It was an interesting year in Hoboken, as residents finally started to see recovery from the pandemic. Plenty of new life found itself in the Mile Square, with new opportunities and offerings for the community. From expansions to new openings, residents can treat themselves to clothing, food, wellness services, and more, all with businesses that opened this year alone. Check out our list of businesses that opened in Hoboken in 2021.
120degreesf | 230 Madison Street
This Russian spa offers a unique blend of services, including oxygen cocktails, ionic foot detoxes, infrared saunas, and massages, which include the option for a CBD oil massage. Other options include face masks, foot masks, paraffin hand treatment, and teeth whitening. The best part, though, is that it has a speakeasy vibe, as it’s a hidden spa accessed only by walking into a men’s salon and asking for Irina.
/Impact/ | 603 Willow Avenue
Owner and managing director of Impact, Caroline Lellouche, decided to open her own fitness studio after the pandemic had led to her making changes to her career. “I got my initial inspiration from Project by Equinox, but wanted to make it a bit less singular and create more of a community, like the one you’d find from a standard boutique studio,” she told Hoboken Girl. The diverse classes include HIIT, true mat Pilates, Barre/sculpt, dance cardio, and cardio strength classes.
Baking Mama | 600-604 Newark Street
Known for its best-in-the-state (and even country) chocolate chip cookies, Baking Mama has taken over the former Sugarsuckle bakery location. The expansion space is available for guests to rent out for private parties, meaning guests can learn from Baking Mama herself, Tina Rivera, during a baking party, or cookie decorating class. Private events are available for both children and adults. The second location opened in the middle of November.
Camp Bow Wow | 1414 Grand Street
The doggy daycare opened in June of this year, and is made up of a 7,300 square-foot dog-friendly space, just around the corner from the Pilsener Haus Biergarten, and directly across from Carpe Diem restaurant. “The Hoboken Camp features four play yards for teacup, small, medium, and large dogs, 54 spacious cabins including three luxury suites, and a climate-controlled atmosphere,” owner Ken Myers told Hoboken Girl. It also partnered with the Liberty Humane Society through its non-profit organization, Bow Wow Buddies Foundation.
Celebrate Life at Home | 1200 Park Avenue
Celebrate Life at Home is a newly-opened Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Stockist and lifestyle store in Hoboken. The store carries brushes, finishes, stencils, and the full line of Annie Sloan Chalk Paint® which consists of 45 colors ideal for a DIY novice. Owner Susan Pascal is thrilled to be able to share the joy of color and creativity with the Hoboken community. The shop also features upcycled furniture, textiles, home decor; select handmade pieces from local artisans, and hosts paint techniques classes and DIY workshops.
Chickie’s | 236 Pavonia Avenue
Chickie’s is owned and operated by Michael Gondevas, the co-owner of Hamilton Park hot spots Hamilton Inn. Michael, a born and raised Jersey City resident, told Hoboken Girl exclusively back in August that Chickie’s will be “your real basic everyday Italian neighborhood restaurant.”
Elite Kickz | 630 Washington Street
In July 2020, Joseph “JoJo” Petruzzelli, then a 13-year-old eighth-grader, used his love for sneakers to benefit the Hoboken Jubilee Center by hosting a pop-up sneaker store to raise funds for the Center. The pop-up was such a success that Jojo has now opened a permanent location on Washington Street, and now fills the street style demand in Hoboken. The hours of the shop are Wednesday – Saturday 12PM-7PM and Sunday 12PM-5PM.
Empyrean Kitchen + Bar | 20 Hudson Place
This modern Indian restaurant “takes you on a flavorful journey. Like the name, the menu will awaken your senses and challenge your imagination. You will be transported to an appealing setting while in the comfort of your own neighborhood,” the website states. The restaurant has two different chefs leading the kitchen. One chef specializes in Tandoori items, a mild and creamy curry sauce usually made with a blend of ginger, tamarind, garlic, and aromatic spices, while the other chef specializes in curries, the combination of spices and/or herbs, usually including ground turmeric, ginger, coriander, cumin, and fresh or dried chilies.
