If you’re curious to know what you missed this week in Hoboken + Jersey City news, we’ve got you covered. Among the local headlines: a new premium Minecraft exhibit opened this week at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City; 10 Basin Studios has opened at the Kearney Point Business Center; Gong Cha has recently opened a new Jersey City location in the Newport Mall, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City + beyond.
A List of Resources to Help the People of Ukraine
Just days ago, it was reported that Russia pursued an invasion of Ukraine, launching a war between the two countries. Thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing the country in search of safe refuge for themselves and their families. There are a number of ways to assist the Ukrainians in need through donating to nonprofits and organizations that are actively helping them as we speak. Click here for a list of resources that you can contribute to help the Ukraine residents and first responders in need of food, medical care, shelter, protection, and more.
Little City Books Announces Closure of Uptown Hoboken Shop
There are two bookstores in Hoboken and we cherish them. There’s Symposia Bookstore, the only used bookstore in the area that has been serving the community for years, and Little City Books, known for its top-notch curation of books in all genres. Little City Books has operated two shops in town, one downtown, and one uptown. Unfortunately, it was announced that the uptown location at 1401 Adams Street is closing its annex inside of bwè’s North End coffee shop. Click here for the details on why the uptown Hoboken bookstore is closing.
KUMON Math + Reading Center to Open in Jersey City
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A new location of KUMON Math + Reading Center is opening soon at 425 Central Avenue in Jersey City. This after-school program emphasizes individualized learning for school-aged students.
Hoboken Students Write + Illustrate Eco-Friendly Children’s Book
High school seniors Zachary and Roxy have written a children’s book entitled Eco the Elephant. “We are two seniors at High Tech High School in Secaucus with a passion for the environment, education, and business,” Zach shared with Hoboken Girl. “My partner Roxy and I have written a children’s book that is focused on motivating children of all ages to make a difference and save the environment.” The book is available for purchase online. The book was illustrated by Jersey City freelance artist Zelda Jones.
Gatto Hair Salon to Open 2nd Hoboken Location
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This week, the Salon Gatto Instagram account shared news of a new Hoboken location. The post says, “Today on “Twos-day”, the Gatto Team is thrilled to announce some exciting news! We are expanding our footprint in our beloved city of Hoboken with location number TWO! The Gatto luxury experience will be available this spring uptown! With this expansion, we will announce the addition of new talented hair artists to the Gatto fam! Make sure to follow our stories on IG to see the beautiful transformation of a historic property on Washington St. We look forward to seeing you there!!” Read here to learn more.
G&C Hair Salon Relocates to Downtown Jersey City
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G&C Hair Salon has relocated from Hoboken to a new location at 33 Park View Avenue in Jersey City, per Jersey Digs. The staff has over a decade of experience in haircuts, coloring, and extensions.
3rd Annual Mac + Cheese Festival Coming April 9th to Hoboken
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The 3rd annual Hoboken Mac + Cheese Festival is back for another year in Hoboken. The Instagram post says, ” Tag your mac & cheese-loving friends because the festival returns on Saturday, April 9th! Tickets go on sale Wednesday, March 9th at noon!”
Minecraft Exhibit Opens at Liberty Science Center in Jersey City
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A new premium exhibit opened this week at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City featuring the characters and themes of Minecraft, according to the LSC website. The immersive new adventure begins a worldwide tour for the exhibit which is expected to span the next few years.
JC Fridays Art Festival Returns March 4th
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The next JC Fridays has been announced for Friday, March 4th. According to the website, this event is a chance for the community to discover, support, and enjoy the Jersey City art and business community. “During JC Fridays, we invite you to tour galleries, businesses, event venues, and art-related spaces to see a variety of artwork and enjoy the spirit and culture of the city as you mingle with other residents and visitors. All events are free and open to the public.”
Jersey City Development Records 300 Leases in First Three Months</h2 > 
Just three months since the new luxury rental community opened its doors at 400 Claremont Avenue, in Jersey City 3 Acres has leased nearly half of its 629 residences, according to a press release. This robust pace speaks to both the appeal of 3 Acres and the growth of the west side of Jersey City as an up-and-coming residential destination.
Kiki Lu Gelato’s Hoboken Location Nears Opening
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Hoboken, get ready for 900 Garden Street to start smelling sweet and delicious. An artisanal gelato and espresso bar called KikiLu Gelato is officially opening at 900 Garden Street. Hoboken Girl first reported that a Hoboken KikiLu could be coming to fruition back in November 2020. Now, according to the owner, KikiLu will be opening in Hoboken shortly.
