As always, we’re back with the highlights of what happened this week in Hoboken + Jersey City. Among the local headlines: Hudson Montessori School plans to open a middle school in September, Hoboken hosts a virtual movie premiere, John’s Pizza is closing, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
Cafe Maman, NYC-Based Cafe, Announces Opening Date for JC Location
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Popular NYC-based French cafe and bakery, Maman, is making its way over to Jersey City. A large storefront at 70 Hudson Street has been secured and renovations are underway. The cafe has locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Montreal, Toronto, and now, Jersey City. Click here for more info including the opening date.
Little Hoboken to Close Storefront
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What began as a resource for local parents in 2016 evolved into a photography studio and boutique. Little Hoboken, founded by Melissa Wise and Cassie Mascari, has become a well-known brand in the community for all-things kid-friendly. Sadly, the owners announced that the Little Hoboken retail store located at 702 Clinton Street will be closing. Click here for what we know.
Hoboken Resident Publishes Baby Superfood Cookbook
Hoboken resident Nicole Yorio Jurick has spent the last few years perfecting recipes for a new cookbook – for babies! The Superfood Baby Food Cookbook was released on Wednesday, January 25th and is available on Amazon, at Target, Buy Buy Baby, and other major retailers. The book features 100 wholesome recipes for babies (and parents) to enjoy.
Rugby New York Announces New Home at JFK Stadium in Hoboken
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Rugby New York announced this week it will be playing and practicing at the JFK Stadium in Hoboken. The stadium is located at 1000 Jefferson Street by Columbus Park and Hoboken High School.
Flip Sigi Filipino Taqueria Storefront Debuts
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We got word in May 2021 that Manhattan-based Filipino taqueria Flip Sigi was making its way across the bridge and opening a location in Jersey City. Flip Sigi is known locally as the eatery that used to take over the O’Bagel space in Hoboken until it began hosting a rooftop dining/party experience located at 190 Academy Street in Jersey City to give locals a taste of what was coming. That location is the same building where Flip Sigi just debuted its ground-level storefront. Click here to read about Flip Sigi Taquieria opening an outpost in Jersey City.
Marty’s, a Burger Spot, Opens in Jersey City
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A Fort Lee-based burger joint has expanded to Jersey City at 488 Central Avenue in the former Firehouse Blazing Pizza outpost. The pizzeria shut its doors in April 2021 after serving the Jersey City Heights community for three years. Now, Marty’s Burgers is the new restaurant on the block. Click here for everything we know.
The Hoboken High School Proposal is Voted Down
The verdict is in on the Hoboken High School Proposal presented by the Hoboken Board of Education. The proposal planned out a new high school building where JFK Stadium currently is, replacing the existing high school, which would then become the city’s middle school – making the current middle school building the new elementary school. After weeks of passionate opinions and testimonies, Hoboken residents exercised their right to vote on January 25th and the votes have been counted. Click here for what we know.
Jersey City Ward Commission Approves New Boundaries
Following an online hearing held on Saturday, January 22nd the Hudson County Board of Elections commissioners has approved the new Jersey City ward boundaries, per NJ.com. The ward boundaries are evaluated every 10 years following the release of the census. The goal in redistricting is to make each of the six districts equal in population.
City of Saints Coffee Roasters in Hoboken Under New Management, Owner Shares An Update
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On Monday, January 24th two City of Saints employees wrote and posted a letter on the door of City of Saints Coffee Roasters, located at 1320 Bloomfield Street, announcing their resignation.
We spoke to Joe Palozzi, the VP Strategy and Sales at City of Saints who shared, the previous manager “was the point of contact and responsibility for noticing and initiating any repairs or upkeep with the equipment and fixtures and coordinating with contractors/repair persons for a time to come and fix them. We have never, nor will we ever, ask an employee to pay for business expense. I value my co-workers and I know City of Saints values its employees. I am looking forward to working with Vanessa and the new employees she is bringing on board.”
Jersey City Filmmaker to Premiere Multimedia Storytelling Adventure in Manhattan
Jersey City resident and storyteller Will Clegg will premiere his Multimedia Storytelling Adventure The Lonely Road at The Kraine Theater in the 2022 FRIGID Festival in New York City. The festival begins Friday, February 18th and runs through Sunday, March 6th. He is a two-time winner of Moth StorySLAMs in NYC and a regular performer at “The Nights of Our Lives” at the Magnet Theater.
