A wave of new buildings and businesses continues to transform Harlem's 125th Street.
Glossy high-rises, like the 28-story Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel that opened in the summer of 2023, have already significantly altered the skyline.
Major retailers that arrived this year, including Trader Joe's, Sephora and Target, are behind the jaw-dropping changes at street level.
To track the latest shifts, TCU has taken a walk down the iconic thoroughfare between Fifth Avenue and Broadway.
Here are the most notable recent openings, plus what's still on the horizon, from east to west:
2033 Fifth Ave at 125th St
Theater opening: TBA
This massive 21-story residential, commercial, and cultural development is set to be the new home of the National Black Theatre, founded in 1968 at the same address. The building had its topping-out ceremony in October 2023.
5 W 125th St between Fifth and Lenox Aves
Opened: October 2024
This new food delivery concept with more than a dozen locations in the city allows customers to order from a variety of restaurants run by top chefs, including Bobby Flay (Bobby Flay Steak) and Harlem's own Marcus Samuelsson (Streetbird).
17 W 125th St between Fifth and Lenox Aves
Opened: March 2024
The Cajun-style seafood boil chain now has a location on 125th Street.
60 W 125th St between Fifth and Lenox Aves
Opened: August 2024
This 4,500-square-foot restaurant from the team behind Ponty Bistro and Renaissance Harlem is serving up seafood (Chilean sea bass with garlic spinach) and steak (dry age New York strip) on the ground floor of a modern development just east of Lenox Avenue.
66 W 125th St between Fifth and Lenox Aves
Opened: March 2024
The Guatemalan chain is known for its signature fried chicken served with sides like yuca fries and beans.
100 W 125th St between Lenox Ave and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
Opened: November 2023
The fast fashion chain shut the doors to its old location at 125 W 125th Street in August 2023, reopening a few months later across the street, right next to the Whole Foods.
121 W 125th St between Lenox Ave and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
Openings: Sephora and Trader Joe's opened in July 2024, Target opened in October 2024
Long in the works, the glossy future home of the National Urban League welcomed a long list of major retailers this summer, including Trader Joe's, Target, and Sephora. The Urban Civil Rights Museum is looking to open in the same building sometime in 2025-2026.
124 W 125th St between Lenox Ave and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
Opened: February 2024
The fast-growing chain, originally from Louisiana, is known for its simplified menu focused on chicken fingers, signature Cane's sauce, Texas toast, and crinkle fries.
130 W 125th St between Lenox Ave and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
Opened: winter 2024
The ubiquitous Chinese food spot recently opened in a single-story building that was once a Burger King.
144 W 125th St between Lenox Ave and Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd
Opening: Fall 2025
The Studio Museum in Harlem recently announced that its modern new home, designed by architect David Adjaye, will open in the fall of 2025.
222 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvd.
Opened: December 2023
The British sneaker and sportswear chain recently joined other newcomers like Nike and Snipes on 125th Street.
233 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvds
Opened: August 2023
Decorated with Harlem Renaissance-themed touches, this new 211-room hotel owned by Marriot includes a restaurant and piano bar on the fifth-floor lobby.
233 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvds
Opened: February 2024
Two new flexible performance spaces run by the legendary Apollo Theater are now open in the historic Thomas Lamb-designed Victoria Theater directly under the Renaissance New York Harlem Hotel.
248 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvds
Opened: October 2023
Harlem's first licensed cannabis shop, which most of you greeted with open arms, is now doing business directly across the street from the Apollo.
254 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvds
Opened: March 2024
This rapidly-expanding Nashville-style hot chicken chain—investors include Drake and Samuel L. Jackson—is just down the block from the Chick-fil-A that opened last year.
321 W 125th St and St. Nicholas Ave
Opening: November
The fast-casual Mexican chain is set to open in the old Popeyes space (the fried chicken spot is reopening just a few doors down the block).
362 W 125th St between St. Nicholas and Morningside Aves
Opening: TBA
This New Jersey-based gym will be opening in the sleek 12-story condo known as Eleven Hancock.
600 W 125th St and Broadway
Estimated construction completion: 2024
Columbia University's new 34-story building will house graduate students and faculty once it's finished. McDonald's is returning to the ground level.
Thanks for updating us. I can’t wait for Target to open. I love all of the options we’ll have available. I was forced to move here for safety reasons. Thank God I found my home here because there was no peace where I was living in since the 80’s (I was born here though on 103rd and 2nd) here in East Harlem further downtown. God is good. He gave me a new home where I can have greater peace and safety here in Harlem still. I am so grateful. There is a reason why I found this apartment not any other first. I belong beside the people I know and love! God bless our community. Please pray we get al…
Too many corporate shops. Would love more mom and pop shops with creativity / personality - cafes, diners, a book shop, more healthy food options. Also agree with better gyms and work-out spaces.
We need better workout gyms
You forgot the Raising Canes chicken fingers joint!
Hopefully the residents will appreciate the new businesses coming to Harlem. I know I will as a long-term Harlemite.