Fat Taco | 32 Newark Street
Hoboken Hospitality Group, the owners of Birch and Wild Moose Saloon, made over the former Coco Havana space to create a taco and tequila bar. “Fat Taco is the culmination of a Mexican-inspired place that will be serving Mexican food but with a focus on birria tacos. They’re a popular food trend now in NJ.” Birria’s are lamb or goat tacos commonly made in Mexico.
Fruiti Fi | 1404 Grand Street
With a mission to bring clean, healthy eating to Hoboken, the couple behind Fruiti Fi offers fruit-based clean juices and more. All of the smoothies and juices cost $8, and wellness shots, puddings, and oats are also available. The family-owned business also offers a children’s menu, where each item costs $5.
Hudson Family Chiropractic | 1317 Willow Avenue
This local pain relief practice opened a second location in the uptown location, across from the Trader Joe’s. Hoboken local Dr. John Rotundo has been serving the Mile Square for about 20 years, and the expansion offers chiropractic services and will eventually add acupuncture, flexology, orthopedic physical therapy, and pelvic floor physical therapy to its wellness menu.
JAG-ONE Physical Therapy | 1199 Hudson Street
The therapists at JAG-ONE create individualized treatment programs based on each patient’s unique goals and needs, using several types of treatments to treat patients. Depending on the location and severity of the injury, patients may find themselves receiving cryotherapy to reduce swelling, performing gait training, utilizing electrical nerve stimulation to reduce pain, or receiving a massage to decrease scar tissue.
La Boheme | 233 Clinton Street
Taking over the previous Cuchuramama location, the owners of Barbès opened a restaurant they’ve dubbed a “taste of the French Riviera,” soft opening the eatery on December 10. The brick oven is a big part of La Boheme’s French-inspired menu, which features French onion soup, wild mushroom risotto, and more.
Myron Mixon’s Pitmaster BBQ | 618 Washington Street
Myron Mixon, an American celebrity chef, BBQ Pitmasters judge, and competitor on the competitive barbecue circuit, opened his midtown eatery after much excitement. As the name suggests, the restaurant serves up traditional BBQ fare like brisket, pulled pork, and classic sides like potato salad and mac n’cheese. It opened on December 13, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Mayor Bhalla.
Olivia’s | 1038 Garden Street
Olivia’s is a restaurant and cocktail bar that opened in April. It is described as offering Mediterranean cuisine with a Latin flair. The decor is also impressive, as it’s a mix of mid-century meets art deco meets boho style. The chic touches and warm tones bring a luxury vibe to the space that is unarguably Instagrammable.
One12 Hoboken | 112 Willow Avenue
This artisan kitchen is serving up Italian to-go dishes and endless antipasti plates. One12 offers tons of lunch dishes like broccoli rabe and grilled eggplant, with endless sides to choose from like garbanzo bean salad, stuffed peppers, caramelized onions, olives, potatoes, and more. The One12 team was born and bred in Hoboken and aims to bring its passion for tradition to the eatery.
Plaka Souvlaki | 62 Newark Street
This new Greek eatery is sneaking in a soft opening right before the end of the year. The restaurant takes over the former Surf Taco space and offers fresh, never-frozen, organic meat in every single item on the menu. There are also vegetarian options available, including finely-crafted, healthy salads.
Play, Fun, Eat | Pier A Park
Hoboken resident Elvi Guzman, the mastermind behind the City Challenge Obstacle Race, supplies Pier A-goers with games and sports equipment to make the most out of their day at the park. Games and sports equipment are available for rental by the hour. Spikeball, mini-golf, ring toss, frisbee toss, soccer, football, bowling, cornhole, hula hoops, nerf balls, and even picnic blankets and baskets will be available. The activities will are free for kids 5-9 years old.
