West Harlem is retail hot spot

John Stage, who opened a Dinosaur Bar-B-Que in West Harlem in 2004, now seems to have been ahead of his
time. The area has become a hot spot for retailers because it offers affordable
rent and access to transportation. Fixed-rate loans for businesses, available
under the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Corporation program, make it even
easier for retailers to set up shop in the area. Retailers say Long Island City,
in Queens, may be the next popular spot for
retail because it has attracted so many young professionals.