As we tiptoe into 2022, we’ve got you covered with the highlights of what happened this week in Hoboken + Jersey City. Among the local headlines: the source of the Chambord Hoboken fire has been released, Jersey City’s More Life Cafe announced it will be closing, Milk Sugar Love is now available for delivery via UberEats, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
Thomas’ Ice Cream Cafe to Reopen 2/10 in Hoboken
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Thomas Ice Cream Cafe, which opened in September 2019, had to close during various times over the past two years during the pandemic. The downtown Hoboken ice cream shop, located at 214 Jefferson Street, announced it will be reopening on Thursday, February 10th, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
Source of Massive Chambord Building Fire in Hoboken Confirmed
On December 20th, it was confirmed by the City of Hoboken via a Nixle alert that a fire had broken out at 38 Jackson Street, the Chambord building. Hours later it was confirmed that the fire began with an explosion and first responders including the Hoboken Fire Department, Hoboken Police Department, and Hoboken Volunteer Ambulance had been on the scene without pause, securing the location and fighting the fire that not only continued to burn for about 48 hours (on and off) but eventually expanded to the opposite side of the building. New information has been released regarding the source. Click here for what we know.
Popular Tea Shop ‘The Whale Tea’ Coming to Hoboken
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Hoboken will be home to another bubble tea spot. This one, however, has locations in New York and Connecticut as well as outposts abroad — mainly in China. The Whale Tea will open its first New Jersey location at 303 First Street next to Sub Master and The Cookie Connect. The Whale Tea specializes in bubble tea or boba tea, which at its core is a tea-based drink with edible tapioca balls inside. The drink is said to have originated in Taiwan and became popular throughout Asia, North America, and other continents. Click here for what to expect at this new tea shop.
The Story Behind ‘Backstage,’ the Cocktail Lounge that Took Over Maxwell’s in Hoboken
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“Meet Me Backstage,” is something we’ve always wanted to tell someone and a neon yellow sign that lights up the 11th Street entrance to a sleek cocktail lounge in uptown Hoboken. Backstage, located in the back area of the upscale, coastal-themed restaurant Sirenetta Seafood + Raw Bar, serves up some major speakeasy vibes because of the mystery behind this dim-lit space. Gabi Lombardi, the owner of Sirenetta, Sorellina Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar, and Backstage, gave The Hoboken Girl the exclusive on what to expect from the contemporary locale. Read on below for more about the concept, menu, and how Gabi is paying tribute to Maxwell’s, which used to host concerts where Backstage now stands. Click here for everything we know.
Jersey City’s More Life Cafe Announces Closure
More Life Cafe, a vegan restaurant in the West Side area of Jersey City located at 191 Mallory Avenue posted a sad message on its Instagram page – unfortunately, the restaurant is closing up shop. The owner, Marcell Portes, who came to Jersey City from the Dominican Republic as a kid, opened More Life Cafe in 2018. After transitioning to a vegan diet in 2014 after making the connection between the migraines and stomachaches he was experiencing with the food he had been consuming. Click here to read about the cafe closing.
Jersey Social Reopens with Private Event
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In an Instagram post this week, Jersey Social shared its gratitude for the support received during its reopening event. “Thank you all for joining us this weekend and celebrating our soft reopening. After 2 months of being closed, we feel humbled and we are grateful for each and every one of you! We are closed on Mondays but we can’t wait to welcome everyone back tomorrow at 4PM.”
Scale Fish Market to Open Store in Jersey City This Summer
Scale Fish Market is opening a shop in Jersey City soon. The owners of the farmers’ market pop-up have been bringing the freshest seafood to locals since the spring of 2021. And now, the team is preparing to open a flagship store at 45 Coles Street, Jersey City. Click here to read about Scale Fish Market.
Monroe’s in Hoboken to Release New Menu
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Monroe’s Sushi & Cocktail Bar in Hoboken is keeping customers on their toes with a new menu announced this week on Instagram. The post reads, “New Year, New Us! 💫We are excited to announce Monroe’s reinvented, we have invested a lot into Monroe’s to bring it back better than ever before.”
Milk Sugar Love in Jersey City Now Available on UberEats
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Milk Sugar Love, located at 19 McWilliams Place in Jersey City is now available for delivery via UberEats. The ice cream menu features flavors like a malted cookie, matcha Oreo, parlor coffee, midnight cocoa, and lemon olive oil.
