Harlem Park And Park, Uber And Others Create The Renaissance Pavilion Outdoor Dining

Uber Eats is unveiling a new outdoor pavilion that will help Harlem restaurants keep serving customers during the worst winter days.

Called The Renaissance Pavilion, the custom-designed outdoor dining destination stretches along Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Blvd from 137th to 139th streets in the historic Strivers’ Row neighborhood.

It will be unveiled on Monday, December 21, 2020, with six local restaurants taking part, including Ruby’s Vintage and Sexy Taco, The Row, Alibi, Ma Smith’s Dessert Café, and Harlem Chocolate Factory.

Uber brought together a team of 32 independent small businesses, 84 percent of which are Black-owned, including architects, artists, producers, creatives, and merchants for the venture.

Uber brought together a team of 32 independent small businesses, 84 percent of which are Black-owned, including architects, artists, producers, creatives, and merchants for the venture.

“We know black-owned businesses have been disproportionately impacted by the health crisis, and are incredibly honored to work with the Harlem community in partnership with such a talented group of collaborators,” said Julia Paige, Director of Social Impact at Uber.

“Uber Eats is committed to the success of restaurants everywhere, so this is the first in a national series of design projects we’re proud to support across the country this winter, and why we are launching a national Playbook to help cities and restaurants to succeed.”

The Renaissance Pavilion at Strivers’ Row was developed for Uber Eats in partnership with Nikoa Evans, Harlem Park to Park; Valerie Wilson, VALINC PR; WXY architecture + urban design and EatOkra.

Designed to support black-owned businesses with winterization during the cold months ahead, New York-based WXY architecture and scaffolding company Urban Umbrella created the pavilion for the six independent black-owned restaurants and businesses.

The units have been outfitted with a system of custom-designed Parklets (the outdoor dining structures that sit in restaurant parking spaces), with safety regulations incorporated, such as 50 percent airflow, created by Harlem based architects, and scaffolding that will allow them to maintain and grow their offerings to continue serving their customers safely and comfortably outside through April 2021.

The heated and architecturally designed Parklets and Umbrellas are timely to address the immediate needs of the restaurants as New York City closes indoor dining.

The restaurants all have winterized outdoor seating provided by Uber Eats and produced with the help of Harlem based architects JP Design, Brandt:Haferd, and Body Lawson Associates.

The restaurants all have winterized outdoor seating provided by Uber Eats and produced with the help of Harlem based architects JP Design, Brandt:Haferd, and Body Lawson Associates.

Artwork adorning the structures was created by artists LeRone Wilson, Guy Stanley Philoche, Dianne Smith, Thomas Heath, and Omo Misha.

WXY architecture + urban design developed the corridor design strategy and executed the design plan for the progra.

Harlem Park to Park and Valinc PR are executive producers of community engagement, PR and marketing for the six-month activation that will include a schedule of activities and events designed to help drive traffic to the corridor and support Harlem’s significant network of black businesses throughout the duration of the activation.

Uber has also created a Winterization Playbook with WXY called “Keeping the Tables Turning” for restaurants, civic organizations and cities to work together to transform public spaces for use by restaurants.