A Stroll Worth Taking: Harlem & Brooklyn Entrepreneurs
Darling, New York reveals herself differently when you stop chasing destinations and start following curiosity.
Somewhere between the click of heels on pavement and the hum of a bus pulling away, the city begins to whisper. And if you listen closely — really listen — Harlem and Brooklyn will tell you where to go.
Start in Manhattan, where a quiet stretch near West 25th Street feels unexpectedly European. Just steps away from the predictable pace of the neighborhood, Noir Et Blanc waits like a secret passed between stylish women. Inside, Deborah Koenigsberger’s decades-long love affair with fashion hangs effortlessly on the racks — garments that feel as though they’ve lived a life before you found them.
A short walk uptown, near a place where history is preserved, studied, and celebrated, The Schomburg Shop offers something rarer than retail. Tucked alongside one of Harlem’s most revered cultural institutions, it’s where books, gifts, and legacy share the same shelf — and where browsing feels like honoring.
If your path leads you toward indulgence, follow the scent of sugar and curiosity to Gooey on the Inside. Found near the pulse of Midtown but worlds away in spirit, this Caribbean-Canadian dessert haven understands that sweetness is emotional. Chocolate drips. Caramel lingers. Every bite feels like someone’s memory made edible.
Not far from there, where theatergoers and office workers cross paths without noticing, Little Pie Company quietly turns comfort into ritual. Seasonal pies line the windows, tempting you to slow down — just long enough to remember what homemade is supposed to feel like.
Ride north until Harlem’s energy shifts, and you’ll find Sugar Hill Creamery nestled into a neighborhood that knows itself well. Around the corner from familiar brownstones and lively sidewalks, this small-batch ice cream shop channels Harlem’s past, present, and imagination into flavors that taste like pride.
As evening approaches, follow the sound of conversation and clinking glasses to Harlem Hops, right where community gathers naturally. Near crossroads that have seen generations pass through, this craft beer bar pours with intention — spotlighting Black and BIPOC brewers while creating space that feels immediately welcoming.
Fashion resurfaces nearby at t.a New York, where emerging designers hang comfortably beside established labels. Located where foot traffic feels purposeful, the shop speaks to those who dress for themselves, not for the algorithm.
And when curiosity pulls you across the river, Brooklyn answers differently.
In a neighborhood where wine shops feel personal and evenings linger, Happy Cork sits like a well-kept secret — shelves lined with Black- and minority-owned wines curated for people who actually want to talk about what they’re drinking. A few blocks away, Bed-Vyne hums as daylight fades, blending craft cocktails, DJs, and neighborhood familiarity into nights that don’t need planning.
Morning finds its magic at Ginjan Café, where African coffee culture meets Harlem-made bites. Located near streets that wake up early, this café feels like a bridge — between continents, between intention and ritual, between yesterday and what’s next.
Darling, entrepreneurship in Harlem and Brooklyn isn’t loud.
It’s layered.
It’s lived-in.
It’s discovered on foot.
And if you let the city lead, you’ll realize the best places were never meant to be searched — only found.
by Jarvus Ricardo Hester
