As January wraps up there is plenty of news to catch up on. Among the local headlines — a car bursts into flames in Jersey City, a New York man finds his car in Hoboken with $10K in drugs inside, Jersey City resident on The Bachelor tells all, + so much more — keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond:
Latest Local COVID-19 Updates as of January 27th
Hoboken and Jersey City are metro hubs in NJ/NYC — so during this time with COVID-19, there is a lot going on. We’ll do our best to update you on a regular basis about the status of Coronavirus cases in Hoboken and Jersey City and New Jersey, updates to self-isolations, closings, reopenings, etc. in the most succinct manner possible — click here for all the details.
Court Street Celebrates 40 Years in Hoboken
Court Street Restaurant + Bar has been a staple in the Hoboken food scene for 40 amazing years and has managed to stay open through the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, COVID-19, and plans to be around for another few decades. As the years have passed, Court Street continues to be a local favorite, known not only for its award-winning wine and food, but also its five-star service.
Artichoke Pizza Opening in Jersey City
Having recently expanded into Hudson County, Artichoke Pizza will now be opening a new location in Jersey City this coming spring. Located between P&K Market and the Keyhole Bar this unique pizza joint will bring a new flavor to the neighborhood. The restaurant will take over 800 square feet of space at 246 Bay Street and has kept some of the historic details from the original building. Jersey Digs has more details.
Hoboken’s Revival Vintage Boutique Moves to New Location
Revival Vintage Boutique, previously located at 47B Harrison Street has announced that it will be moving to a new location at 86 Park Avenue {corner of Park and Newark}. For those who don’t know, this unique boutique that carries all kinds of vintage goods and accessories. Aside from stocking must-have vintage pieces, the shop also offers in-house alterations.
Automat Kitchen Opens in Jersey City
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A modern reinvention, the Automat Kitchen, just opened in Jersey City — offering a comfort food menu that takes inspiration from the local-global tapestry and uses high-quality ingredients. All dishes are made-to-order in just 10 minutes and can be completely contactless. Open Monday to Saturday for breakfast, lunch, and dinner this new spot is located in Newport Tower at 525 Washington Boulevard in Jersey City.
Frank Sinatra’s Favorite NYC Italian Restaurant to Open NJ Pop-up
Classic Italian-American restaurant Patsy’s opened in 1944 in Manhattan and was a favorite of Hoboken-born singer, Frank Sinatra. In the wake of the pandemic, the restaurant has decided to open a pop-up restaurant for 3 months at The Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in Asbury Park, per NJ.com. According to the company website, Sinatra’s family still eats at the restaurant located at 236 West 56th Street.
Jersey City Resident on The Bachelor Tells Us All
Photo credit: Bachelor ABC via Kristin Hopkins
For those Bachelor fanatics, it’s always an exciting moment when a girl or guy from your own hometown is represented on a season. This season, Kristin Hopkins, a Virginia native and current Jersey City resident was fighting for Matt James’ heart. Kristin, unfortunately, did not receive a rose Episode Three, but she shared her experience with Hoboken Girl and answers some of our burning questions about what it was like applying for the show and being on The Bachelor. Click here to learn more about Jersey City resident Kristin, and her time on The Bachelor’s 25th season.
Former Jersey City Department of Recreation Clerk Pleads Guilty to $80k Payroll Scheme
Angela Rivera, a former Jersey City Department of Recreation payroll clerk pleaded guilty to stealing $80K by forging, approving, or cashing paycheck with inflated work hours. In addition to being permanently banned from public employment, she must also pay full restitution to the city. Four others were involved in the scheme, including Rivera’s daughter, all of whom will have charges dismissed upon successful completion of the Pre-Trial Intervention program. NJ.com has the full story.
Empyrean Indian Kitchen Grand Opening
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A new Indian restaurant, Empyrean Kitchen opened on Friday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Empyrean Kitchen is located at 20 Hudson Place in Hoboken, formerly Pop-Up Pizza, and serves an extensive menu including samosas, papdi chat, hummus, tandoori chicken, paneer tikka, bhindi masala, curry, and 6 varieties of naan.
Car Bursts into Flames After Jersey City Crash, Leaving One Dead
On Wednesday morning, a car crashed into a parked vehicle on New York Avenue past Hutton Street and burst into flames, resulting in the death of the driver. It is believed the driver was traveling south on New York Avenue when they lost control of the vehicle. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office’s Regional Crash Investigation Unit and Jersey City police are conducting an investigation, per NJ.com.
New York Man Finds His Car in Hoboken with $10K In Drugs in Trunk
On Wednesday, January 27th, Hoboken Police were called to assist a man who found illegal drugs inside his vehicle, which had been previously rented via the Getaround app. His car had been towed from New York City to Hoboken by Getaround because they believed it to be abandoned. The amount of methamphetamine found in the vehicle has an approximate street value of $10,000. Patch has the full story.
10 Jersey City Men Charged in Conspiracy to Burglarize More Than 40 Pharmacies
The U.S. Attorney General’s Office has charged ten Jersey City men with participating in a “pharmacy burglary conspiracy” which included at least 40 pharmacies in northern New Jersey over a 3-month timeframe. The age of the men ranged from 19 years-old to 28 years-old and while four of the men have appeared before the U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III via videoconference, the remaining six are still at large. Local police departments were thanked for their participation in apprehending the individuals. More details are available on the United States Department of Justice website.
Retiring Police Chief Honored in Walk Out Ceremony
Jersey City Police Chief, Michael Kelly was honored on January 29th for his 34 years of service to the community. Together with Mayor Fulop and Public Safety officials, hundreds of the Jersey City Police Department honored Chief Kelly at a ceremony on Friday. Chief Kelly, 59, joined the JCPD in 1988, rising through the ranks to become the leader of the department in 2018.
