These Black entrepreneurs are waiting to welcome you
Harlem Holidaze: A few friendly faces that can’t wait to see yours
By MARIELLE ARGUEZA and TAAYOO MURRAY
Special to the AmNews
Holiday shopping in Harlem is more than a seasonal errand. It is an experience woven with culture, creativity, and community.
As Thanksgiving ends and December descends, the neighborhood transforms into a vibrant marketplace where local artisans, iconic institutions, and longtime small businesses shine. Whether you’re searching for handcrafted gifts, fashion with flair, holidaythemed experiences, or meaningful ways to support Black-owned shops, Harlem offers a festive blend of tradition and trend that makes every purchase feel like a celebration.
Here are a few profiles of the many Black entrepreneurs around Harlem who are welcoming shoppers and diners into their businesses.
The Original Cake Man Raven
201 W 135th St. (917) 202-7273
IG: @cakemanraven
The story of many chefs and bakers starts in their mom’s or grandma’s kitchen. It is no different for Raven P.D. Dennis III, better known to New Yorkers and everyone as “Cake Man Raven,” who is known worldwide for his famous Red Velvet Cake. Living in Lynchburg, South Carolina, he watched his grandmother bake cakes for Sunday dinner. “And my question was, why were they never decorated? And she said, “because y’all don’t let the cake sit on the counter long enough to decorate it,” shared Raven.
“I used to tell a lot of people that my grandmother was the one that did the cakes and not me, because, you know, most times boys didn’t do cakes back then,” explained Dennis.
At 15 years old, Dennis won his first blue ribbon for entering a nine-tier wedding cake. When his name was called, the secret was out, and the local paper published his name. He then got the name ‘Cake Boy.’ In 11th grade, Raven entered a competition that required him to write a business plan. He wrote a business plan for a bakery and won the local competition. He then went on to win at the state level in South Carolina and the national level in San Francisco.
After studying at Johnson & Wales University, he made his way back to New York, where he eventually started his own catering business on Riverside Drive in Harlem. He eventually opened a shop in Brooklyn, where he entered the Guinness Book of World Records in 2011 for the world’s largest sculpted cake. He closed that store in 2012 and after a short stint in South Carolina, he announced a new flagship store in Harlem, which opened in 2015.
Dennis attributes much of his success to being an active part of the community. He’s deliberate about decorating for Christmas and not having shutters on his windows.
“You walk down 5th Ave at night and there aren’t any shutters and bars. Everything is
open for you to see. Why should it be different in our neighborhood?” says Dennis. Even though he’s known for his cakes, the community also knows him for the time he puts into mentoring and training young men. This weekend he plans to start decorating his storefront. He’s inviting everyone to stop by and see and be a part of it. “It’s all about community and giving back.”
NiLu Gift Shop
191 Malcolm X Blvd. (646) 964-4926 shopnilu.com/
A couple, Mark Pinn and Katrina Parris, who have lived in Harlem since the 1990s, were tired of the inconvenience of having to go downtown when they needed a nice gift.
“We were a young family with two boys, and every time we needed something, or got invited to somebody’s house for a birthday, or whatever, we always would have to go downtown to get nice things,” shared Pinn. The couple had recently sold their florist business and had the empty shop space. The family’s need and that of the community birthed the idea of NiLu Gift Shop, named
for the couple’s boys, Nigel and Luke.
The gift shop sells items from candles to cards to household items. What’s special about NiLu is that they prioritize selling goods made by local artists, using a consignment model, so that both the gift shop and the vendors benefit. Popular items in store are the Grace Jones ornament, the pine scented candles, and the Harlem Renaissance calendar. The couple makes an effort to integrate with the community and showcase Harlem. “Most of the things that we sell are rooted in community, meaning that we’re supporting a lot of local makers of products,” says Pinn. “Our store is Harlem, not everything, but we try to do our best.”
Hats by Bunn
2283 Adam Clayton Powell Jr Blvd #1 (212) 694-3590 hatsbybunn.com/
“I’m just a hat maker.” That’s a common phrase you’ll hear from the owner of Hats by Bunn in Harlem. When you ask for a first name, he responds with a laugh, “I’m Bunn, just like Prince. No one asks Prince for a first name.” Bunn has been in the hat-making
(Donjai Gilmore photo)
(Courtest NiLu Gift Store)
(Courtesy Hats by Bunn)
business for over 40 years. Before owning a shop space, he used to set up a table on the sidewalks and frequent festivals to promote his work. Like many start-ups, he worked in another job and made hats on the side. After going full-time, he shared a shop space with a friend in downtown Brooklyn for a while, but then moved because he thought the environment changed.
“Harlem has a vibe and an energy, literally anyone can walk in looking for a hat,” shared Bunn. Bunn credits his success to the shift from an industrial culture to a more individual look, especially in younger adults. He makes hats of all types and for all seasons, and regularly creates custom looks. Bunn invites everyone to stop by his shop and try on a hat. “A hat is the most personal thing you can wear. It’s what you see in the mirror,” says Bunn.
Entertain
AGM Theater Company
Most performances at:
The Basement of Dreams
130 Malcolm X Blvd. (917) 268-2590
https://agmtheatercompany.org/
The AGM Theater Company, a nonprofit founded in 2017, focuses on telling the stories of African Americans, particularly women of color, through educational, entertaining, and inspiring theatrical performances. “Our focus and our vision is to provide opportunities for women of color in the field of writing, directing, producing, [and] technical skills,” shares Founder, Executive Director, and Artistic Director Janet Mitchell. The theater tells the stories of Black people but its goal is to help Black women.
The company has produced 26 shows since its inception, with a season running from January to June. Most of their shows are presented at Basement of Dreams, with ticket prices at $25. They also give out free tickets to community members who cannot afford to buy tickets. After every show, they host a “talk-back” with the playwright to have a discussion with the actors about their process of putting together shows. “We are a community-based organization.
