Sharon Harris has two passions in life, counseling and cooking. She will probably put both to use in the new business she is opening this month--Champy’s Caribbean and American Cuisine, a restaurant she is starting with her four sons, Dexter, 24, Corey, 23, Lovell, 21, and Malik, 20.
Harris is the founder of Safe Haven Youth Outreach Ministries, Inc. She has her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from University at Albany. Now, with just two semesters left before she completes her Master’s degree in community mental health counseling from the College of Saint Rose, she is opening a new restaurant with her children. “I like to stay busy,” Harris says with a laugh.
Champy’s is named for Harris’s son, Corey, who the family called “Champy” as a child. The restaurant is located in a former chicken and pizza spot, which the family has renovated together, and finished with bright green lime paint on the exterior.
The restaurant is near Central Avenue's Townsend Park. Townsend Park has been the site of increased business development as of late. This year, two new restaurants, Umana Restaurant and Wine Bar and Flavors of India opened on the park, and a third, Terra Pescetarian, is expected by the end of the summer. Parkside Apartments, a new upscale apartment building whose beautiful units face the park, opened with much fanfare, and fully leased apartments, earlier this summer. In July, Central Avenue BID announced that the National Association of Realtors had awarded a grant of $2,200 from the Greater Capital Chapter of New York State Commercial Association of Realtors to install outdoor lighting in Townsend Park.
Champy's marks the latest addition to this part of Central Avenue. “I think this is a hot spot. It’s so busy and active and vibrant,” Harris says.
The restaurant is near Central Avenue's Townsend Park. Townsend Park has been the site of increased business development as of late. This year, two new restaurants, Umana Restaurant and Wine Bar and Flavors of India opened on the park, and a third, Terra Pescetarian, is expected by the end of the summer. Parkside Apartments, a new upscale apartment building whose beautiful units face the park, opened with much fanfare, and fully leased apartments, earlier this summer. In July, Central Avenue BID announced that the National Association of Realtors had awarded a grant of $2,200 from the Greater Capital Chapter of New York State Commercial Association of Realtors to install outdoor lighting in Townsend Park.
Champy's marks the latest addition to this part of Central Avenue. “I think this is a hot spot. It’s so busy and active and vibrant,” Harris says.
The restaurant will specialize in home cooked meals at affordable prices, “so that everyone can enjoy the cuisines of the tropics without having to break their piggy banks,” says Harris. Harris will share the cooking with her sons, and says each brings something different to the menu. “I can cook just about everything but curry shrimp is my speciality.” In addition to callaloo and saltfish, curry goat, and oxtail, and other more traditional Jamaican dishes, Champy’s will also serve American favorites like bacon and eggs, fish fry, fried chicken, burgers, and meatloaf.
The Caribbean population is growing in the Capital Region--Harris moved here from Jamaica in 1981--and that has increased the demand for restaurants that cater to them. “It’s a taste of home for some, and for others, it’s new,” Harris says. She and her sons are looking forward to serving everyone.
