A week of life in Hoboken + Jersey City means there is plenty of news to catch up on. Among the local headlines: Hoboken’s Double Dough featured on NBC’s ‘Baking It’, cosmetic testing now banned in New Jersey, WORD Bookstore to open a brick and mortar shop in Jersey City, and so much more. Keep reading for all the news you missed this week in Hoboken, Jersey City, + beyond.
The New York Times Reports FBI Search for Jimmy Hoffa Leads to Jersey City
The F.B.I is pursuing a new lead on the case of nationally famous Jimmy Hoffa, the former labor union leader and president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from the 1950s – 1970s. His death and disappearance in 1975 have been well-documented, reported on, and even brought to the big screen in Martin Scorsese’s The Irishman. As of November 18th, there has been a development on this case for his missing body – and it leads to a landfill in Jersey City. Click here for what we know.
Animal Testing in Cosmetics is Now Banned in NJ
From now on, every makeup company in New Jersey will only offer cruelty-free products. Over 1,000 co-sponsors signed a bill in favor of law S1726, which bans the sale of cosmetic products that are tested on animals. New Jersey now follows seven other states in passing the law, following public interest in cruelty-free, environmentally friendly products. Consumers seem to be shopping in a more socially conscious manner, and lawmakers are listening. Click here to read about New Jersey’s newest cruelty-free law.
Mediterranean Restaurant ‘Taverna Veranda’ Opening in Edgewater
Edgewater will soon be home to a new restaurant, Taverna Veranda, located at 725 River Road. Run by three owners who each have years of experience in the hospitality industry, this new Greek locale is slated to open in December 2021. Taverna Veranda is owned by Constantine Youssis, Moutaz Ali, and Aldo Mo. Constantine and Moutaz opened the first Veranda in NYC in 2009, which became a popular lounge in the West Village before shutting down four years later. Now the three businessmen are focusing their time on getting Taverna up and running. Click here for everything we know about Taverna Veranda, coming soon in Edgewater.
Hoboken Fire Captain Featured in Allure YouTube Video
Hoboken Fire Captain, Maria “Peggy” Diaz, was recently featured in an Allure YouTube video called “A Firefighter’s Entire Routine, From Prepping Equipment to Saving Lives”. Peggy has been a firefighter for 20 years, the last 9.5 years as Fire Captain for the Hoboken Fire Department. She was also the first Latina firefighter in Hoboken.
Downtown Jersey City Officially Decorated for the Holidays
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Downtown Jersey City is officially decked out for the holidays. Local vendors donate to the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District every year to help this festive tradition come to life. The @hdsid_jc account recently shared a sneak peek via Instagram.
Hoboken Hair Salon to Open 2nd Location in Suburbs
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SophistiKate Hair Salon is expanding to the burbs by opening a new location in Madison. Currently located at 105 Fifth Street in Hoboken, this beauty salon has become a local favorite offering cuts, colors, treatments, extensions, and blowouts. The new location will open soon at 300 Main Street in Madison.
Hoboken Baking Duo Compete in ‘Baking It’ on NBC
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Local baking duo Jordan and Joelle Hernandez (also part of Team Hoboken Girl!) launched a baking business together called Double Dough. The sisters recently announced their participation on NBC’s show, Baking It via Instagram. The post says, “Double Dough takes Hollywood! We are #BakingIt on @peacocktv with Andy Samberg and Maya Rudolph. Over the moon excited to finally share this news with the world and to have expanded our baking family by 14 of the most incredible people on Earth.” Baking It airs on December 2nd on the NBC Peacock App.
The Drip Fitness Relocates to New Location in Hoboken
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The Drip Fitness has found its permanent home in Hoboken. The fitness center announced via Instagram this week, “We have moved into our new permanent location! We worked very hard to open a space in a new building on 2nd & Grand but the week we were supposed to start construction, Hurricane Ida completely flooded the space, leaving us unable to build there. In a twist of fate, and thanks to our amazing community & badass instructors, we would have already outgrown that space. So grateful to be moving into a space that is double the size!” The new studio is located on the fourth and fifth floors at 44 Hudson Place in Hoboken.
Food and Fuel Prices in Hudson County Skyrocketing With Inflation
Due to the pandemic, prices in Hudson County have grown 6.2%, according to NJ.com. This has been the largest single-year price increase in multiple decades, which includes a 14.1% increase in pork prices and 20.1% increase in beef prices. Gas prices have also gone up, despite no increase in pay.