We’re a professional community theater,” explains Mitchell. AGM Theater wants the community to know, “if you’re a playwright who’s been writing plays, but never had a play produced, send your work to us, send a synopsis to us.”
Upcoming events include a virtual performance of “The Christmas Blessing” on December 14, which will be available on the company’s YouTube channel.
Dine
Melba’s
300 W. 114th St., Harlem, NY 10026 (212) 864-7777 melbasrestaurant.com
When people think about Harlem, they think about Melba’s. And when they think about Melba’s, they think about the famous Southern hospitality and comfort foods — and in particular, their fried chicken, which has been made famous all over the world. Since 2005, this restaurant, in the heart of Harlem, has been feeding the masses — not just locally, but globally. It has grown to become a top local and tourist destination, in no small part due to owner and chef Melba Wilson.
Wilson has earned her flowers and, more importantly, the respect of her community. Wilson was trained in one of the most famous and equally illustrious soul food restaurants, Sylvia’s, and grinded for her dream, famously saving a little over $300,000 in her mattress. From there, she snagged a James Beard Award nomination, authored the wildly popular cookbook “Melba’s American Comfort,” and has proven herself to be an ally to her neighbors by partnering with organizations like God’s Love We Deliver and helping guide restaurants all over the city through the pandemic as the former president of the New York City Hospitality Alliance. The best thing about being a Black entrepreneur in Harlem during the holiday season, she says, is being surrounded by her community.
“I’m born and bred in [the] village of Harlem so Harlem is home, it’s the epitome of Blackness so during the holiday season it goes to the 10th power. We level up like no other people.”
Chocolat Restaurant & Bar
2223 Fredrick Douglass Blvd. and 120th St., Harlem, NY 10026
(212) 222-4545
chocolatharlem.com
Indulgence is the theme at Chocolat Restaurant and Bar. For 15 years, Chocolat has occupied the corner of 120th and Fredrick Douglass Boulevard and has established itself amongst iconic Harlem restaurants, standing out from a landscape saturated with soul food offerings by adding a Caribbean twist and just enough decadence. Menu items like red snapper, oxtails, and the famous chicken and red velvet waffles are a few of Founder Leon Ellis’ favorites. But he also adds that they have “the best shrimp and grits in New York City, hands down,” he said.
But their longevity isn’t just explained away by good food. Ellis attributes the longevity not just to abiding by good business practices but also to building and maintaining rapport with the community. “Our resilience and sustainability comes from the community. We are connected to the people and the local organizations of our community, and we honor and respect that as fundamental,” he said. They hire from the community and give back whenever they can.
For Ellis, Chocolat is part of a rich cultural and economic tapestry in Harlem that isn’t so much about competition, but about spirit and adding new threads that enliven the neighborhood. “Harlem has a rhythm that’s really unmatched in music, art, food — everything sort of flows together,” said Ellis. “We work very diligently to creating a strong community connection through an entrepreneurial spirit, which is a fundamental part of Harlem.”
The Nephew Supper Club 219 West 119th St. Harlem, NY 10026 (212) 280-2248 the-nephew.com
Adriane Ferguson, owner of the Nephew Supper Club (once Billie Black), is probably the only bartender who can get a room full of cocktail connoisseurs to drink their greens … well, not really. But Ferguson’s signature ‘Got Kale’ cocktail did win the Uncle Nearest Mixologist Contest, which had pretty stiff competition from bars like Sugar Monk, BIXI, and the Victoria. The cocktail, which gets its shocking green color from matcha, is an innovative blend of Bourbon, Adriatico Bianco, vanilla bean syrup, and oatmilk. Equally cool and dressed-up cocktails like the ‘Duke’ and a classic Corpse Reviver pair well with a modern African Creole menu, which includes items like egusi hummus, gumbo, and Ferguson’s favorite, charbroiled oysters.
Since rebranding earlier this year, Nephew Supper Club has been leaning into the luxury, history, and culture of the Harlem Renaissance, all the while encouraging regulars in the now to celebrate the richness of the past.
To Ferguson, Harlem is “the culture that creates the pulse of the world.”
The best part about being in business in Harlem? “I get to help grow and propel the culture and diversity. I AM HARLEM,” Ferguson said.
Sylvia’s
328 Malcom X Blvd., New York, NY 10027 (212) 996-0660 sylviasrestaurant.com
In 1962, Sylvia Woods, a waitress with roots in South Carolina, bought the same luncheonette she had been working in from her boss. What came out of the kitchen was more than fried chicken and collards — although that’s definitely still on the menu. Sylvia’s became a generational family business and beacon of Southern Hospitality in the fast-paced midAtlantic. Today, Sylvia’s remains the oldest restaurant in Harlem and a cornerstone for gathering and local history in the neighborhood. “My mother and father were unique business people,” said current owner Kenneth Woods. “Hailing from the South, when you visit anyone, they’re gonna offer you a seat and something to eat. We’ve kept true to that.”
The values have stayed true, but some things have changed since the ‘60s. They offer grilled fish options, not just fried anymore, and they serve a lot more patrons. In fact, Woods said they go through so many collard greens, they’ve outsourced the bulk of the cleaning back to their purveyor. “Back then, we used to really scrub them,” Woods said with a laugh.
“It’s authentic, and we’ve advanced some. But everyone who comes and eats here feels like it’s theirs. And that’s important.”
Special thanks to the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce for helping to compile most of the entrepreneurs on this list.
(Courtesy AGM Theater Company)
(Courtesy GHCC)
(Courtesy Chocolat)
(Courtesy GHCC)
(Courtesy GHCC)