Medicine Man Pharmacy Experiencing Delays with Results from Star Labs
Carlo’s Bakery Looking to Hire Local TikTok Creator
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Carlo’s Bakery is looking to hire a social media content creator, reported Patch. The chain of bakeshops is looking for an ideal candidate who “will have prior experience with a range of marketing functions, including content creation/social media.” The responsibilities would include creating weekly content for Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Twitter, and the pay would be $55,000 to $65,000 per year.
Anne Hathaway Returns to Hudson County to Film ‘Eileen’
Anne Hathaway has returned to New Jersey for the filming of her latest movie “Eileen” according to Jersey Digs. “Eileen,” is set in the 1960s and has been filming in several locations around the Garden State. The film itself revolves around a 20-something woman who works in a boys’ prison just outside of Boston and is scheduled to be released in about one year. This is the second movie that Hathaway has recently shot in New Jersey, as the actress filmed Armageddon Time around Thanksgiving.
Birth Certificates Now Available from Jersey City Hall
People born in Jersey City between 1918 and 2015 won’t need to go to Trenton for a copy of their birth certificate anymore per NJ.com. Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop and Assemblywoman Angela McKnight announced on Monday that birth certificates can be obtained directly from City Hall now. The City Clerk’s Office worked with the State Registrar’s Office to obtain the birth records and to establish a localized database. This effort was first announced in 2019 via a major press conference.
GoFundMe Started for Family of Slain North Bergen Officer
A North Bergen Police Officer Julio Noriega was killed on his way to work according to Patch. A fundraising page has been set up for the funeral expenses and has already made $26,000 of the $50,000 goal. The fundraising page described Noriega as a humble soul and says he will be missed terribly.
No Injuries Reported in Jersey City Home Fire
Jersey City firefighters were able to quickly extinguish a fire at a Jersey City home and keep it from spreading to the attached homes on either side, NJ.com reported. The homeowner was evaluated on the scene by EMS and refused any further medical attention. The American Red Cross was called in to assist residents and fire officials said no one is allowed back into the home until all repairs are made.
Jersey City Planning Board to Hear Proposal for New Silk Lofts Community
A Midtown Manhattan developer is set to go before planning officials in Bayonne this week to seek permission to construct new buildings, per Jersey Digs. Representatives for AMS Equities, LLC will seek approval for the next phases of SilkLofts complex. No variances are being sought.
Jersey City Housing Authority Introduces New Low-Cost Program
The Jersey City Housing Authority has launched a low-cost internet program for residents, reported Hudson County View. This program is made possible due to a partnership between the housing authority and Andrena, a New Jersey-based internet services provider. Via the contract with JCHA, Andrena will provide residents with major discounts on high-speed internet. Combined with the FCC’s Emergency Broadband Benefit program, there is no cost for Andrena’s service to qualifying residents.
Jersey City Schools Postpone Return to Class Amid Omicron Surge
The Jersey City school district has delayed the return of students to in-person learning as teachers and students alike have been affected by COVID-19, per NJ.com. In a video message, Deputy Superintendent Norma Fernandez announced that the district’s 30,000 students will return to school on Tuesday, January 18th, following the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Currently, the school district is requiring those exposed to COVID-19 or testing positive to quarantine for 10 days. The return to in-person learning will also include weekly testings of the students.
Pedestrian Plaza to Replace ‘Dream Tower’ Plans in Jersey City
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Plans for a cobblestone pedestrian plaza have replaced the previous ‘Dream Tower’ proposal for five Newark Avenue parcels in Jersey City. Jersey City Redevelopment Agency records from last month show that a company named 701 Newark Ave, LLC has proposed to develop the agency property to have parking spaces, pop-up retail locations, dedicated community working spaces, and residential units, according to Jersey Digs. Until plans are approved, the space is currently being used as public parking.
Renderings Released for Proposed 15-Story Tower in Jersey City
The renderings were released for a proposed 15-story tower along route 440 in Jersey City per Jersey Digs. The proposal by Myneni Properties, LLC would be 218 residential units, 2,025 square feet of retail space, and 105 parking spaces. This proposal was initially scheduled to go before the Jersey City Planning Board in December but was carried to the board’s January 4 meeting.