COVID-19 Cases On the Rise in the Garden State
COVID-19 transmission rates in New Jersey have increased since last week, per NJ.com. A Tuesday report filed another 1,305 cases and 24 deaths, a 31% seven-day average uptick since the week before. As coronavirus-related hospitalizations reached a high of 741, Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters that the pandemic is not over yet. “We’re not immune to this,” he said. “We’re still in it.”
Comedy Show and Dance Party Coming to Union City
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Miracle Mile Venues is hosting an array of comedians and DJs at the upcoming Rhythm and Laughter show. The venue posted about the event on Instagram, announcing the lineup of comedians which will be followed by a dance after-party featuring performances by various DJs including DVL3X and Nightshade. The event will take place on November 24th at 1711 Manhattan Ave in Union City. The comedy shows will run from 9PM to 10:30PM, followed by the dance after-party that will run until 1AM.
Cosmetic Animal Testing Now Banned in New Jersey
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Animal rights activists in New Jersey are rejoicing over the new ban on cosmetic animal testing, according to Live Kindly. Local officials signed the new law last week stating that, with some exceptions, New Jersey stores can no longer sell cosmetics that were tested on animals beginning March 1, 2022. New Jersey is the eighth state in the U.S. to ban testing on animals, hundreds of thousands of which are tested every year.
Jersey City Pizza Shop Owner and Author Featured on Show Watch What Happens Live!
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Dan Richer of Razza Pizzeria appeared on Watch What Happens Live! with Andy Cohen on Sunday, November 14th, to celebrate the release of his book, The Joy of Pizza. Richer was also joined by Michael Rapaport and Heather Gay, whom Richer posed with in a Razza Instagram post. Richer was a guest bartender for the show’s hosts and brought an array of his own delicious creations to celebrate his new book. The book is now officially a New York Times best-seller.
Hoboken Food Pantry Collecting Toy Donations for 2nd Annual Holiday Market
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The Hoboken Food Pantry is now accepting toy donations through Thursday, December 9th. The Hoboken Food Pantry posted more information via Instagram this week, which included drop-off hours, donation ideas, and donation standards. “All items at the market will be free for our clients, our most vulnerable members of our community,” the post caption said. “Help us spread some holiday cheer and lessen the financial burden of the holidays.”
HDSID Releases Black Friday Sales List for Jersey City Businesses
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This week the Historic Downtown Special Improvements District Instagram account released a list of local businesses that are running a Black Friday sale. From restaurant discounts to teeth whitening, businesses throughout Jersey City are getting in the holiday spirit. The full list can be found on the HDSID website.
South House to Host Christmas Brunch with Santa
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South House, located at 149 Newark Avenue in Jersey City, will host a free brunch Christmas with Santa on Sunday, December 19th from 2PM to 4PM. The event gives families with members on the autism spectrum an opportunity to celebrate the holidays with friends and loved ones.
Bareburger Coming to Newark Avenue in Jersey City
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This week the Historic Downtown Special Improvements District announced that Bareburger is opening a new location at 143 Newark Avenue in Jersey City. The restaurant currently has one location in Hoboken, but this will be the first to open in Jersey City.
WORD Bookstore to Open Brick and Mortar Shop in Jersey City
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WORD Bookstore has currently been existing as a pop-up in the co-working space AndCo and has just announced plans to open its own brick and mortar shop in Jersey City. The Instagram post says, “BIG news! WORD Bookstore is moving to 29 McWilliams Place in Hamilton Square early next year! We signed the lease today with Christine and Vinnie in front of our WORD PopUp at AndCo.”
Owner of Toni&Guy Hair Salon in Hoboken Rebranding in 2022
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The Toni&Guy Hair Salon in Hoboken is currently undergoing a rebranding and renovation, according to the salon’s owner, who announced with a name change via Instagram. The salon is expected to open in the same location at 44 Hudson Place in Hoboken — with a new look in March 2022.
Hoboken Board of Ed Presenting Plans for a New High School
The student population at Hoboken High School continues to increase, currently reaching a total of 3,048 students as of October 2020. The Board of Education is sending a proposal for a new building to the city’s planning board to approve for a special election in January. Click here for the full story.
