Mikes Old School News Stand – Authentic Harlem

01/12/2010

 I remember when I was a kid in Harlem (below 10 years of age), all I needed for the day was one dollar and I could eat like a king at places like Mikes News stand.  Back then the bags of potato chips were 10 cents and the 16 oz. sodas were 25 cents – man if I could get my hands on a dollar bill I was good.  My Mother would often send my to Mikes News Stand to get her number cards.  Number cards are cartoon like literature usually published on a daily basis.  Those who were looking to determine what the number (gambling) will be for that day consulted these cards religiously: “Big Red”, “Big Blue”, “Golden Seal”, “Nite Lite”, “Ching Chong ”  just to name a few – yes, I knew them by heart and still remember them all.  You could only get them at local operations like Mikes News Stand.

Im still doing research, but I was told by Mike that the news stand was built in 1932.  Mike purchased it 12 years ago from the son of the original owner who died in 1999 as a result of a car accident.  Many are talking about the drastic changes in Harlem that are ever visible as you walk the streets of the community, but if you look closely you will see that many of our valued community assets are still here.  This blog’s mission is to celebrate the needed change, but also to pay homage to the people and places that paved the way for change – support venues like Mikes News Stand and if your feeling lucky pick up a number card, my favorite has always been the “Big Red” LOL.