Hey, Hudson County! Another week has gone and by and as usual, it was filled with news of openings and closings, some hard-hitting stories, and so much more. Don’t worry if you missed anything or if you need to catch-up on anything. We know you’ve had a busy work week, so we did the work for you. Keep reading for all the top headlines you missed this week.
{Featured image credit: Victoria Moyeno}
Shake Shack Is Coming to Hoboken
It looks like Hoboken is getting another burger joint! Shake Shack is coming to 107 Washington Street, after years of rumors flying around the Mile Square. The company’s official hiring page published a listing for a position at the upcoming Hoboken location, confirming the news.
No official opening date or timeline has been released as of yet. However, the burger place — which is also known for concretes, milkshakes, frozen custards, and cheese fries — could be opening in Hoboken as soon as 2020.
Hoboken Children’s Theatre Opening in Permanent Location
{Photo credit: Google Maps}
The former home of Hoboken’s Clinton Street CrossFit facility is becoming a theatre. According to Jersey Digs, local theatre group Hoboken Children’s Theatre has been approved to move into 701 Clinton Street in the Mile Square. The 2,000 square foot building will soon be home to plays, acting classes, and performances, and will serve as Hoboken Children’s Theatre first-ever permanent brick-and-mortar. While HCT has been operating since 2002, it hasn’t had a permanent home and instead has operated out of Hoboken Charter School and All Saints Church.
Plans for the new theatre feature classrooms for acting classes, a performance area with 50 seats, and a back-area courtyard situated behind a storage area.
RWJBarnabas Announces Plans to Acquire Hoboken and Jersey City CarePoint Health Locations
CarePoint Health Hospital in Hoboken and Jersey City Heights at Christ Hospital will likely be acquired by RWJBarnabas by the end of 2019. In a joint press release that went out on October 22nd, CarePoint Health confirmed they were working together with RWBJBarnabas for the company to acquire CPH. The letter proposes the basic structure of the acquisition, citing that RWBJBarnabas is looking to purchase both of CarePoint’s two locations, and also confirms that CarePoint Health is also looking for a strategic partner for Bayonne Medical Center.
Ernst + Young Hoboken Location Makes Headlines for Allegedly Offering Problematic Training
Ernst + Young, an accounting firm with a location on River Street, is under fire after an article published on Huffington Post Women alleged the location provided training with misogynistic undertones to a group of female employees. If you haven’t read the HP article, entitled “Women At Ernst & Young Instructed On How To Dress, Act Nicely Around Men,” the article alleges that in June 2018, 30 female executives at the Mile Square location, received training called PPP or Power-Presence-Purpose. Reported sentiments of this training allegedly include ideas like “sexuality scrambles the mind,” women shouldn’t “flaunt their bod[ies],” and women should have a “good haircut, manicured nails, well-cut attire that complements your body type.”
One of the more salacious statements allegedly included in the PPP training is the comparison of women to pancakes and men to waffles. An anonymous source, who Huffington Post calls Jane, revealed that the women in the meeting were told women’s brains are anywhere from six to 11 percent smaller than men’s; then, that “women’s brains absorb information like pancakes,” soaking up syrup “so it’s hard for them to focus.”
To read up on that full story, check out our take on it, which features an exclusive interview with a source from the company who currently works there.
An Airbnb Update: Plus What It Means to Vote “Yes” or “No” on Municipal Question 1
The story of Airbnb in Jersey City is a developing one and most recently, a community group called Jersey City Together has issued a statement recommending residents vote “yes” on the upcoming Municipal Question 1 on Election Day, November 5th.
Voting for the Municipal Question pretty much goes like this: Voting “yes” to the question is a vote for new regulations that would manage rental services like Airbnb in Jersey City; voting “no” is a vote against the regulations, which call for a 60-day cap on short-term rental properties in JC if the owner is not on-site, and the barring of short-term rentals in buildings with more than four units.
In a statement, Jersey City Together said,
“Jersey City is in a housing crisis. With 40 percent of families in housing stress, we have to act on every level — building new housing that is affordable for families, preserving existing, lower-cost housing {like apartments under rent control}, and requiring more affordable units from developers. When thousands of housing units are artificially taken off the market through short-term rentals, this has a direct impact on affordability as well. Smart regulations — like those that prevent rent-controlled units from being used as short-term rentals — must be part of the solution. Jersey City Together recommends a ‘yes’ vote on Jersey City Municipal Question No. 1.”
