Community Engagement, Program Development, District Marketing Strategy

The impact of the economic downturn in 2009 drastically reduced sales and foot traffic for businesses nationwide. In an effort to increase exposure and foot traffic for Harlem’s culinary and retail businesses, Nikoa worked in partnership with Harlem Park to Park founding member businesses to launch an initiative designed to promote the neighborhood as a destination for dining and shopping. Harlem Restaurant & Retail Week debuted in Spring 2010 featuring 10 of Harlem’s premier restaurants and retail businesses. The program expanded to include a Fall 2010 activation and by 2011 was producing two seasonal programs per year featuring 60+ diverse culinary and retail businesses in Central Harlem.

In 2019, due to Nikoa’s 10 year success working on behalf of Harlem Park to Park, in creating and producing the area's longest running restaurant week program, Nikoa was selected by Empire State Development, New York State’s economic development agency, to manage the transition of the dining and shopping program to neighborhood wide activation Harlem Restaurant Week (HRW) featuring businesses from East, West and Central Harlem. The program was produced in collaboration with other leading business alliances in the community including: Frederick Douglass Blvd Alliance, Uptown Grand Central, Union Settlement, NY Women’s Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce.

Harlem Restaurant Week has been instrumental in elevating the profile of Harlem as a culinary destination. Participating businesses consistently report incremental benefits gained from the program’s marketing support including increased brand awareness; and 10-20% increased foot traffic and sales during the promotional period.

Harlem Restaurant Week continues to draw local residents, and visitors from throughout NYC and outer boroughs to enjoy the diversity of food and lifestyle experiences available in Harlem.