Tucked away at #400 West 148th Street off St. Nicholas Avenue is a bit of New York City music history. The 400 Tavern operated at this address from the 1940s through the 1970s. Jimmy Ricks (1924-1974) and Warren Suttles formed the Ravens, a pioneering R&B harmony group at the club, after Ricks had a stint waiting tables. The Ravens performed at all the major clubs in Harlem including Club Baron, Club Baby Grand and the Apollo, and scored big hit in the NYC area with “Green Eyes” in 1955. Ricks scored some solo hits in the 1960s.
Though the 400 Tavern closed decades ago, its old space remains on the ground floor of a corner apartment building and even more miraculously, its old neon sign is still there. If you look closely you can see the space where the word “Tavern” used to be.
Info from Rock and Roll Explorer Guide to New York City, Mike Katz and Crispin Kott (Globe Pequot 2018)
Check out the ForgottenBook, take a look at the gift shop, and as always, “comment…as you see fit.”
6/22/18
7 comments
Hi Kevin,
Excellent post. I did not know this location was significant but I immediately recognized the 400 sign. Years back, to the left of that apartment building entrance was a mysterious looking shanty. It had a padlocked center door and newspaper covered the window. It was very crude in design made from wood. It resembled some kind of makeshift workshop or storefront, added to the building’s facade. It is gone now, but you may see a photo I took of it here: https://instagram.com/p/BCj2eYNDsnj/
Thanks for the shout-out!
Hi, my family is the owner of this space. I’ve never thought to google it before. I appreciate the article. For what it’s worth the “shanty” lol, was a news stand. I grew up with old mn in the area operating it and using it as a place to hang out and “run numbers” (that’s a whole other Harlem historic conversation). Thanks for the shout out!
Hi Jay,
Thanks for sharing this information! I would like to know more about your memories of the newsstand / the other historic Harlem conversation. If you have the time, could you share more details? Or do you know where I could find more information?
Thanks!
Jay, is there any way I can get in there to photograph it? Please email me at jmjaxon@gmail.com
Hi I’m a relative in the building “Jay’s” family does
not own the building- it’s a cooperative- his statement is inaccurate
30 YRS – what’s the story with the 400 Tavern space itself? Do you know if it’s vacant, still set up like a bar, etc?