Over the past year, the hidden gem of Bergen-Lafayette has continued to gain popularity as Jersey City’s newest hot spot, with new buildings popping up and new businesses slated to open. One spot that has created a lot of buzz over the last few months is Café Lafayette, located at 74 Maple Street in the retail space in Bela (one of the neighborhood’s newest luxury buildings). Café Lafayette has opened its doors as of July 2021. Hoboken Girl chatted with owner Patrick Kang to get a little more information on this new café in Jersey City. Read on to learn what to expect at Café Lafayette.
About the Owner
Patrick Kang is originally from Forest Hills, Queens, and grew up in North Bergen. He earned his Hotel Management degree from Johnson & Wales University and worked in hotels in New York City for almost a decade. Patrick decided it was time for a change.
His brother, James Kang, opened Basic Café in Hamilton Park in 2001 on the corner of 8th Street and Erie Street, and in 2016, Patrick decided to join him in the venture. Patrick ran the café with him from 2016-2019 and then decided he wanted to branch out and start his own venture. The opportunity presented itself in late 2019, and that’s when Café Lafayette became a reality.
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Patrick told Hoboken Girl “It was always a dream of mine to open a little café/coffee shop of my own one day. I have always loved seeing people’s reactions when you give them good service. I feel like it’s the small things that make them feel special and I love building relationships with the community and the happiness we can bring by serving fresh, quality products”.
When the pandemic hit, all operations to move forward with the build-out were put on hold until September 2020.
The Menu
The café is open between 7AM and 6PM seven days a week and focuses on breakfast + lunch.
The cafe offers breakfast sandwiches, omelets, breakfast toasts, pastries, salads, and lunch sandwiches. It will also feature made-to-order smoothies + cold press juices to provide some fresh and healthy options.
Patrons can also expect quality ingredients like bread from Hudson Breads and deli meat from Boar’s Head. Café Lafayette also carries a signature gourmet coffee blend, branded Café Lafayette, handcrafted and designed by the owner from their artisanal roaster in Virginia.
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To honor Patrick’s Korean American heritage, the café also includes some popular Korean items such as Korean chicken + waffles, bibimbap (think Korean rice with mixed vegetables and meat), spicy ramen, and udon to name a few. Vegan and gluten-free options will also be available.
Patrick shared with Hoboken Girl, “My vision is to bring quality, friendly service to the community and build lasting relationships with our customers and eventually implement ways to give back to the community.”
Follow Cafe Lafayette on Instagram for the latest happenings.
