Who's The 'Mayor Of Harlem'? A Neighborhood Shop Wants To Know

HARLEM, NY — While most New Yorkers are focused on this year's mayoral race, a different contest for mayor is about to begin in Harlem.

Sugar Hill Creamery, the popular, family-run ice cream shop, is launching a campaign to name a new "Mayor of Harlem" — a title that has been given to so many Harlemites over the years that it has its own Wikipedia page.

"It's an unofficial title that I don’t think any other neighborhood can boast about," said Petrushka Bazin Larsen, who co-owns Sugar Hill Creamery with her husband, Nick Larsen.

In the 16 years she's lived in the neighborhood, Bazin Larsen said she's heard the term tossed around frequently: "You don't know so-and-so? That's the Mayor of Harlem!"

These days, though, many of the office's former occupants are no longer alive: the activist Leslie Wyche, the performer Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, or the Bishop Alvin A. Childs. (Others, like ex-Congressman Charlie Rangel and the nun Queen Mother Dr. Delois Blakely, are still with us.)

So, starting in January 2020, the ice cream shop opened the competition on Instagram, asking neighbors to nominate themselves or someone they know who has done good in the community through their job, philanthropy or volunteer work.

After getting nearly 50 submissions, the Larsens planned to name finalists and hold a vote during February to pick a winner. Then, the pandemic hit, delaying the contest for a full year — now, however, it's ready to resume.

The candidates

Voting will open on Feb. 14 and run through March 14. To cast a ballot, people can visit either of Sugar Hill's two shops in Central Harlem or Hamilton Heights and make any purchase: a scoop, a coffee or tea, or just a cup of toppings.

The Harlemite elected mayor will win more than just glory: they will get to design their own ice cream flavor that will appear in the shop later this year, and will receive a hand-drawn portrait by the artist Audrey Moffitt that will hang on the shop's walls.

Here are the six candidates for Mayor of Harlem (descriptions from Sugar Hill Creamery):

Amir Figueroa
Amir has had a major impact on the physical, mental, and spiritual health of the greater Harlem Community. He is the co-leader of the free running collective Harlem Run, a deacon at First Corinthian Baptist Church, and a youth mentor to several young black and brown boys in Harlem.

Yvonne Jewnell
Yvonne, one of the two founders of Harlem Fashion Week (HFW), has given countless Harlem-based models, designers, and photographers the opportunity to showcase their work on a national level. As a New-York Fashion Week sanctioned program, HFW has created a platform for rising stars in the fashion industry. The organization’s goal is to produce a fashion-focused event that provides business education for emerging designers, features Harlem businesses, and creates a platform for diversity in fashion.

Damany Mathis
Damany is a staple in Harlem and a music industry vet. He got his start playing the role of Kenzo in the movie “Finding Forrester,” which led to his music career as an artist under Dame Dash’s underground label DD172. Damany recently took his talents towards education and was highlighted through the NYCreatives campaign as one of Harlem's top educators. He works with students at Harlem Children’s Zone via a creative writing program that he leads and has worked in partnership with Adidas to garner sponsorship for the organization.

Louis Johnson
Louis is the friendly face that you see as you walk by his family-owned and operated clothing boutique Harlem Haberdashery located on Lenox Avenue. He is the co-founder of the non-profit organization The League: A Distinguished Gentlemen Movement, Inc which was created to empower young men from all backgrounds and cultures, catapulting them to perform and live to their highest potential. Louis and the gentlemen of the League also partner with Mount Morris Park Community Improvement Association to clean up Lenox Avenue and plant trees and flowers along the corridor through the Greener Lenox Tree Restoration and Clean Up initiative.

Tammeca Rochester
Tammeca is the founder/owner of Harlem's first indoor cycling studio Harlem Cycle. She opened the studio to create generational health and wellness changes in Harlem. Through her studio she has organized many free programs like tasting events featuring local restaurants, toy drives, back-to-school drives, wellness popups, and Women's Day events. As someone who strongly believes in community, she has dedicated her business to making sure that Harlem has the best in Health and Wellness.

Lashon Ruth Kempson
Lashon is a Harlem-based community health advocate and entrepreneur promoting health and wellness through workshops, health fairs, and other initiatives. In her spare time, she helps with the food pantry at her church and educates others about community violence specifically bringing awareness to black-on-black crime. Through her business Life Runs Knowing, which recently launched an activewear line, she takes pride inspiring her community to stay healthy and fit.

The winner will be announced in March on Instagram — and on Harlem Patch.