The new year is ticking along and Hudson County is full of activity. Many things happened this week, including the announcement of a long-term closure of the Holland Tunnel; a new fundraiser launched for The Flow Initiative; and workout spot The Mess Method moving to a new space. Read on to catch up on everything you missed in Hudson County this week.
Holland Tunnel Will Close Nightly Until 2025 for Repairs
Starting on Sunday, February 5th, 2023, the Jersey-bound side of the Holland Tunnel will close six nights each week for repairs. This construction will follow similar work and overnight closures on the New York-bound side of the tunnel that started in April 2022 and will end on Saturday, February 4th at 5AM. The Holland Tunnel closures are needed to repair damages sustained during Hurricane Sandy. Read on for what we know about the closures.
Nike Store in Hoboken Opening on Thursday 1/26
The Nike store in Hoboken, located at 222 Washington Street, will host a grand opening on Thursday, January 26th. A ribbon cutting will take place at 9:45AM and the doors will open at 10AM. Read more on the Nike store here.
Hudson County Grants Aimed at Supporting At-Risk Youth
The Hudson County Board of Commissioners approved grants totaling over $1.5 million, according to TapInto. The first grant is a bulk grant from the New Jersey Department of Health & Human Services Youth Services Commission that is shared amongst organizations that support youth who are at-risk or are involved in the Hudson County family court system. The second part of the grant, also from the New Jersey Department of Health & Human Services Youth Services Commission will go to the Young Men Christian Association (YMCA).
Gourmet Toast Cafe ‘Toastique’ Hosts Grand Opening in Uptown Hoboken
Back in September 2022, we got word that a cafe specializing in gourmet toast and juices was coming to uptown Hoboken at 1450 Washington Street. The cafe, called Toastique, was founded by Brianna Keefe a few years ago in hopes that she could create clean, healthy, and delicious meals to share with different communities. Toastique sells gourmet toast (yes, including avocado toast), bowls, smoothies, and juices. The DC-based chain has locations throughout the US, and hosted its grand opening on Saturday January 21st. Read on to learn more about this cafe.
Hudson Restaurant Week Returns January 23
From January 23rd to February 3rd, 2023, participating restaurants in Hudson County will offer special deals for lunch and dinner. Restaurant Week is a great way to check out restaurants throughout Hudson County. The prix fixe meals are often two to three courses and showcase the best of what each restaurant has to offer. Visit the Hudson County Restaurant Week web site to learn more and check out participating restaurants.
New Fundraiser for The Flow Initiative
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Per Patch, Eika La Borio, founder of The Flow Initiative, has launched a new candle line as a fundraiser for the organization. The candle line, called La Diete, will be sold at Love Locked in Jersey City, located at 353 Grove Street. The Flow Initiative is a local non-profit dedicated to eradicating period poverty and increasing access to menstrual products.
Plans Approved for the Former Site of Moe’s Bait and Tackle
A small apartment building will soon take the place of Moe’s Bait and Tackle in The Heights, according to Jersey Digs. The lot at the corner of Palisades Avenue and South Street was home to the fishing supply store until its closure in 2019. The plans that were approved at a January 10th Planning Board meeting call for a 45-foot building containing nine apartments to be built on the site. The building, located at 10-14 South Street, will have garage parking for nine cars plus 27 bicycle parking spots.
Union Dry Dock Deal Still Not Complete
According to NJ.com, negotiations are still underway to finalize a deal for the Union Dry Dock in Hoboken. An agenda item concerning the agreement was pulled from Wednesday’s City Council meeting. The proposal would set up a lease agreement between Hoboken and the New York Waterway.
Mess Method Opens New Location
The Mess Method is moving from its current location in the Pilsner Haus Biergarten building and will now be located at 422 Grand Street 4A (soon to be 4D). The space has high ceilings and Manhattan views. Mess Method is a total body conditioning workout that uniquely incorporates elements of pilates, barre, functional training, cardio, and dance.
Public Engagement Session for 800 Monroe Resiliency Park
In a Nixle message to residents earlier this week, Hoboken Mayor Ravi S. Bhalla invited community members to attend and participate in a public engagement session on the future of the 800 Monroe Street Resiliency Park. The meeting will be Thursday January 26th at 6:30PM in the cafeteria at Hoboken High School, located at 800 Clinton Street. The project team will use public input gathered through future surveys and meetings to incorporate feedback regarding the community’s open space needs into the final design. For more information, visit the project’s web site.
Olivia’s Debuts Brunch Menu
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Olivia’s, located at 1038 Garden Street in Hoboken, debuted a new brunch menu this weekend. Olivia’s is known for its creative cocktails and Mediterranean food with a Latin flair. The brunch menu includes classic dishes like a brunch burger and a three-egg omelette, as well as specialties like an arepas and short ribs and chilaquiles verdes.
24-Story Building Underway in Bergen-Lafayette
A residential building located at 270 Johnston Avenue in Jersey City is nearing completion, according to Patch. The building will have 169 units including 10 affordable units. It was topped out at 262 feet. The project has a panoramic deck with views of Liberty State Park and Lower Manhattan.
Jersey City’s Kitchen Step Part of New Terminal at Newark Airport
Kitchen Step, a Jersey City favorite, has a new location. The restaurant is known for its modern-American bistro menu, craft cocktails, and excellent wine list. The restaurant opened a new location in the revamped Terminal A at Newark Airport. The terminal features several other New Jersey-based businesses. Read more here.
Hoboken Rent Control Policy Changes Passes on First Reading
At a City Hall meeting on January 18th, a measure updating and revising Hoboken’s rent control laws advanced despite criticism. According to the Hudson County View, even special interest groups who typically oppose each other were united in their opposition to this proposal. Despite the criticism that the policy change would harm both renters and property owners, it passed on the first reading with a 6-3 vote.
