West Harlem's Aspiring Restaurant Row

Curbed jumps on a report in the Times today that an odd building adjoining a gritty viaduct (right) seeks to evolve into a hub of restaurant goodness in West Harlem. Notes the Times, "The structure, which is at 701 West 135th Street, is being reconstructed, poised to become a fulcrum in a five-block restaurant row developing in the shadow of the Riverside Drive viaduct in West Harlem."

Two restaurants are already on board: a duplex restaurant-club called Alma Thai Latin Cuisine—from the folks behind Inwood's Umbrella Bar and Lounge and Mamajuana Café—slated to open early next year, and a duplex brick-oven pizzeria. A debate about whether or not this can possibly work, given questions about foot traffic and geography, is underway in the Curbed comments. (N.B. to interested restaurateurs: Warburg continues to lease space in the building.)
· ViVa Update: Viva ViVa VaVoom [Curbed]
· Along a Viaduct, a Restaurant Row Emerges [NYTimes]
· 701 West 135th Street (commercial) [Warburg]