artists and expression right now.”
This dedication is reflected in the events she and Roberts host at their comedy club, including featuring female comedians on ladies’ night. Through partnerships with promoters like Harlem Renaissance, Comedy in Harlem has also showcased some of the city’s most promising underground talent. Read our full story here.
(347) 766-3001
750A St Nicholas Ave in Manhattan
info@comedyinharlem.com
Follow on Instagram at @comedyinharlem.
Check out events, including Galentine’s Day events, here.
Grandma’s Place
Founded by Dawn Harris Martine (also known as “Grandma Dawn”), the toy and book store Grandma’s Place has been a Harlem treasure for over 20 years. Harris Martine opened it on a teacher’s salary and with an educator mindset.
“The schoolteachers were my heroes because they were my mother figures in the schools,” she said. “The kind of encouragement I got from my teachers was the kind of encouragement I needed from my mom. But my mom wasn’t at home, so I kind of transferred that to the teachers, so they were my heroes.”
This isn’t your average toy store filled with plastic junk. Grandma Dawn, a lifelong Harlem resident and former educator, handpicks every single book and toy with a focus on education, diversity, and sparking those little minds.
Among them are puzzles that boost brainpower, books with diverse characters, and the Harlem Renaissance edition of Monopoly. Grandma’s Place is all about representation and teaching kids valuable lessons while having fun. Read our full story here.
Shop online here or visit the store at 84 West 120th Street in Harlem.
Store hours are:
Tues- Thurs: 12 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Fri- Sun: 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Monday: CLOSED
Harlem Health Station and Black Seed Brothers
A decade ago, husband-and-wife duo Kiana Miles and Tyrell Dixon set out to bring more healthful food options to Harlem. They were aware that, like in other Black communities, the neighborhood had high rates of diabetes and hypertension.
Determined to offer an alternative, Dixon began sourcing black seed watermelons from out-of-state farms, selling them locally with overwhelming success. By 2018, their watermelon business was thriving.
It inspired the couple to launch a food truck serving fresh meals and smoothies. Harlem Health Station sells grab-and-go meals like grilled chicken wraps, salads, and a variety of smoothies.
“We could have taken this truck somewhere else and made more money. People always ask, ‘why don’t you go to Midtown?’” Miles said. “[But we tell them] this community supports us and we are going to continue supporting them in any way we can.” Read our full story here.
Shop online here.
Other Harlem small businesses to check out
Harlem Wine Gallery
A Harlem couple decided to invest in their community through the gift of wine and education. Read more.
I Like it Black Coffeeshop
This shop started in someone’s home, and now today, it offers customers a variety of high-quality coffee. Read more.
See more of our small business stories here.
