Villa Barone Trattoria
Appetizer
CHOICE OF:
Fresh Mozzarella and Tomato Stuffed Clams
Cold Antipasto
Pasta
CHOICE OF:
Rigatoni Fileto Penne Vodka or Primavera
Entree
CHOICE OF:
Tilapia Arreganata Broiled Salmon
Veal Scallopini Francese Chicken Sorrentino
Veal or Chicken Parmigiana
**Grilled Lamb Chops
**Misto di Casa (NY Strip Steak,
Veal Francese & Chicken Sorrentino)
**Combination NY Strip Steak &
Shrimp Scampi
**Broiled 8oz. Lobster Tail
**Broiled Seafood Combination Platter
(Lobster Tail, Shrimp, Clams,
Filet of Sole & Scallops)
All Dinners Served with Potato & Vegetables,
Coffee, Tea or Espresso & Dessert
$36.95 Per Person
Ask About Our Children’s Menu for
$14.95
**These Entrees $11.95 Extra
Come Join Us In Our Newly
Renovated Dining Room
3289 Westchester Avenue
Bronx, NY 10461
Call now for reservations
718-828-0560
BRONX TIMES R 24 EPORTER, MAY 10-16, 2019 BTR
Jerome Lamaar Rama Tortosa
Jerome Lamaar: The Style
Monk of Bruckner Boulevard
BY ALEX MITCHELL
It may be shocking to some, but the
south Bronx wasn’t always the emerging,
cultural oasis that has captivated
all of New York City; however, there was
one individual that predicted its rise at
the early age of eight, the ‘Style Monk,’
Jerome Lamaar.
If you weren’t already aware, Soundview’s
favorite son has appeared on the
cover The New York Times, designed
marvelous wardrobes for A-list celebrities
like Beyoncé, lived and travelled
worldwide in the name of style and
ruled the corridor of Bruckner Boulevard
near the Third Avenue Bridge well
before the rest.
Lamaar did so by bringing innovative
elegance through a ‘South Bronx
Luxe’ brand and concept clothing store
called 9J at 41 Bruckner Boulevard
some years ago, competing only with
himself.
“Back then, people would think of
the Bronx as a place people would go
through and not to, and that’s what I
wanted to change,” Lamaar said, noting
the intention of exposing the borough’s
beauty worldwide.
9J ended up accomplishing just that.
Especially when that store incentivized
Rihanna to come to, rather than
go through, the Bronx, in addition to a
plethora of other worldwide celebs and
fashion afi cionados worldwide.
“People that didn’t understand
would say ‘Oh, the Bronx is burning’
and I would respond ‘Well my store
isn’t,’” Lamaar said.
It was also through 9J that Lamaar
initially opened up a gateway to the
concept of a creative and stylish south
Bronx community that now fl ourishes.
Along the way, he inspired some
of the new commercial tenants on the
block, like fellow clothing brand Bronx
Native.
Lamaar decided to close down the
successful business by his own choosing
in February of 2018; doing so to pursue
more personal projects along with
DJing some Calvin Harris-infl uenced
tracks for fun.
“I get asked all the time to reopen 9J,
but it’s just not what I want to do right
now,” he said.
Given that Lamaar travels worldwide,
attending the Grammy Awards,
Coachella for Google, Tribeca Film
Festival for Airbnb and most recently
the Met Gala’s after-party for nobody
but himself, he just doesn’t have the
time to spend in a store from dawn until
dusk.
Nevertheless, this Renaissance man
still utilizes an elegant and more private
workspace at 2407 Third Avenue.
While the purpose of that space is for
projects and work, the Style Monk also
uses it for meditation.
“That’s where the term Style Monk
actually comes from,” Lamaar said
explaining that his success revolves
around internal spirituality more than
anything.
“It’s about fi nding balance, about
learning and knowing yourself,” Lamaar
said while discussing the complexity
of living in the moment during
overwhelming achievement.
With his 34th birthday beckoning in
just three weeks, the Pelham Bayite’s
next endeavor will be to publish a book
by this time in 2020.
“It’s going to be more than self help,
it’s going to be self elevation,” Lamaar
promised.
Keep up with Jerome Lamaar by following
his ever so growing Instagram:
jeromelamaar.