CrossFit Hoboken Hosts Open House for New Location Following Chambord Fire
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CrossFit Hoboken is opening a new studio located at 50 Marshall Street in Hoboken, right past the southwest park by Mission 50. The studio hosted an open house event on Saturday leading up to the first opening day on Monday, January 31st. This Monday the 31st, CrossFit Hoboken will be reopening at its new temporary location.
NJ Political Consultant Pleads Guilt in Murder-for-Hire
A New Jersey political consultant, Sean Caddle, has plead guilty to a murder-for-hire plot that resulted in the death of a former associate in 2014, reported New Jersey Globe. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Caddle solicited an individual, who recruited a longtime accomplice, to commit a murder in exchange for thousands of dollars. The two men fatally stabbed the victim before setting fire to his Jersey City apartment in May 2014.
Man Robs Multiple Jersey City Stores, Arrested
A man who assaulted the owners and robbed a Jersey City grocery store three times in six days was captured when he went back a fourth time, per NJ.com. Store surveillance video shows the man jumping across the counter at Augie’s Grocery Deli and is stopped from robbing the store again when off-duty Police Officer Maurice Johnson jumped out from the back. The man attempted to get away, but both Johnson and the store owner’s son, who is also a police officer, stopped him and arrested him.
Tax Abatement for Newark’s Metropolitan Building Awaits Approval
The Newark Municipal Council is considering an ordinance that would grant a 25-year tax abatement for the Metropolitan Building Proposal, per Jersey Digs. The abatement would cover taxes on improvements and would also allow for annual service charges. The existing Metropolitan Building dates back to 1895, and the plans for redevelopment have taken multiple forms since the plan was revealed in July 2020.
Mission 50 in Hoboken to Host Free Community Open House
Local co-working space Mission 50 hosted a Community Open House event on Thursday, January 25th, reported Tap Into. Those who attended were given full access to the shared workplace and were given a tour of the recently renovated space by the Mission 50 team. Participants were also given the chance to experience the amenities Mission 50 members have access to.
Radio Personality Elvis Duran to Host Blood Drive in Jersey City
Radio personality Elvis Duran is sponsoring a blood drive in Jersey City to help alleviate the nationwide blood crisis, according to NJ.com. Donors would need to schedule an appointment on the Red Cross’s website. Donors who attend will have a chance to win two premium tickets to the 2022 Jingle Ball at Madison Square Garden. Blood and platelet donations are needed to help prevent further delays in medical treatment. Donors of all blood types are invited to come.
Man Fatally Shot on a Jersey City Street, First 2022 Homicide in Hudson County
A man was fatally shot on a Jersey City street and is the city’s and Hudson County’s first homicide of 2022, reported NJ.com. The man was shot multiple times in the back just after 12:30PM on Sunday, January 23rd, and he was pronounced dead at 12:55PM. Jersey City and the county saw a sharp increase in homicides in 2021, with there being 24 homicides in Jersey City last year and 30 across the county. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed the homicide in a tweet but did not provide any further details.
Jersey City Police Officer +Woman Charged with Child Endangerment
A Jersey City police officer and a woman were charged with child endangerment after a teenager in their care was hospitalized with injuries to the face, shoulder, and arms, reported Patch. The arrests stemmed from an incident that happened in December after police were called to investigate an altercation among the pair and a teenage child who was in their care. The police officer and woman surrendered themselves to Hudson County’s Special Victim’s Unit on Thursday, January 20th, and both are set to appear in court on February 10th. The Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office Public Integrity Unit is also assisting with the investigation.
Garden State Parkway Fire Repairs Could Cost $3.5M
The cost of temporary and permanent repairs to sections of the Garden State Parkway damaged by a brush fire could hit $3.5M, per NJ.com. The fire broke out in an underground drain pipe that runs under the parkway and police have since determined the fire was the result of arson, potentially started by multiple individuals. The fire closed the highway for 12 hours on Wednesday, January 19th and tied up traffic on the parkway until the following day.
