Stephanie Spear 
Plans submitted in summer 2023 for the renovation of 710 Clinton Street in Hoboken reveal the developer’s vision for a modern, airy food hall. The building was previously a production studio, and the plans contemplated a complete overhaul, adding 11 residences in addition to the first-floor food hall. The Hoboken Girl caught up with the developer last year to learn more about the plans and what could be in store for Hoboken residents — but after months of deliberation, the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment voted against the plans on April 30th, 2024. Read on to learn more about the project.
Photo Credit: MVMK Architecture + Design
Spring 2024 Update
At a Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on Tuesday, April 30th, the project for the proposed food hall in Hoboken was voted down. The vote was 4 to 3, with one abstention. None of the necessary variances for the project were granted, meaning that as contemplated, the project cannot advance. Someone close to the project said, “They [the zoning board] chose to listen to a group of neighbors who didn’t want to have their peace disturbed and the residents of Hoboken are deprived of a significant benefit. Testimony from Traffic and Planning experts was discounted while the unjustified concerns of a group of loud neighbors were embraced. The process took over 12 months with considerable resources expended which will discourage future innovation in Hoboken. The residents of Hoboken are the losers here and the “greater good” has been denied to appease a small group of neighbors.”
The Hoboken Girl reached out to members of the board to learn more about their votes and will update this piece when we hear back. In the meantime, the meeting notes are available via this link.
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What’s Currently There
710 Clinton Street was previously the home of Cobalt Stages, a multimedia production facility that had a 12,000-square-foot production facility featuring a 7,000-square-foot turnkey soundstage, 20-foot ceilings, and state-of-the-art equipment rentals. Plans were submitted to the Hoboken Zoning Board of Adjustment at its December 20th, 2022 meeting that introduced a wholesale renovation of the building. The plans indicated an expansion of the building to include 11 residences, bicycle parking, a green roof, and a first-floor food hall that would be open to the public.
Photo Credit: MVMK Architecture + Design
Gary Mezzatesta, Managing Partner of the Taurasi Group, said that the earliest the work would be completed would be early 2025. To get the project off the ground, the plans would have to be approved which would include granting the variances requested for the space. Construction of the food hall, the centerpiece of the project, would require a few zoning variances to be permitted to move forward.
^ A map of the food hall – Photo credit: City of Hoboken Meeting Agenda + MVMK Architecture
Before the project was voted down, Gary expressed his excitement for the plans. “We’re really excited about it. We think the community is as well. We’ll have to work with the Zoning Board to get the variances,” Gary previously told The Hoboken Girl. “But this project will make life in Hoboken more interesting. It’s already interesting but this will add another element to why Hoboken is a great place to live. It will increase pedestrian traffic, and bike traffic. We think that’s a great lifestyle for the average Hoboken resident.”
What Was Envisioned
Photo Credit: MVMK Architecture + Design
Gary Mezzatesta, Managing Partner of the Taurasi Group, previously said that the building’s location is what gave the group the idea for a food hall. “Hoboken is a mile square, and this building is more or less at the center,” he said. “It’s a ten-minute walk from the building to basically anywhere in town.” The idea of creating something vibrant that could be a gathering place for residents is what lead the team to explore the concept of a food hall.
^ The kiosks – Photo credit: City of Hoboken Meeting Agenda + MVMK Architecture
“I have visited food halls all across the US,” Gary said. “What the successful ones all have in common is a variety of vendors located in a big, airy space. They have a lived-in feel and are located in neighborhoods where people want to be.” In his view, the building at 710 Clinton Street is exactly that. “The lot is a good size with a really nice old Hoboken structure,” he said. “We don’t want to lose the old brick feel of Hoboken in this location, with the height and airiness.”
Photo Credit: MVMK Architecture + Design
The plans included 15 retail spaces, plus an open space with room for kiosks, as well as a second-floor seating area. Gary said that the size of the kiosks makes for a great venue for a business owner who is just getting started. “It will have an incubator feel, because the start-up costs for a kiosk are much lower than a traditional storefront,” he previously said. “Everything will be plug and play for the vendor to come in. Between that plus the amazing location and the marketing that will be done on behalf of the food hall, the kiosks will be an exciting place for businesses to grow.”
^ The mezzanine – Photo credit: City of Hoboken Meeting Agenda + MVMK Architecture
In terms of selecting vendors for the retail spaces, Gary previously said that it was important to choose innovative brands. “All of the national brands are already on Washington Street,” he said. “So we don’t want more of those in the food hall. We want only interesting food purveyors that are more innovative and creative.” The small spaces of the kiosks and the fixed footage of the retail spaces are designed for businesses to outgrow. “We want to have some turnover so that as people are successful, they can grow into other spaces.”
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Gary pointed to The Hive as an example of a business that would be a good fit for the vision. “We met the team from the Hive, Kristin and Catherine, when they were getting started,” he said. “We liked their vision and their energy, and they were offering something different. That’s the whole point of the food hall, to offer Hoboken something special.”
We’ll keep you updated as more details come out surrounding this project. For now, follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram and TikTok to stay in the know with all of the Hoboken + Jersey City news, and sign up for our newsletter that shares all of our top stories to your inbox here.
