The bakery biz in Hudson County is definitely booming. The latest addition to Jersey City Heights is a bakery called Cocoa Bakery, the shop’s second location in Jersey City. From the pastry chef at Nobu, Cocoa is taking over the former Goehrig’s with its custom-designed cakes and cupcakes, truffles, and naturally, coffee.
The space at 475 Central Avenue in Jersey City used to be Goehrig’s — an Italian-American pastry shop. When Goehrig’s shut down back in 2014, it was without much explanation. Sadly, the space has remained vacant ever since — until now. The residents of The Heights can get their full of baked goods once more. The other location, at 275 Grand Street in Jersey City, celebrated five years in business, and the cherry on top: the opening of its second location.
{Photo credit: @cocoabakeryjc}
In fact, Jersey City has been experiencing an influx of bakery openings as of late. Other notable additions include Choc-O-Pain {the fourth location between Hoboken and Jersey City is set to be finished up soon over on Palisade Avenue!}, Milk Sugar Love this spring, and Dulce De Leche last September.
Bakeries aren’t the only restaurant and eatery boom that Jersey City has seen, of course. Jersey City’s latest eateries include Ghost Truck Kitchen and Hybrid Coffee. There’s still more to come though, so make sure to check out our article on new Hoboken + Jersey City restaurants that opened {or re opening soon!}.
{Photo credit: @cocoabakeryjc}
We have Jessica Isaacs — pastry chef at the famous, Michelin-star-rated Nobu — to thank for this lovely new shop. Isaac has a long and successful history in pastry art and designed and has been recognized for her work many times.
{SEE MORE: A Guide to the Coffee Shops of Hoboken}
Though Cocoa’s website is currently under construction, one glance at the Instagram page or a visit to the first location shows exactly what we can expect: cookies, cakes, cupcakes, and other pastry delicacies. {Think chocolate-dipped macaroons, meringue tart cups filled with fruit, chocolate bonbons, and so much more!} Not to mention if you’re in the midst of planning a wedding, Cocoa also does custom wedding cakes.
{Photo credit: @cocoabakeryjc}
According to Jessica’s LinkedIn, she worked as a chef at the Manhattan Nobu spot for nearly 15 years. Before her time at Nobu, she was a pastry cook at Le Calendre, a restaurant in Padua, Italy that opened in 1981 and received its first Michelin star by 1992. On the LinkedIn page, it also states that Jessica attended Italian Culinary Institute after getting a bachelor’s degree in fashion/apparel design from SUNY Oneonta.
Welcome to the neighborhood, Cocoa! They’ll be officially open as June 20th, but are soft-opened right now on Central Ave. If you stop by, tag us in a picture on Instagram. We’d love to hear your thoughts on Cocoa’s baked goods, so make sure to sound off below!
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