Vying for a different turnout is Keep Our Homes, a public question committee with the support of Jersey City’s short-term rental community {and Airbnb}. KOH is encouraging Jersey Citians to vote “no” to Municipal Question 1. According to its website, “Short-term rentals have been legal in Jersey City since 2015. But then the Special Interests got to the Politicians — who turned around and wrote a ballot measure designed to fool you. We all agree that short-term rentals need some regulations. But a rental BAN? It’s Too Extreme. Municipal Question 1 hurts working families and seniors facing rising property taxes and cost{s} of living.”
Earlier this year, City Council passed an ordinance that would implement the aforementioned new restrictions on short-term rental services like Airbnb. After it was passed, Airbnb filed a petition to, instead, have residents vote on what they wanted: restrictions or no restrictions. The vote takes place on Tuesday, November 5th, 2019 in the form of Municipal Question 1.
Steven’s Institute Ranked #2 in New Jersey as Strategic Investment Amongst Undergrad Students
According to WalletHub, Hoboken’s own Steven’s Institute has been ranked #2 in New Jersey as “a smart investment choice for undergraduates.” WalletHub cited Steven’s most meaningful advantages as financial aid, student-loan default rates, and career outcomes. Nationally, Steven’s ranks #56 in the 94th percentile as a top-performing school with a lowest possible cost.
Furthermore, 96 percent of Steven’s Institute students secure jobs within six months of graduation. Their average salary? Upwards of $71,000. And as far as debt, Stevens’ three-year cohort default rate is 0.9 percent. The national average? It’s 10.1 percent.
Not to mention, Steven’s graduates with a bachelor’s degree have a median mid-career salary of $139,000 after 10 years in their respective fields.
The American Dream Mall Is Officially Opening
New Jersey’s own American Dream Mall has finally opened its doors. Earlier this week, according to NJ.com, the State of New Jersey still had still not issued a certificate of occupancy to the space. The American Dream Mall, however, got approval from “the state Department of Community Affairs” and opened on October 25th under a “temporary certificate of occupancy.”
In an old press release, President of American Dream Don Ghermezian said, “We know that the community has been eagerly awaiting the launch of this incredible global destination. We have a one-of-a-kind property that will reshape the way people think about entertainment, theme parks, and shopping.”
The Dream Mall is supposed to feature 45 percent retail options, 55 percent entertainment options. This includes four roller coasters, eight acres worth of a DreamWorks-themed water park, a Big SNOW Ski and Snowboard Park, a skating and hockey rink, an Angry Birds-themed miniature golf course, a Legoland Discovery Center, aquarium, and a luxury movie theatre.
Acai Ya Later Now Offering Deliciously Fit Meals
Get Deliciously Fit, a meal plan company that delivers farm-raised, measured meals throughout New Jersey and New York, is now carried at Acai Ya Later for daily meal prep pick-up. Patrons can grab a meal at any time of the day, rather than opting for delivery. From founder Chris Almazan, Deliciously Fit offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals by either delivery or now, pick-up at Acai Ya Later. All meals are portioned and macro-friendly. Located at 126 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, Acai Ya Later also offers acai, pitaya, and coconut smoothies, bowls, and juices.
Paper Source in Hoboken Is Officially Hiring
{Photo credit: @papersource_hoboken}
Paper Source is coming to Hoboken and in preparation for their doors at 501 Washington Street to officially open — on Tuesday, October 29th — the paper company has announced it’s hiring.
“Surround yourself with beautiful, expressive, quirky product and inspire others to create,” the official Instagram post says. “We also offer a generous associate discount!”
Hoboken Girl can confirm Paper Source has already hired a store manager. The Mile Square location seems to be looking to fill seasonal positions, so if you’re interested, contact 662_manager@paper-source.com with your résumé.
Don’t Forget About #FallInLoveWithHoboken!
From fall foliage to decked-out doorsteps, everything is fair game for the contest. The one rule? Photos MUST be taken in Hoboken or Jersey City to be considered. At the end of the month, the 12 local businesses below will each choose their fave pic from the #FallinLoveWithHoboken hashtag. Make sure to head back here on November 1st to see the final winners. For more information on what kind of content we’re looking for and how to enter, click here.
Got a news tip? Let us know — email us at hello@hobokengirl.com!
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