Brooklyn-based Organic Grocery Store to Open First New Jersey Location
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A Brooklyn-based organic market will open its first New Jersey location this year, per NJ.com. Food Story Natural Market is a full-service natural and organic grocery store and is set to open this spring. The company acquired about 10,000 square feet of space inside Journal Squared. An exact opening for the store has not been announced yet.
Man Arrested for Trying to Disarm Bayonne Police Officers
A Morris County man who attacked two Bayonne police officers and who tried to grab their guns has been arrested following a struggle, reported NJ.com. Sean M. Brennan, 44, of Parsippany, was charged with aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, disarming a law enforcement officer, and resisting arrest. Police approached Brennan because the man was refusing to leave a business and he became irate when officers asked him to leave.
Proposal for 22-unit Building on Palisade Avenue Under Review
Jersey City’s municipal government has received plans from a Duncan Avenue-based firm that calls for a five-story building to be constructed on Palisade Avenue, according to Jersey Digs. An application and site plans say the building would hold 22 residential units with a mixture of studios, one-bedroom units, and two-bedroom units. The project would also include 24 parking spaces and a roof deck.
Jersey City Man Arrested for Stealing Wallet
A 24-year-old Jersey City man has been charged with Burglary and Theft, according to Tap Into. These charges come after he reportedly gained entry to a vehicle at a home in Bayonne. The man was positively identified after fleeing the scene. The wallet was recovered at a nearby residence.
SJP Buys Back Waterfront Corporate Center I in Hoboken
A partnership of SJP Properties and David Werner Real Estate Investments announced Monday that they acquired Waterfront Corporate Center I, per roi-nj.com. The building is part of a three-building, 1.5 million-square-foot office and retail complex that was developed by SJP Properties between 2002-14. This building is situated within the heart of Hoboken’s waterfront and is just steps from Hoboken Terminal’s New Jersey Transit.
Busy Bee Organics to Close Downtown Jersey City Location
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Busy Bees Organics will be closing its downtown Jersey City Location at Dvora. The @busybeeorganics account shared “we loved our time here and are so grateful for our downtown Jersey City experience.” The closure of the Downtown Jersey City location means the store will also be open on Mondays in Jersey City Heights from 8AM to 3PM.
John’s Pizza to Close Jersey City Location
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Another business is closing in Jersey City. According to @jcfamilies John’s Pizza will be closing after being around for 14 years in its Jersey City Location. John’s Pizza posted “We regret to inform you we have closed our Jersey City location. We want to thank our valued customers who became family for all of your continued support during our near 14 years of business” on the official website.
New Coworking Space Debuts in Hoboken
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Hoboken’s newest co-working space, Daybase shared its ribbon-cutting event held on Wednesday, January 26th on Instagram this week. The 5,000 square feet street-level space will offer members a variety of working options for both individuals and small groups. Stay tuned this week as we share more details about the new space.
Virtual Movie Premiere at the Hoboken Museum
The Hoboken Museum is taking a look at Hoboken’s colorful musical past on Sunday, January 30th, reported NJ.com. The Hoboken Museum will host the virtual movie premiere of A Mile Square of Music: 1960 to 1970 from 5PM to 6:30PM. The virtual screening will be presented by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, the City of Hoboken, and the Hoboken Historical Museum.
Local Officials Announce New Eastbound Span of Route 3 Bridge
New Jersey local officials have secured millions from a project to build a new eastbound span of the Route 3 bridge, reported The Hudson Reporter. The lawmakers were able to secure this funding from the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act which was signed into law in November. The local officials gathered at the foot of the existing Route 3 Bridge to announce the funding on Tuesday, January 25th.
Hudson Theatre Works Presents the Eugene O’Neill Festival
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Hudson Theatre Works Theatre On The Edge will present its Eugene O’Neill Festival, per The Hudson Reporter. The festival will run from February 9th to February 27th and it will feature different films on different days. Desire Under the Elms will run Thursday through Saturday and Sunday evening. Hughie will run on Wednesdays and Saturday and Sunday afternoons.
Hudson Montessori School Plans to Open Middle School in September
The Hudson Montessori School in Jersey City plans to open a middle school in September, according to Hudson County View. The middle school curriculum will fully incorporate data science, literacy, and other community outreach efforts. The middle school will set itself apart by formally adopting the design-thinking process which is a common process used today for businesses and universities.
