Kathleen Adams is a businesswoman, restaurateur, brand strategist, world traveler, and community leader, but with all those titles she refuses to be known as one thing, instead preferring to describe herself as “multi-hyphenate.”
But she uses all of those things as a partner at the popular Angel of Harlem restaurant on Frederick Douglass Blvd., which is celebrating 11 years on Sept. 24.
“It’s been great to see how much the community has supported us, but also how the brand has been able to build,” said Adams, 38, who also works full-time as a brand strategist.
A native of Shaker Heights, Ohio, Adams says she always had big dreams and was encouraged and supported by her parents as opposed to being limited.
“My parents really fostered curiosity in me and allowed me to explore,” Adams said.
From a young age, Adams had the itch to become an entrepreneur. At 8 years old, she started a dog-walking business, and later, as a teen, did babysitting and sold repurposed vintage clothes, even having business cards.
When it came time to choose a college, Adams says she was determined to make her way to New York City, which she saw as “the epicenter of the world.” She attended Fordham University, where she received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. While in school, Adams began working at restaurants including Red Lobster and Capitol Grille in the Time Life Center in Rockefeller Center, gaining firsthand experience in an industry she already knew she wanted to make part of her future.
The Angel of Harlem team saw an opportunity to address a gap in Harlem’s dining landscape and create a space that reflected the energy, culture, and community of the neighborhood. Adams’ background in hospitality and advertising, combined with the team’s collective vision, helped bring that idea to life in 2015.
“There were a lot of places you could eat and drink in Harlem, but nothing that was visually, aesthetically pleasing in that time period,” Adams said. “Now, you have way more options. So obviously there’s way more competition.
“I think what made Angel of Harlem unique back then as well as to this day,” she continued, “is that we really have perfected how to get the party started, how to have fun, and how to really have that community-oriented feeling. When you walk into Angel of Harlem, you might not know anyone, but when you leave, you’ve lost. You’ve left with a room full of friends.”
However, Adams says there are more and more tall financial hurdles in running a restaurant in the city. With factors like minimum wage being increased in places like New York and San Francisco, that strain is left for the owners to bear, and they are left without much choice but to charge more for food.
“Who wants to pay $30 for a hamburger? That’s what’s happening when you have to factor in the cost,” Adams said.
According to Adams, the restaurant currently can use support during the week, beyond days like Wednesday and Thursday, noting their pre-fixed option of having a three-course deal for two under $90.
Within the Black community, Adams hopes that there can be a deeper dialogue around running a business and resources that are available.
“I think that we as a community don’t talk about how to fund and operate a business the right way,” Adams said. “There’s a lot of different creative financing methods out there. … Sometimes people think that they need to take money out of their pocket to fund something. That’s not always the case.”
In the community, Adams serves as co-chair of the Associate Board for the Harlem School of the Arts and is also involved with Momma’s Hip Hop Kitchen, a social justice nonprofit initiative that produces showcases featuring female DJs, MCs, and other artists while raising awareness around reproductive justice and HIV/AIDS.
As a brand strategist, Adams works closely with healthcare companies as well as generally with venues such as Verizon for their “Can You Hear Me Now” campaign.
Adams says she has irons in the fire and is looking to continue growing her career in different lanes from advertising, hospitality, and community.
“A lot of times, people only focus on their business, and that’s the only part of their identity. And for me, Angel of Harlem is part of my identity, but I’m so much more,” Adams said.
“I’m looking at exploring and building out some other concepts, perhaps maybe not even in New York, and not related to Angel of Harlem at all,” Adams said. “I’m just excited to see what the future holds.”