Gluten-Free Bakery Annie & Em’s Opens in Hoboken
Back in October of 2020, we got word that a new gluten-free bakeshop was coming to town and setting up shop in the former home of beloved seafood restaurant and market, Tutta Pesca, located at 155 Third Street. Since then, there has been no official word on the opening date from Annie & Em’s Bakeshop’s owners – two sisters who are Hoboken residents but previously operated through pop-up markets in Monmouth and Mercer county areas. But good news – the bakery is officially open! Click here for what we know.
Mojo Coffee Company to Open 2nd Location
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Mojo opened its first location at 230 Willow Avenue in June 2020. The MOJO owners are Hoboken natives and coffee lovers who clearly love being a part of the local community. Their mission was to create vibrant cafes that reflect, improve, and inspire our communities. The owners uploaded a video on Instagram of the current state of the second space saying “See you soon.” We can only assume that the storefront will undergo renovation before a project opening date is announced, but we suspect it will be later this year. Click here for what we know.
Galeria Café Reopens in Jersey City Heights After Being Closed for a Year
Galeria Café is back in business! After being closed for a year, it reopened in a new location in The Heights and is bigger in size. It even has a party room in the back. Known for selling tasty coffee and empanadas, Galeria has expanded its menu and pastries.
Monroe’s in Downtown Hoboken Now Offering Omakase
Monroe’s in downtown Hoboken has added Omakase as an in-house restaurant service. Dining omakase traditionally means the customer can custom order their sushi and has more face-to-face interactions with the chef for a unique dining experience. Located at 36-42 Newark Avenue the restaurant also houses popular The Sinatra Room.
Zapp Fitness Now Open in Hoboken
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Zapp Fitness announced this week it will be opening this weekend on Sunday, February 27th. The studio is located at 84 Washington Street. For those attending a class this weekend, use promo code HOBOKEN to try a class for free!
Second Film Studio Opens in Kearney
10 Basin Studios has opened at the Kearney Point Business Center as the second soundstage at the South Kearny peninsula, per NJ.com. This facility is associated with Eastern Effects Inc. which is a grip, lighting, and studio rental company located in New York City. The new facility offers 36,000 square feet of fully soundproof stage and 10,000 square feet of office space.
New Jersey Turnpike Authority Approves Toll Discount
Drivers in eight Hudson County communities will save around $2.5M a year in toll fees, per NJ.com. The fees will be saved from the New Jersey Turnpike’s Secaucus/Route 495 exit in a resolution approved Tuesday by the Turnpike Authority commissioners. This resolution will affect E-ZPass users in Secaucus, North Bergen, West New York, and other areas.
French American Academy to Open Hoboken Campus
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The French American Academy has plans to expand this fall by opening a campus in Hoboken, reported Tap Into. This new campus is a result of the growing school community. Currently, the private school has 300 students in Pre-K2 through middle school level. The school expects to use this new building for preschool programs. The Hoboken campus will be joining two other campuses, the Jersey City and the Englewood campus.
187,000 New Jersey Residents to Receive Letter Regarding Lead Water Pipes
Nearly 187,000 New Jersey households will find out if their main water source is being delivered through a lead service line, per Tap Into. Those who are affected will be receiving a letter at some point in the week. As well as the lead service lines, more than one million lines containing unknown materials are also being subject to further investigation.
New Park in Jersey City’s Ward F Coming Together
Nine months after breaking ground on an expanded and upgraded Fairmount Triangle Park, the Jersey City Council has agreed to buy two parcels of land to make a real park on-site, according to Tap Into. The City Council will buy a former auto storage facility and the other is a parcel owned by the state Department of Transportation. Renovations to Fairmount Triangle Park in Ward F will cost around $200,000.
Cannabis Review Board Approves Dispensary at Former Hudson Tavern
The town’s relatively new Cannabis Review Board is in the process of hearing three applications from people who want to open dispensaries around the city. The three proposed locations are all past or present restaurant sites, one of which has already been approved at the former Hudson Tavern location. All three applicants have also applied for a retail cannabis license rather than a medical cannabis license. Click here for what we know.
New Hoboken Clinic Offers Rapid COVID-19 Tests
The Hoboken location of the medical clinic Sameday Health opened on Monday, February 21st, reported Patch. The clinic will be offering three kinds of rapid COVID-19 tests and will also expand to offer other tests, services, and wellness items. The clinic will be starting off by focusing on three types of rapid COVID-19 tests. Hoboken Sameday Health is located on 321 Washington Street.
Gong Cha Bubble Tea Opens New Location in Jersey City
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Gong Cha has recently opened a new Jersey City location, per Jersey Digs. It will be serving customers on the top floor of the Newport Mall near the AMC Theater. This is the chain’s 18th location in the Garden State. The outpost opens at 11:30AM daily and will close during the week at 8PM.
