It’s been a rough couple of years along the 196th Street corridor. With Alfy’s, Prime Pacific, Amante, and now Celtic Bayou vacant (along with several other major storefronts in the general area), it’s been a bit worrisome. Most of the rest of that strip, though, seems to be strong. Which is good news for the city. I’m pleased to see work being done around there.
Verdant’s efforts to launch their new space this Spring (in the old Prime Pacific Bank building) seem to be moving along nicely. That should be a great space for Verdant’s on-going work. It’s pretty solidly covered by transit, and seems to have adequate parking.
I’m not at all certain what the new owners plan to do with the old Amante restaurant space, though it’s pretty clear they’re doing some drastic work. Whether they’re fixing it up to attract interest, or if they have a tenant and it’s being readied for their use, I’m not sure. I hope for the latter, since it’s good for all of us to have those spaces used. It looks like Alfy’s is up for any sort of adoption you’d like. They dropped a huge banner that covers the old Alfy’s sign (all the way to the ground). It’s sure a funky space, though pretty big. I’m trying to remember if it’s 3 or 4 floors. Not traditionally laid out, with flowing access to the different spaces/floors. I remember (seems like eons ago) there being a huge video arcade in the lower room. That’s the space which was recently used for banquets. Anyway, I’d love to see someone make something great there.
That’s what I noticed this week. How about you?