Jersey City Holds on Naming New Tax Collector
The Jersey City Council had plans to name a new tax collector but withdrew the resolution after hearing concerns about filling the position too quickly, according to Hudson County View. The proposed individual to fill the role is Trisha Greco, who has worked as the tax collector in Lacey Township in Ocean County for the past five years. Members of the city council expressed a desire to hire from within the department.
First CoLiving Apartments Now Available in Jersey City
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On Tuesday, January 11th, the co-living design company, Common, announced it has opened 80 co-living units at The Agnes located at 132 Yale Avenue in Jersey City. This is the first co-living offering in Jersey City, per Real Estate Weekly. The Agnes features 233 apartments which first came available in early 2021.
Jersey City Schools Names Norma Fernandez as Interim Superintendent
The Jersey City Board of Education has named longtime school employee Norma Fernandez as the interim school superintendent, per NJ.com. Fernandez has worked for the school district for 40 years and could keep this interim position until June 2023. She will hold the position for at least six months until a permanent replacement is found.
Jersey City Council to Review Cannabis Business Application Process
On Monday, January 10th, the Jersey City Council met for the first time in person since the pandemic began, according to Hudson County View. During the meeting council members discussed the legal cannabis ordinance, which was approved in August 2021. Ward D Councilman Yousef Saleh suggested the application for approval to operate a cannabis business in New Jersey be shortened.
Winning Lottery Ticket Sold at Shell Gas Station in Jersey City
On Monday, January 10th, a winning lottery ticket was sold at the Lincoln Park Shell gas station located at 1000 Communipaw Avenue in Jersey City, per Patch. The Jersey Cash Jackpot was worth $100K and the store will receive a check for $2K for selling the winning ticket.
Custom Framing Shop Framebridge to Open Hoboken Location
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Hoboken will soon be the home to Washington, D.C.-based custom frame shop, Framebridge. The new framing shop will soon open at 507 Washington Street. The storefront has not been occupied since a fire in 2016, according to Jersey Digs. The brand currently has 15 locations, three of which are in New York.
Hoboken Main Street Pops Opens ‘Infinite Summer’ Exhibit in Pilsener Haus
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Main Street Pops is inviting the community to check out the latest local art exhibit, Infinite Summer, by Hoboken artist Elizabeth McParland. She used recycled materials to create the pieces in the exhibit, per Tap Into. The opening night event took place on Wednesday, January 12th at The MSP Gallery at Pilsener Haus & Biergarten which is located at 1422 Grand Street.
Hoboken Hockey Rink to be Named After Coach McDonald Jr.
The hockey rink at The City Multi-Service Center in Hoboken will be renamed this year to feature the name of Johnny Ray “Diddle” McDonald Jr., per Hudson Reporter. A dedication ceremony will be held in the near future and will include a plaque memorializing McDonald for his years of service.
Hoboken Public School Superintendent Apologizes for Hiccup in COVID-19 Testing Among Students
In an email to parents, Hoboken Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christine Johnson apologized for the confusion surrounding the timeline for COVID-19 testing of Hoboken Public School students last week, per Hudson County View. Parents were informed that positive results were being sent out first and that if a message was not received by a certain day, students could attend school in-person. However, not all positive test results were sent out by the deadline. Schools closed Monday through Wednesday to complete testing and ensure accurate results.
Driver Charged in Death of Jersey City Police Officer
Jersey City resident, Rafael Rodriguez-Rivera turned himself in to the Hudson County Regional Collision Investigation Unit on Monday, January 10th, per NJ.com. He was the driver in a July 16th accident that resulted in the death of Jersey City police officer, Morton Otundo.
Jersey City Monitor Street Warehouse Reuse Plans Approved
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The Jersey City planning board met together on Tuesday, January 4th to approve a revitalization plan for a one-story warehouse in Jersey City, Jersey Digs reported. The building is located at 62-68 Monitor Street and is currently owned by Fields Development Group. The proposed plan includes partially demolishing but mostly preserving the existing structure.
Mile Square Theater in Hoboken Names New Artistic Director
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Hudson County resident, Kevin R. Free has been named the new Artistic Director at Mile Square Theater in Hoboken, per NJ.com. The founder and previous artistic director, Chris O’Connor, stepped down in 2021 to pursue his academic career as Chair of the Theatre Arts Department of Molloy College. Mile Square Theater is located at 1400 Clinton Street.
