Emma Wallace 
Buddy’s JC will be closing its doors in mid-August after nearly 10 years of serving brunch and burger favorites. This neighborhood spot, located at 247 Washington Boulevard in Downtown Jersey City, has been a local favorite since its opening. It’s known for its incredible brunch menu and seemingly endless burger options. The Hoboken Girl chatted with owner George Makrogiannis about what’s next for the restaurant. Read on for more about Buddy’s closure and what’s next for the restaurant.
About Buddy’s JC
Buddy’s JC opened in 2017 as Buddy’s Who, with a unique menu of cereal pancakes and indulgent burgers. The restaurant has become a neighborhood staple in Paulus Hook, drawing in diners with its comfort food, weekend brunch, and community-oriented atmosphere.
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The ideas are as decadent as one could imagine: Fruity Pebble and Captain Crunch pancakes, a bacon cheeseburger benedict, Ruben Hash, a “Hangover” burger rubbed with coffee, and a fried chicken waffle that will send you into a food coma lasting until next week.
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The Buddy Burger is a top seller, and the Fruity Pebble pancakes are a hit as well, especially for the restaurant’s Insta-worthy vibes.
When the pandemic hit, Buddy’s closed down for a short while, taking advantage of the mandatory closing to remodel the restaurant. The restaurant in general hadn’t been all that involved in takeout before, but that all changed when the restaurant reopened. Suddenly, takeout was a huge source of revenue for them, and they embraced it.
Buddy’s Next Chapter
Owner George Makrogiannis confirmed with The Hoboken Girl that it will close its Washington Street location and move one block up to 187 Warren Street. However, this new space will not be a brunch burger bar but an Italian restaurant.
“We’re still gonna be doing breakfast, lunch, dinner, but it’s gonna be a different style altogether,” George said.
The new location will offer a smaller breakfast menu Monday through Friday with coffee, Italian pastries, and a few breakfast items. A full brunch menu will be offered on the weekends but more modernized than the current Buddy’s brunch.
What to Expect at the New Restaurant
Lunch will have classic Italian sandwiches, pizza, pastas and similar dishes. George said they are still figuring out the exact hours, but the new location will end breakfast service earlier.
“Still gonna be like a lot of fun stuff on the menu… Instagrammable stuff. A lot of fun things,” George said.
George said they decided to move because of increasing rent at the Buddy’s JC location and the opportunity to secure a larger space. The new building will have a bigger bar with cocktails and a dedicated wine program, plus an additional party room downstairs that can fit around 60 people.
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“I don’t want it to be too high end… I want it to be a place you can hang out, cocktails, a lot of shareable plates,” George said.
George said they are looking to open in the late fall, debuting a more modern, Italian-inspired take on Buddy’s all-day cafe.
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