Jersey City’s L’Atelier du Chocolat Moving to Newark Avenue
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Famed sweets shop L’Atelier du Chocolat plans to relocate from their Marin Boulevard location to Newark Avenue in Jersey City. The business was founded by Eric Girerd, who was named one of the top 10 chocolatiers in North America by Dessert Professional Magazine. His Instagram announcement shared the news of the move, citing a spike in the cost of rent at their previous location owned by the Kushner Real Estate Group.
Jersey City Taco Bell Customer Flashes Taser During Face Mask Dispute
{Photo is of Hoboken Taco Bell location}
A customer at the Taco Bell on JFK Boulevard in Jersey City threatened to use a taser on employees when she was refused service for not wearing a mask. The incident occurred on Monday, January 25 around 11:30PM and did not result in injury. The Daily Voice has more details.
Jersey City Man Charged in Capitol Insurrection After Posting Selfie Inside
A Jersey City man was charged with participating in the insurrection that took place on January 6th at the U.S. Capitol. The FBI received a tip that Hector Vargas was involved in the insurrection the day after it happened, sources citing the pictures and video Vargas had posted on Facebook of himself in the rotunda and insurrectionists climbing a wall at the Capitol. Vargas tagged his location in the posts as well, more details are available via northjersey.com.
EFES Mediterranean Grill Opens in Jersey City
A new Mediterranean and Turkish restaurant opened in Jersey City! EFES Mediterranean Grill has opened at 515 Jersey Avenue, which was where former Vietnamese restaurant Al Pho & Vermicelli used to operate.
There are two other successful locations in New Jersey that might be familiar already to locals. One location is in New Brunswick {at 32 Easton Ave} and the other is in Princeton {235 Nassau St}. Read more here.
Jersey City Restaurant Week Kicks Off
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Restaurant Week has arrived just in time to boost local businesses hoping to stay afloat amid the pandemic. The 2-week long event includes more than 50 participating restaurants. “Typically, we all take a nosedive in the month of January,” Evelyn Padin, a co-owner of the Hard Grove Restaurant. “Restaurant Week came together for Jersey City because this pandemic has hit so many small business owners, especially the restaurant owners. I can tell you a third of businesses have shut down.” Participating restaurants are offering three-course dinners for as low as $21. Read more about it here.
Hoboken Residents Offer Input on Vision Zero Plan
Members of the Hoboken community have been invited by the City of Hoboken to offer their thoughts on the draft for the Vision Zero Action Plan this week. The proposed plan aims to guide efforts to eliminate all traffic-related fatalities and injuries by 2030 and create safer streets for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians. More information is available on the City’s Vision Zero website.
2 Teenagers Arrested For Stealing Car Left Running in Hoboken
On Wednesday, the 27th, a Grubhub delivery man reported his vehicle stolen. The victim was picking up a delivery in the area of 1st and Washington Street, Hoboken. He left his vehicle running and unattended and when he returned, his vehicle was gone. The police located the car in the area of Newark and Harrison Street. The vehicle stopped in the area of 17th and Jersey Avenue and the two occupants exited through the passenger side door. Officer McCourt stayed with the vehicle and observed the vehicle rolling away. As the investigation continued, the two suspects were identified and located by Jersey City Police. They were both charged with Theft of a motor vehicle and eluding, according to the Hoboken police report.
Hoboken to Add Protected Bike Lanes on Sinatra Drive from 4th-11th Streets
Mayor Bhalla announced that the City of Hoboken was awarded a $325,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Transportation to construct Protected Bike Lanes {PBL} on Sinatra Drive between 4th and 11th Streets. The PBL will connect the South Waterfront Bikeway between Newark Street and 4th Street to the two-way bikeway on Sinatra Drive North along Hoboken’s north waterfront. The City will begin the design of the PBL later this year, with construction expected next year after Stevens Institute of Technology is completed with construction currently taking place on Sinatra Drive. See here for more details.
Spa Diner Storefront For Sale
In December, the Spa Diner announced that it would be closing temporarily. However, as of this week, there are “For Sale” signs in the window. The sign reads “Diner or Prime Retail Available. Excellent, over 70 Years in Business”. “The Spa diner is definitely part of the fabric of Hoboken,” McGarr, the owner, told Hoboken Girl. “It is probably one of four or five places that if you grew up in that time, you could say, ‘that’s how it was when I was a kid.’ Read more about Spa Diner here.
Hoboken Planning Board to Review Malibu Diner Redevelopment
After the pause on a proposal from 2019, The Hoboken Planning Board will be discussing the redevelopment plans for the Malibu Diner parking lot on February 2nd at 7PM. The plans include installing a five-story residential building with parking at the ground level, and approximately 4,600 sq/ft of ground-floor commercial space.
Mutz Fest Happening Today
Attendees were able to order in advance and do curbside pick up at Elks of all the mozzarella cheese between 12-4PM on the day of — allowing people to enjoy Mutzfest in the comfort of their homes, given the current circumstances. There is also MutzCrawl — which included limited tickets for people to walk from deli to deli for their fixings. Mutzfest is allowing 25 people per deli to start at each location and will provide custom Mutzfest masks — so 150 tickets total.
Participants are the same as 2020’s — which include:
Dolce & Salato at 1101 Grand Street
Frankie & Ava’s Italian Eatery at 208 Washington Street
Losurdo Brothers at 410 2nd Street
M&P Biancamano at 1116 Washington Street
Tony Boloney’s Hoboken at 263 1st Street
Vito & Sons at 806 Washington Street
Ticket prices are $50 per person — and this year, Mutzfest is giving 50% of proceeds back to delis. Get them here.