Bait + Tackle Shop to Receive Historic Facelift in Jersey City
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A Jersey City business that has served the neighborhood for almost 50 years could soon be replaced with a historic restoration and addition project, Jersey Digs. The building used to be the home for Moe’s Bait and Tackle Shop, which closed up shop in 2019, eventually put up for sale by owner Mauro Mazzilli. The proposed development for the site has been designed by MVMK Architecture and would rise 56 feet at the highest point.
Developer Cancels 800-Unit School Tower Proposal in Jersey City
A significant development originally slated for a block of Downtown Jersey City is no longer moving forward, per Jersey City. This change comes amid allegations that officials changed the construction requirements after years of negotiations. The situation has yet to be addressed by the Jersey City Council.
Hoboken Plans Short-term Improvements to Monarch Site
The City of Hoboken is planning to make short-term improvements to the newly-acquired Monarch site on Pier 15, reported The Hudson Reporter. The changes are meant to provide pedestrian access as well as safety and security. The site was acquired by the city and the ultimate goal is to turn it into a public open space for continuous waterfront access.
Hoboken Public Library Receives $10k Federal Grant
Hoboken Public Library is one of 200 libraries across the country to receive a $10,000 grant from the American Library Association, per Tap Into. This grant comes from an ALA program that is seeking to bring relief to libraries from the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants are being funded by the National Endowment for the humanities through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Hoboken Public Library is planning to use the grant to launch an oral history project.
Hoboken Seeks Input for 2022 ‘Movies Under the Stars’ Series
The City of Hoboken is seeking input on what films to feature for the return of Hoboken’s “Movies Under the Stars” series this summer, reported Tap Into. The city posted a survey asking residents to vote on their favorite movies from the list that includes classics to award winners. The free series is being presented by the City of Hoboken and Projected Images of Hudson County and it will be held at Pier A Park on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer.
NJBIZ Hosts Virtual Cybersecurity Panel for Local Business Owners
eMazzanti Technologies President and Co-founder Carl Mazzanti was featured on a Cybersecurity Panel Discussion hosted by NJBIZ on Tuesday, February 22nd, according to a press release. The panel of industry experts explored topics such as the evolving role of government in combating cyber threats, how artificial intelligence can assist in guarding against attacks, and eliminating vulnerabilities throughout the supply chain. The panel also addressed countering emerging threats, such as ransomware-as-a-service, and why small and mid-size businesses are increasingly at risk.
Jersey City MUA to Replace 16,000 Lead Pipes Over the Next Decade
Jersey City Municipal Utilities Authority is projected to replace all lead service lines by 2031, per NJ.com. The MUA is projected to spend $288 million to replace all of the service lines at no cost to homeowners. The agency is responsible for managing the city’s water and sewage systems and they will be replacing an estimated 16,000 lead service lines across the city.
Couple Pulls off ‘Armed’ Robbery at Newport Mall
A man and woman claiming to have a gun robbed a department store at Newport Centre mall in Downtown Jersey City, reported NJ.com. The incident occurred on the afternoon of Monday, February 21st after the couple grabbed 20 polo shirts and headed towards the exit. They fled south after saying they had claimed they had a gun but were not caught.
Jersey City Council Approves India Square Remodel
The Jersey City Council has approved a $438,350 contract for Colliers Engineering Design to do design work for the proposed India Square, reported Tap Into. The project would help construct decorative arches that would span Newark Avenue in the area of India Square. India Square is home to the highest concentration of Asian Indians in North and South America.
City Council Cuts Proposed Fee for Jersey City Parklets in Half
The Jersey City Council has proposed a new fee for parklets for restaurant owners, per NJ.com. The fee for a parklet for six months would be $1,926, plus a possible $1,450 to $1,500 in additional fees. This new half-year proposal would represent a 47% decrease from the initial cost.
Veloce Specialty Sandwiches Opens Storefront in Jersey City
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In exciting news for sandwich lovers, Veloce Specialty Sandwiches has officially opened a storefront in Jersey City Heights. Made-to-order sandwiches and fresh mozzarella are made in-house every day at the new location at 457 Baldwin Avenue in Jersey City.
Jersey City Council Expected to Approve Price Increase for Select Fees + Permits
The City Council is planning to vote to increase the fees for a variety of city functions, per NJ.com. The potential fees that would increase are issuing marriage licenses, parking permits, and performing marriage ceremonies at City Hall. For example, if this is approved marriage licenses will now cost $20 instead of $15.
