Here's What's New—and Still on the Horizon—on Harlem's Rapidly-Transforming 125th Street
- The Curious Uptowner
- Nov 19
- 5 min read
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 2023, have already significantly altered the skyline.
Major retailers that arrived last year, including Trader Joe's, Sephora and Target, are behind the jaw-dropping changes at street level.
Not to mention the brand-new Studio Museum building and the full-scale renovation of the legendary Apollo Theater, which will bring a new lobby and much more when it reopens in 2026.
To track the latest shifts, TCU has been taking periodic walks 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:
2031 Fifth Ave at 125th St
Theater soft opening: 2026
This massive 21-story residential, commercial, and cultural property is set to be the new home of the National Black Theatre, founded in 1968 at the same address. The residential part of the building is known as Ray Harlem (2035 Fifth Avenue). A Club Pilates is coming to a storefront in the development at 9 E 125th Street.
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 Food Network star 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.
27 W 125th St between Fifth and Lenox Aves
Opened February 2025
The NYC-based smash burger chain, founded four years ago, is now in Harlem.
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.
60 W 125th St between Fifth and Lenox Aves
Opened September 2025
This new location of the chicken wing chain offers streamlined takeout and delivery, plus in-store dining.
64 W 125th St between Fifth and Lenox Aves
Opened Summer 2025
A family-friendly arcade with a range of old-school (think Pac-Man) and new games alike.
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 new home of the National Urban League welcomed a long list of major retailers last summer, including Trader Joe's, Target, and Sephora. The Urban Civil Rights Museum is set to open in the same building sometime in 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, Texas toast, crinkle fries—and the must-have signature Cane's sauce.
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
Opened November 15, 2025
After a seven-year wait, the Studio Museum in Harlem has opened its modern new home designed by David Adjaye. First up: an exhibition featuring the light sculptures of Tom Lloyd. The new Studio Store on the ground level is a great spot to find gifts.
219 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvd
Opened June 2025
This small bakery known for creative cupcakes in flavors like red velvet, carrot and Oreo has expanded from Lenox Avenue (near 120th Street) to a second location on Harlem's main strip.
222 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvd
Opened: December 2023
The British sneaker and sportswear chain has 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 the Victoria Restaurant and a 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 Apollo Theater are 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 located directly across the street from the Apollo.
253 W 125th St between Adam Clayton Powell Jr. and Frederick Douglass Blvds
Reopening Summer 2026
Now covered in scaffolding, Harlem's crown jewel closed for major renovations on July 1, 2025. Construction on the theater, soundstage, and lobby is expected to last for about 12 months. In the meantime, programming continues down the block at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria.
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 a few years ago.
313-315 W 125th St between Frederick Douglass Blvd and St. Nicholas Ave
Opened June 2025
The Popeyes that stood on the corner of 125th Street and St. Nicholas Avenue has moved a few doors east and is now next to a new Burger King.
321 W 125th St and St. Nicholas Ave
Opened March 2025
The fast-casual chain has opened in the corner space that used to be Popeyes.
412 W 126th St between Morningside and Amsterdam Aves
Opened October 2025
Located a block north of 125th Street, this new boutique hotel from the Hilton brand includes 139 rooms and a small but beautiful lobby bar. Still to come: a seasonal backyard pool and a ground-floor restaurant.
362 W 125th St between St. Nicholas and Morningside Aves
Opening: late 2025
This New Jersey-based gym will be opening in the sleek 12-story condo known as Eleven Hancock.
600 W 125th St and Broadway
Completed 2025
Columbia University's new 34-story residential building, designed by Renzo Piano Building Workshop, offers housing for graduate students and faculty. McDonald's, which used to occupy the entire corner, returned to the ground level of the new building in April 2025.