Two Jersey City Chefs Team Up for Fundraiser
Chef AJ Capella, an originator of the Ani Ramen brand, and Jamie Knott, Chef/Owner of Madame in Jersey City have teamed up to offer a limited-time menu with the goal of fundraising for Stand Up to Cancer. The dishes will be available starting January 16th. Each Chef has created a dish in which their trademark style is adapted to each other’s restaurant. The proceeds from this dish will be donated to Stand Up to Cancer. For Madame, Chef AJ will bring Local Fluke Crudo to the menu, with cured local fluke, apple, cucumber and cilantro. At Ani Ramen, Chef Jamie offers a Fire Beef Bao, comprised of Galbi skirt steak, kimchi and watercress.
Neon Nights at Stevens Institute
On March 3rd, 2023, Stevens Institute will be the site of the inagural Neon Nights event, hosted by the JED Foundation. The event is a fun, exciting, and colorful nighttime campus-wide parade. The JED Foundation is the leading national nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for teens and young adults. In the weeks leading up to the event, Stevens students will engage in a peer-to-peer fundraising competition for mental health and suicide prevention education and interventions.
Hearing on Alfalfa’s Proposed Second Location
Hoboken salad spot Alfalfa has plans to expand into a second location. Petitions were heard this week by the Hoboken Planning Board for the restaurant’s plans for 150 Newark Street. The location has previously been home to Sobsey’s Grocery and Ma’s Gourmet. The current Alfalfa location opened in 2019 at 1110 Washington Street, and the restaurant has plans to open a location in Jersey City in 2023.
Plans Revealed for Neumann Leather Building
The Neumann Leather Building, located at 300 Observer Highway in Hoboken, has long been a staple of the Hoboken skyline. New plans are in the works to revitalize the brick building, which dates back to 1863. According to Jersey Digs, the proposal was shared at a community meeting earlier this month, and includes plans for over 300 residential units, a resiliency garden, and a 32,500 foot public plaza. The plans have not yet been approved by the City.
Wellness on the Hudson Coming Soon to Weehawken
A new wellness space is opening soon in Weehawken. Wellness on the Hudson will be located at 600 Harbor Boulevard and is a yoga and recovery lounge. The yoga offerings will be heated and non-heated, and the recovery options include steam sauna, cold plunge, red light therapy and IV therapy. One of the co-founders of the business is a registered nurse who says that her goal is for clients to leave 100% refreshed. The space will open in late Spring 2023 and HG will have all the details.
Sports Radio Records Show in Jersey City
On January 18th, sports radio channel WFAN hosted a show at Hudson Hall in Jersey City. The show was a preview of the Giant’s outlook in the NFL Divisional Playoffs, hosted by Shaun O’Hara, Bob Papa and Brandon Jacobs. Fans were invited to interact with the hosts before and after the show.
Information Session for Community Block Grants
On Thursday, January 26th, the City of Hoboken will host the first of two public information sessions about Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). The program is funded by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The City works with non-profit groups and public agencies to administer these grants in support of community activities. More information is available here.
Security Information Session for Houses of Worship
The New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, in partnership with the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office and the US Department of Homeland Security, is hosting a workshop for houses of worship to learn more about security resources. The “Houses of Worship Security Program” will take place on Tuesday, January 31st at the Hudson County Schools of Technology, 1 High Tech Way in Secaucus, from 5:30PM to 8PM. Worship leaders and community members are invited to attend. Per Patch, participants are asked to RSVP in advance.
Three Upcoming Blood Drives
New Jersey Blood Services, a division of the New York Blood Center, is hosting three blood drives in Hudson County in the coming weeks. Blood donations are urgently needed. Per Patch, two of the blood drives will be at the Newport Centre Mall and the third will be at Hudson County Community College. Visit the New York Blood Center for more information.
Federally Qualified Health Care Center to Open in Seacaucus
On January 24th, The North Hudson Community Action Corporation will officially open it 10th Federally Qualified Health Care Center. The Center will be located inside Hudson Regional Hospital, per NJ.com. Federally Qualified Health Care Centers offer care to all patients regardless of their ability to pay. The facility will offer adult medicine, pediatrics, family planning, and women’s health care.
Cucina Saporito Closes
Per TapInto, Hoboken restaurant Cucina Saporito has closed. The restaurant, located at 328 Washington Street, opened in 1999. It was formerly known as Trattoria Saporito and served classic Italian dishes to hungry Hobokenites. In an Instagram post, the restaurant specifically mentioned how challenging the last three years have been to keep the business in operation.
Funds Allocated for Sinatra Drive Improvements
Per TapInto, $1.8 million of federal funding has been allocated for improvements to Sinatra Drive in Hoboken. The funds will be used to reconstruct the 0.7-mile corridor of Sinatra Drive from Fourth Street to 11th Street to provide greater connectivity, accessibility, and greenery by adding Vision Zero and complete streets safety improvements, a protected bike lane, and additional tree plantings. The City plans to share a proposal with the public in the first quarter of 2023. For more information, visit the project’s website.
Hudson County Community College Receives Grant to Build New Building
Hudson County Community College is the recipient of a $2.2 million federal grant, according to Hudson County View. The funds will go toward construction of a new Academic Tower located in what is now a parking lot owned by HCCC between Enos Place and Jones Street. The building will consolidate several other spaces used by the school, as well as have expanded and centralized offices for Continuing Education and Workforce Development (CEWD), a full-size National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) gymnasium, fitness and wellness center. In addition to the federal grant, Hudson County has committed an additional sum to the project, up to $35 million.