Pure Nail | 1315 Washington Street
Services offered include the usual: a manicure costs $13, a gel manicure is $37, a powder gel manicure is $47, a spa manicure costs $28, a tip set is $80, and so forth. Pedicures start at $27, and you can get a spa pedicure for $50 and up. The spa pedicure products used are from Therapispa, a professional salon brand, and are certified vegan. The salon also offers a 10-minute reflexology massage and various waxing services (from $12 up to $50), including eyebrow, lip, chin, underarm, half arm, full arm, half leg, full leg, bikini, and Brazilian.
Reed Wellness | 80 River Street
‘Massage, movement and mindfulness’ is this business’ tagline. Owner Victoria Reed offers a 60, 75, or 90-minute signature Reed massage, designed to melt away stress and tension, alongside a variety of other services including manual lymphatic drainage, sports stretching, and cupping. Prices vary depending on the length of the services, though each service costs the same price per minute.
Sangria | 800 Jackson Street
Since opening in Mahwah in 2014, this tapas restaurant has become a local favorite. Its expansion to Hoboken saw it take over a location that has been occupied on-and-off for several years. The eatery’s dinner menu offers a mix of Spanish vegetables, meat, and seafood small plates, alongside wine and, of course, sangria.
Schmitty’s | 359 1st Street
The former Nag’s Head Bar owners sold the space to William Schmitt, a local developer who primarily focuses on residential projects. He has since opened Schmitty’s, a dog-friendly bar, with his wife and sister-in-law. The space includes an indoor garden wall alongside craft cocktails and beers.
Shake Shack | 107-111 Washington Street
We originally reported that Shake Shack was coming to the Mile Square in October 2019, and it finally became a reality this year. The famous burger joint is open from 11AM to 10PM Sunday through Thursday, and 11AM to 11AM Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. What started as a hot dog cart in Madison Square Park has expanded to one of the fastest-growing chains in the United States.
Sirenetta | 1039 Washington Street
Sorellina’s sister restaurant, owned by Gabi Lombardi, took over the space held by the famous Maxwell’s Tavern. The seafood and raw bar eatery is a playful, nautical spin on Sorellina, and offers up tons of seafood options in a bright, airy space. It also hosts events and offers prix fixe menus for special occasions.
South Lions Dim Sum Coffee + Tea | 512 Washington Street
Open every day from 11AM to 10PM, South Lions has a sister restaurant called iCooking Hot Pot & BBQ in East Hanover. The menu includes dumplings, dim sum, lo mein, fried rice, and more. Dim sum restaurants have a unique serving method where servers offer dishes to customers from steam-heated carts.
Sweat + Glo | 80 River Street
Hoboken’s first infrared sauna studio, Sweat + Glo, was founded by Hoboken residents Rachel and Justin Helfman. Rachel works in the advertisement industry and Justin works for the federal government. The business offers two specific sauna experiences. The first is the “Quickie”, which is a 30-minute express sweat session that still allows clients to experience all of the benefits of an Infrared session within a shorter amount of time. The second is the “Power Hour”, which is a 60-minute session that aims to rest and recharge the body in a personal sweat suite. Clients will burn up to 600 calories, sweat out toxins, and elevate wellbeing with this session.
Sweven | 33-41 Newark Avenue
Owner Joe Castelo wanted his membership-based coworking space to be a place where visitors could realize all of their projects. It comes complete with a media production team, a podcast studio, meeting rooms, and more. And, as part of the Antique Bar & Bakery family, it offers the same welcoming, unique vibe that’s carried across all of the group’s outposts.
Sw3at Sauna | 172 Newark Avenue
The sauna studio is a veteran-, woman-, LGBTQ+-, and black-owned holistic sanctuary for those seeking to heal the mind and body with infrared heat therapy. Each suite is comfortably spacious with plenty of towels, complimentary Wi-Fi, reading materials, and a towel cooler filled with lavender-infused towels, and water bottles. Every sauna is also equipped with built-in Bluetooth systems should you want to listen to music during your session.
Tastee Platters | 217 Washington Street
This Halal restaurant opened its second New Jersey location in Hoboken after the first opened in Wayne just last year. The eatery specializes in classic halal food – platters, pitas, salads, wings, and other sides, with the same delicious protein options across every platter, pita, and salad. It also offers catering for private events.
