I so sympathize with the staff that has to serve this, umm, clientele.....

But, this can't be- everyone knows that "real" New Yorkers disdain suburban chain restaurants because they're not "authentic"!

Oh wait- it turns out that the vast majority of New Yorkers are more like the rest of America in their tastes than the narrow sliver of hipsters and wealthy white people in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

You should see how popular the Applebee's and Chuck E. Cheese on 125th are already. This Red Lobster will be a hit too.

I know- I used to work with a bunch of people from Harlem and the Bronx. They would crow about taking a hot date to Red Lobster. 

i'm completely floored by the ignorance of the commenters. are you guys seriously asking why blacks love red lobster? sea food has been entrenched in black culture, soul food, etc. for many moons.

ok, red lobster... like 30 years ago it was actually a semi-legit seafood restaurant, primarily located in more affluent nabes, and the customers were predominantly white. during the 80s quality declined dramatically for a variety of reasons, and this was coupled with a dramatic shift in diner demographics.

the primary reasons blacks love the place:

1. lots of cheap, fattening fried food: grease, lard, and batter are a winning combination.
2. all you can eat offerings (how do you think sheniqua ballooned up to 450 pounds?)
3. majority of the employees are whites. blacks get to have power over the evil white crackkka muthafuckaz for a moment or two.
4. booze is served.
5. they don't discriminate at the door: pimps, drug dealers, etc. are all welcome.
6. the smell of fish reminds them of a black girl's pussy.
7. they think it's upscale. in the black michelin guide, it's a three star establishment.
8. they tolerate boisterous behavior.
9. numerous cultural references, especially in the crap, i mean rap community.

you can think of red lobster as being a 1995 mercedes s klasse. at one point in time, yes, it was a semi-decent car. fast forward to 2012, and now tyronne owns the chariot, 290k on the clock, with $0 down and 108 monthly payments. he's a legend in his own mind, believes his hooptie is special, thinks he's someone important, etc.

this restaurant opening will not end well. i guarantee you there will be a shooting/stabbing/brawl in the restaurant shortly after opening (maybe in the parking lot). darden is getting greedy and chasing short-term profits, this is going to be ugly. of course, the media will complete ignore the situation...

Are you a African-American anthropologist? Where can I pick up one of your books?

you guys should totally team up

why, yes. during my tenure in the oakland/sf bay area, i studied the african-american community up close and personal. it was quite an adventure, like an urban safari! lemmy tell you, every day was a fucking blast!

anyway, some of my works are published here: http://greatwhitedesert.org/Li...

get married and make babies you two

 And they neglected to blow your brains out during your "tenure"? My Brothers in Oakland are going to receive a tersely worded memo about this serious breach of protocol.

in the oak town, i delivered more tuneups than i can remember. no joke, my fists still smell like murray's grease from all the heads i busted.

You must have had a gun, a badge and whole precinct to back you up, Tough Guy

you crusin' for a brusin' there chief? i clean clocks at gleanson's for shits and giggles. you can't miss me: two foot long dick and balls the size of grapefruits.

i am your king. the midnight fapper.

oh 

for a second i thought i saw  24 hour red lobster takeout window. even though red lobster may not be the best, if youre drunk as fuck at 4am, shrimp scampi in a go cup seems tastier than shady ass mcdonalds.

Can one of our resident urban sociologists please answer the burning AfAm-RL connection query?

It's all about the scrimps.

http://youtu.be/1niTSAD8tXI

I was dragged to the Times Square location once (first time at a Red Lobster) and I was surprised to see that the people eating there were overwhelmingly African-American, so it makes sense to put a location in Harlem. Does anyone know why it's such a hit with African-Americans? I honestly have no idea why it would be this national chain restaurant and not Olive Garden, Chilis, Applebees, etc. 

 Harlem has had an Applebee's for several years.

Oops, I asked the same question before realizing that you had already done it before me.

No one has answered either of us, yet.