A week of life in Hoboken + Jersey City means there is plenty of news to catch up on — even during the Christmas week. Among the local headlines: L’Atelier du Chocolat is opening a new location in Jersey City; Mission 50 offered help to tenants affected by the Chambord fire in Hoboken; Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken will require that all students, staff, faculty receive the COVID-19 booster; and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
COVID-19 Updates + Resources for Hoboken + Jersey City
With the rise of the Omicron variant, Hoboken + Jersey City have seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases. We’ve compiled a list of resources for you—from where to get at-home rapid tests to keeping track of case #s in both cities. Click here for the full resource guide.
Historic Chambord Building in Hoboken Explodes Monday, Fire Restarts Wednesday
Early on Monday, December 20th, the City of Hoboken’s Office of Emergency Management sent out an alert asking people to avoid the southwest area of Hoboken due to an active fire at 38 Jackson Street. The Hoboken Fire Department was also on the scene.
Around 12:45AM, we received a message from Diana of Revival Vintage, whose business had been on the same block.
“Chambord building just blew up! Huge fireballs out the loading dock on Jackson and out the back into the park,” she shared with Hoboken Girl. “It shook our building like an airplane was landing on us — right before the fireballs. It was insanity.”
According to the announcement, no injuries had been reported so far. But as of Monday afternoon, it was reported that two victims’ bodies had been found in the building. Click here for the full story.
Wednesday Update: The fire that took two lives and dozens of businesses in Hoboken has restarted on the other side of the building. Barsky Gallery posted on social media early Wednesday morning, sharing that the Hoboken Fire Department had returned to 38 Jackson Street to help extinguish the flames.
Casa KLADO Closes Following Hoboken Chambord Fire
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Following the fire that took place on Monday, December 20th, in the historic Chambord building in Hoboken, KLADO shared its temporary closure via Instagram. “It’s with a heavy heart, that we have been forced to halt all operations for the foreseeable future due to the horrific explosion and fire that ravaged through the building housing our Hoboken production facility.
We have no idea how extensive the damage and loss is and may not know for some time, as we can’t access our unit. This is especially hard since this is the busiest time of year for us and we have tons of orders that we will be unable to fulfill 😞
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the lives lost and all the other small businesses that share this building with us who have been impacted by this tragedy.”
How to Help People Affected by the Hoboken Chambord Fire at 38 Jackson
In the wake of the Chambord fire, which ultimately claimed two lives and damaged or destroyed the dozens of businesses located inside, many neighbors are wondering how to help. We have compiled a list of Go Fund Me’s started by the businesses directly. Click here for the full list.
L’Atelier Du Chocolat Opening New Location Soon in Jersey City
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The popular chocolate shop L’Atelier du Chocolat is getting ready to open its doors at its new location. Formerly located at 321 Marin Boulevard, L’Atelier’s new location is at 251 Newark Avenue and is run by popular chocolatier Eric Girerd. Click here to read about L’Atelier du Chocolat’s opening.
These Are the 36 Businesses That Opened in Hoboken This Year
It was an interesting year in Hoboken, as residents finally started to see recovery from the pandemic. Plenty of new life found itself in the Mile Square, with new opportunities and offerings for the community. From expansions to new openings, residents can treat themselves to clothing, food, wellness services, and more, all with businesses that opened this year alone. Click here for the full list of businesses that opened in Hoboken in 2021.
City of Hoboken Added Additional COVID-19 Testing Availability This Week
COVID-19 testing in Hoboken and New York City has been on the rise, and finding PCR testing without long lines has been a difficult feat for residents the last few days.
While lines continue to be long, the City of Hoboken just announced via Nixle alert on Sunday that it has partnered with Bespoke Health to add COVID-19 testing for the next two weeks. Click here for what we know.
Hooters Opens Sister Restaurant in Jersey City
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Hoots Wings, a branch of the Hooters franchise, is set to open several locations in New Jersey in the upcoming months, including in Jersey City’s Newport Tower located at 525 Washington Boulevard. This location is officially open as of December 20th, 2021. Specializing in chicken wings and other American fast-foods, the restaurant plans to leave its mark in this area. Click here for what we know about the new restaurant.
Tony Boloney’s + Slice App Team Up to Create Buddy The Elf-Inspired Pie
Tony Boloney’s is known for innovative twists in classics eats like pizza, subs, fries, and wings. After all, it created the taco pie: a true New Jersey treasure. Now, just in time for the holidays, the pizzeria teamed up with Slice, the pizza loyalty program app, to offer something creative, memorable, and definitely tasty. If you’ve watched Elf, the iconic Christmas movie starring Will Ferrell, then you know about the four main food groups of Elves: “candy, candy canes, candy corn, and syrup!” Now, imagine that, on a pizza. We’re here to tell you that these two businesses have come together to create a ‘Buddy the Elf’ pizza. Click here for the details.
