Uptown Veg Has Been Feeding Harlem for 30 Years. Now, Brooklyn Gets a Taste of Its Vegan Food

For almost 30 years, vegan mainstay Uptown Veg introduced wholesome, plant-based fare to East Harlem, and now, the beloved vegan restaurant is increasing with two new areas. Final month, the family-owned and -operated enterprise formally opened Uptown Veg II, a brand new categorical location specializing in juices, salads, and to-go orders. Situated lower than a mile from its full-service storefront, Uptown Veg II presents out of doors seating and can increase the unique menu with vegan brunch choices. 

Uptown Veg may also make its strategy to Brooklyn, with a brand new outpost opening in Bedford-Stuyvesant later this summer time. The brand new location will provide the identical menu because the Uptown Veg flagship so hungry Brooklynites can feast on veggie burger wraps, rooster curry, vegetable stir fry, macaroni and cheese, Philly cheesesteak sandwiches, and extra. Prospects visiting the Brooklyn outpost may count on an outside patio and a collection of vegan wine and beer. 

“I do know Uptown Veg will likely be welcomed in Brooklyn,” co-owner Jasmine Myrick informed VegNews. “Quite a lot of our prospects journey from Brooklyn to Harlem to purchase meals for the week. Even the owner is happy—[local residents] actually need a wholesome meals area within the neighborhood.”

Uptown Veg

The borough additionally has private significance to Myrick and her dad, co-owner Davie Simmons. Not solely was Myrick born and raised in Brooklyn, Simmons additionally attended highschool in Bedford-Stuyvesant after his household immigrated to the US from Georgetown, Guyana. 

Uptown Veg brings wholesome vegan meals to Harlem

Based in 1994 by Simmons, Uptown Veg was first established to carry wholesome vegan meals to East Harlem. Simmons, a long-time vegetarian, typically frequented a neighborhood vegan restaurant for meatless fare, however quickly grew bored with the eatery and its lack of consistency, as menu objects continually disappeared and reappeared with out discover. Fueled by his wrestle to search out vegetarian meals and the dearth of wholesome choices in Harlem, Simmons took issues into his personal palms. The entrepreneur discovered himself slinging veggie burgers, lentil and break up pea soups, and juices out of a small, “hole-in-the-wall” storefront. And shortly after, he enlisted the assistance of his then teenage daughter, Myrick.  

Whereas a majority of residents within the surrounding communities weren’t vegan, they expressed real curiosity about Simmons’ menu. Myrick recounts prospects asking concerning the restaurant’s vegan choices and expressing pleasure when studying concerning the plant-based substances used. Inside a 12 months, Uptown Veg outgrew its authentic location and relocated to the East Harlem flagship that locals—and distinguished figures reminiscent of New York City mayor Eric Adams and political activist Angela Davis—frequent at this time. 

Uptown Veg

Vegan meals for all 

Almost 30 years after first opening in Harlem, Uptown Veg stays steadfast in its dedication to make plant-based meals, and veganism, extra accessible. “My aim for Uptown Veg is to encourage different individuals [to adopt] a vegan life-style,” Myrick mentioned. “Quite a lot of the time, individuals really feel nervous about being vegan or vegetarian. I all the time have conversations with individuals, and I say, ‘Hear, you may take it little by little and actually get to know the meals.’” And the restaurant’s large number of vegan choices guarantee there’s one thing for everybody—together with vegan meats and ready vegetable dishes by the pound. 

“At Uptown Veg, we actually love to supply the whole lot, not simply burgers, however full vegan meals. If you happen to’re not into soy and seitan, now we have meals ready with simply greens,” Myrick mentioned. “We [want to] carry others into veganism. It’s nearly consuming more healthy and taking it one step at a time.” Along with increasing Uptown Veg with the brand new areas, Myrick goals of a nationwide growth of the idea via franchising alternatives. 

Uptown Veg fights starvation 

Whereas native residents and visiting vacationers can rely on Uptown Veg for wholesome vegan fare, Simmons and Myrick take further care to make sure unhoused neighbors are by no means forgotten. The restaurant’s flagship location is thought for serving the native unhoused neighborhood each evening, seven days per week. And such outreach has already begun at Uptown Veg II, with plans to increase efforts into Bedford-Stuyvesant when its second outpost opens later this summer time. 

Ali V/Yelp

Lately, the variety of unhoused New York Metropolis residents reached the very best degree because the Nice Despair. As of March 2022, 48,524 individuals throughout New York Metropolis had been unhoused. 

“Once we say we need to feed the neighborhood, we actually imply everybody,” Myrick mentioned. “We feed the unhoused each evening. [We’re not working off of] grants or stipends, that is simply what we do.” 

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Jocelyn Martinez is an Affiliate Editor at VegNews residing in Los Angeles, CA.