Emma’s, a Southern-influenced American bistro, has been a staple of the Journal Square area since it opened in spring 2020. But, the restaurant quietly closed on Sunday, February 25th. The Hoboken Girl spoke exclusively with sources close to the team behind Emma’s to learn more. Read on for what we know about the closure of Emma’s in Jersey City.
About Emma’s
Emma’s was a sister restaurant to the former Latham House. It opened in spring 2020 and the menu focused on American classics with a Southern influence. When it opened, Kris Yettra and Dan Latham of Latham House were the culinary team while the restaurant was managed by Ryan Farrell. The restaurant was named after Kris and Dan’s daughter, Emma, who was also involved in the restaurant.
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The team had big plans to host a grand opening after St. Patrick’s Day 2020 but had to pivot due to the pandemic. Emma’s opened its doors by offering takeout, including to-go cocktails. The menu features items such as fried chicken, smoked BBQ pork and chicken, buttermilk biscuits, and other Southern classics.
The space at 4 Path Plaza was previously home to PJ Ryan’s Squared, an Irish bar that operated from 2016-2019.
What We Know
A Reddit user posted Monday afternoon February 26th saying that Emma’s had closed permanently. “The staff were notified last night that the bar would be closing,” according to the post. Later on in the thread, another commenter said that a sign on the front of the restaurant says it is closed temporarily for repairs.
At the same time, a real estate listing for a vacant commercial space in Journal Square was publicized via Grid Real Estate, a local commercial real estate brokerage. The address is the same as Emma’s, and the photos accompanying the listing are of Emma’s. The space is described as a turnkey restaurant space, with 2800 interior square feet and an outdoor space of 1750 square feet. The Hoboken Girl spoke with someone representing the property who confirmed that the space was available for lease.
The Hoboken Girl spoke with Kris Yettra, one of the founders, who is no longer involved with the restaurant but was able to shed light on the situation. “The restaurant closed on Sunday because its lease was up,” she confirmed. There is no word yet on what the team will do next, or what business might take over the space.
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