New Greek Restaurant to Open in Jersey City Spring 2022
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This week on Instagram @Ela_GreekKitchen shared, “Cats out of the bag! We can’t wait to share with you the process of opening Ela’s Greek Kitchen in Jersey City.” The restaurant, which will be located at 179 Newark Avenue in downtown Jersey City, is owned by George Makrogiannis and Michele Catanio, the owners of Buddy’s JC.
Rapper Fetty Wap Arrested at Newark Airport Due to Ankle Monitor
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This week @TheShadeRoom shared, “Oop! #Roommates, it looks like #FettyWap had another run-in with the law! According to @TMZ_TV, a trip to the airport has ended with the ‘Trap Queen’ rapper in handcuffs after police allegedly got an alert about his ankle monitor.”
Hoboken Co-working Space Offers Help to Businesses Affected by Fire
We want to assist any tenants affected by the tragedy that occurred across the street in Chambord Place. If you were affected, please reach out to our team who can provide free temporary working accommodations for those in need. 📧hello@mission50.com #hoboken #nj @hobokenalliance pic.twitter.com/B6CuqO6PuT
— Mission 50 (@missionFifty) December 21, 2021
Local co-working space Mission 50 has offered tenants affected by Chambord fire space to work. On Tuesday, December 21st, the company shared, “If you were affected, please reach out to our team who can provide free temporary working accommodations for those in need.”
Thousands Sign Petition Opposing Liberty State Park Protection Act
Thousands of Jersey City residents have banned together to oppose the Liberty State Park Protection Act, a bill that allegedly continues 40 years of environmental racism and purposeful inaction, according to a press release. Since late November, nearly 8,500 people signed a petition asking New Jersey legislatures not to sign the bill and instead remediate more than 250 acres of toxic land to create football fields, playgrounds, and entertainment space for the community.
Hoboken Waterfront to Receive Upgrades
Over the next two years, the City of Hoboken will renovate certain areas of its picturesque waterfront, providing better access along Sinatra Drive and to the recently acquired property formerly known as the Monarch Site, according to a press release from City Hall.
This month, the City awarded a contract to Kimley-Horn to begin the planning and design of upgrades to Sinatra Drive from 4th Street to 11th Street that will ultimately transform the City’s waterfront boulevard. Upon completion of these projects, Hoboken’s Green Circuit will be continuous along the Hudson River waterfront from Pier A to the 14th Street Ferry Terminal.
Hoboken Boxer to Make Christmas Debut at Prudential Center
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Hoboken native Vincent Gigante will make his pro boxing debut on Saturday, December 25th at the Prudential Center in Newark. Vincent was born and raised in Hoboken by his parents who are both officers for the Hoboken Police Department.
Soup Kitchen 411 Responds to Potential Newark Ban on Feeding Homeless
Photo credit: @sosflkeys
In response to a report that Newark is seeking to ban providing food to people in public spaces without a permit, co-founders of Soup Kitchen 411, Ken DeRoberts and Philip Gentile issued a statement. “As the founders of an organization focused on bringing healthy, wholesome meals to those who are food insecure…we encourage the proponents of this misguided permit system to think long and hard about the message they are sending to those who are marginalized.”
Local Influencer Kayla Cappiello to Release Cookbook Spring 2023
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Local influencer and gluten-free allergy-friendly recipe creator Kayla Cappiello, announced this week she has plans to release a cookbook in the spring of 2023. The Instagram post says, “I’m writing a cookbook. You heard it here first: Gluten-free, allergy-friendly, and of course healthy cookbook coming in spring of 2023 📖
I’ve been keeping this secret for a while but now it’s official‼️ My cookbook will be completely gluten-free, all recipes will have dairy-free options and it will focus on healthy recipes for any dietary need, restriction or food allergy!”
Stevens Institute to Require COVID-19 Booster of Students and Staff
Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken will require that all students, staff, faculty receive the COVID-19 booster shot no later than March 31st, 2022. According to Patch, other universities are rolling out similar requirements.
Hoboken Police Make 4 Arrests During SantaCon Event 12/18
The Hoboken SantaCon event was held on Saturday, December 18, 2021. The Hoboken Police Department deployed an enhanced contingency of officers on both foot and motorized patrol which was supplemented with officers from the Secaucus Police Department. This contingency, which
— Hoboken Police (@HobokenPD) December 20, 2021
During the course of the one-day SantaCon event, held on Saturday, December 18th, the Hoboken Police Department made four arrests and responded to 221 calls for service. Included in the calls were 23 medical calls requiring an ambulance, eight motor vehicle summonses, three city ordinance violations, and four arrests.
