In one of the more egregious examples of a Harlem cultural treasure being erased by crass commercialism, the space where the fabled Lenox Lounge once stood is now home to just another bank.
The iconic Art Deco gem at 288 Lenox Avenue between W 124th and W 125th Streets, once frequented by jazz greats such as Billie Holiday and Dizzy Gillespie, closed its doors for good in 2012; its owner, Alvin Reed, said he couldn't afford the lease anymore.
Five years later, after a number of legal disputes, the whole building was torn town (although the sign and fixtures were saved and presumably still exist somewhere).
A new building at the same address had been under construction for a while, and the ground-floor retail space is finally open.
And now it's official: the old Lenox Lounge has been replaced by a branch of Wells Fargo bank.
