Shopping
Harlem’s Heaven
Harlem’s Heaven is the neighborhood’s oldest hat shop as well as the oldest, Black-owned, independently run clothing store. The store is owned by Evetta Petty and was first opened in 1989.
The hat shop is famous around the globe for its elegant hats, and Petty’s handmade creations have been featured in exhibits at the Museum of Art and Design, in magazines like Vogue and Bazaar, and on television shows like Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Malcolm Shabazz Harlem Market
The Malcolm Shabazz Harlem outdoor marketplace, also known as Harlem’s Little Africa, sits on 116th Street, east of Lenox Avenue. The market is composed of individual vendors from around Africa and is a great place to find traditional African trinkets, clothing, wood carvings, and of course, plenty of beads.
The market was named after the grandson of Malcolm X, Malcolm Shabazz, and is open daily from 10 A.M. to 8 P.M.
The Malcolm Shabazz Harlem outdoor marketplace is great location to experience African culture and a great way to sample some authentic African cuisine as well.