The Cookie Connect | 305 1st Street
This late-night cookie shop opened its third location in New Jersey on 1st Street in October. ”Our menu has a cookie on it for everyone. Whether you are a teenager trying to get over a heartbreak, a college student trooping through finals, a mother stressing over her son’s birthday party, or an elder wondering what they should serve at their next Sunday Dinner for dessert – we are here to help!” the owners told Hoboken Girl.
The Sinatra Room | 36-42 Newark Street
Monroe’s, where The Sinatra Room lives in the basement, is where the infamous Clam Broth House first opened in 1899 and played host to famous faces like Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Kerouac, and Marlon Brando. The new space is an homage to the famous faces that once hang out there, and the cocktail menu is an homage to not only Frank’s favorites but also the era they’re emulating with the speakeasy. The options are a blend of classic, modern, and seasonal cocktails.
The Studio | 251 1st Street
An adults-only dance studio, The Studio finally opened in Hoboken after founder Lauren Greenwood’s plans were delayed by Covid. Each class is a full hour long and, depending on the genre, is formatted with a really solid warmup, usually followed by some technique work either across the floor or center floor work. The class schedule is online and professional dancers in New York City teach all of the sessions.
The Vitamin Shoppe | 312 Washington Street
Offering one of the largest selections of products in the area, the shop carries thousands of proteins, supplements, healthy weight products, aromatherapy goodies, organic, non-GMO deliciousness, skin products, and more. Popular products include women’s probiotics, Whey protein, energy drinks, coconut oil, natural skincare, and plant-based protein. The hours of operation are Monday – Saturday 10AM – 8PM and Sunday 11AM – 6PM.
Tipsy Tie Dye | 155 1st Street
Co-founded by siblings Katie Tague and Kevin Tague, Tipsy Tie Dye has taken over the former Sushi House location after doing pop-ups across the Mile Square. The Sushi House’s former kitchen space is now converted into “a small wash development facility for co-ops, resident artists and designers to utilize, as well as serving the fashion industry for small orders,” Katie told Hoboken Girl. The front of the house is a retail boutique featuring designers from the community and dyeable merchandise, as well as pre-dyed merchandise. It will also host events.
Vegbar Juicery | 464 Newark Street, Hoboken
This vegan eatery operates as both a kitchen and a juice bar. The business originally started making appearances at the Garden Street Farmers’ Market in Hoboken and the Van Vorst Park Farmers’ Market in Jersey City back in 2014. The menu consists of empanadas, burritos “with a Jamaican flare”, veggie burgers, wraps (such as the vegan jerk chick’n tacos, spicy hummus, and cauliflower rice black bean burrito), air baked fries, hummus, smoothie bowls, organic juices, smoothies, shakes, and specialty vegan baked goods.
Wicked Scents | 163 2nd Street
Miguel Goncalves, a Hoboken resident, made a bold move during the pandemic: he quit his corporate job to become the first person in his family to open a business. So, naturally, he wanted to focus his new business on something he loves: scents. As well as carrying the local private brand Lucid Flame Candle Co., Wicked Scents carries favorites like Yankee Candle, Bridgewater, Votivo, Rock Creek Soaps, and more.
Woodhouse Day Spa | 225 River Street
Located inside the W Hotel, the Woodhouse Day Spa in Hoboken is added to a roster of facilities across the state, including outposts in Red Bank, Montclair, and Summit. The opening on July 30 saw the spa finally begin operations out of the space formerly owned by Bliss Spa, which was vacant for a year after the previous spa’s closure. Offerings include massages, facials, body treatments, and waxing services.
Yuki’s Bakery & Coffee | 720 Monroe Street, E-101
Yuki (Aviyah) Levinson, a native of Israel, moved to the United States after finishing her time in the Israeli army. She has almost a lifetime of experience in cooking and baking, having managed kitchens, whole restaurants, and was a pastry chef for renowned NYC restaurants and cafes. Her Hoboken bakery offers babka, challah, burek, rugelach, and hamentashen, alongside coffee by Counter Culture Coffee and organic teas.