2 New Developments to Bring 250 Units to Jersey City
The Jersey City Planning Board is getting ready to vote on two new developments that will bring 250 apartments to the intersection of 18th Street and Grove Street, per NJ.com. These developments are a part of the long-vacant area’s 35-year revitalization project. “Since its inception, Newport has strived to create a place where people would want to live, work and play in an urban setting,” said Jeremy Farrell, spokesman for Newport Associates Development Company, the project’s developer.
NJ Tech Graduates Launch Hoboken Restaurant Delivery App
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Graduates of the New Jersey Technology Institute have created a new app designed to help local restaurants. The app Order Hoboken was created by a student start-up company in response to the negative impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on local businesses. Order Hoboken is meant to combat the high prices residents pay when using other large ordering apps and to drive business to smaller Hoboken eateries.
Pulaski Skyway Exit Ramp Undergoing 5-Year Closure
The Broadway exit ramp from the Pulaski Skyway northbound to Route 1&9 Truck in Jersey City will be closed for five years, per Hudson Reporter. During this time, the 89-year-old bridge will be reconstructed and rehabilitated. Various detour routes will be available during construction.
TEDx Coming to Bayonne Spring 2022
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Bayonne will host TEDx for the first time in Spring 2022. The TEDxBayonne Instagram post says, “The conference is fully volunteer-run and was founded by Carissa Lintao and Maxim Sokolov with a set theme for the 2022 conference — re.think. In the first installment of TEDxBayonne, we’re going to discover stories about stopping, finding deeper purpose, and rethinking our old ways. The 2022 TEDxBayonne conference will be the city’s first of its kind. The event will showcase diverse groundbreaking ideas about technology, education, design, humanities, and other influential subjects.”
TEDxBayonne will be hosted at The Knights 669 Avenue C in Bayonne on April 21st, 2022.
Former Holy Family Academy Location to Undergo Renovations
Bayonne City Council has awarded a contract to repurpose the Holy Family Academy building, according to Hudson Reporter. The city purchased the location in 2017 after the Catholic high school closed in 2013. The $2M contract will go towards a new headquarters for Bayonne Economic Opportunity Foundation and a branch of the city’s Head Start program.
New Team Members Join Hoboken Business Alliance
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The Hoboken Business Alliance announced its new executive director and district manager on Monday, November 15th, per Hudson County View. Steven Welliver and Natalie Chape are taking on these respective roles. “Hoboken’s strong sense of community and unique mix of urban character with small-town charm makes an incredible foundation for growth,” Welliver said. “I am excited to partner with Hoboken’s commercial property and business owners and community leaders to help revitalize Hoboken’s local economy.” Welliver relocated to Hoboken from Los Angeles, California, and Chape began her work with the HBA in 2018.
Holiday Showcase Fundraiser Back On in Jersey City with the Kennedy Dancers
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The Kennedy Dancers are performing at the annual Holiday Showcase Fundraiser after a pandemic hiatus, per Hudson Reporter. Under the direction of Diane Dragone, the dancers will perform three times (Friday, December 3rd; Saturday, December 11th; and Sunday, December 12th) to raise money for the organization. Dancers from Kennedy Dancers Repertory Company, the Award-Winning Kennedy Dancers Inner City Youth Pre-Professional Company, and the Kennedy Dancers dance school will be featured in the show. Community members can purchase tickets in person or by phone starting Wednesday, December 1st.
Hudson County Hospitals Receive ‘B’ and ‘C’ Grades From Leapfrog Group
Six Hudson County hospitals ranked lower than others in the Garden State, reported NJ.com. The Leapfrog Group, a non-profit organization that “promotes best practices for patient safety,” awarded two B’s and three C’s based on various procedural, communicatory, and safety criteria. Although New Jersey has improved overall in its hospital rankings since last year, Hudson County has not made improvements.
No Children Injured in North Bergen School Bus Crash
A school bus crashed on 2810 Paterson Plank Road on Tuesday, November 16th, around 3:30PM, according to NJ.com. At least two people were treated for injuries at the scene, but no children were harmed.
Hoboken City Council Votes to Raise Salaries for Elected Officials
The members of the Hoboken City Council decided to raise salaries for certain officials at a meeting on Monday, November 15th, per Hudson Reporter. Those who will receive pay raises include elected officials, some top directors, and some city municipal workers. The mayor’s salary raise will not go into effect until a new mayor is elected, and the rest of the City Council salary raises will take place in 2022.
Jersey City is the Home of New Hero ‘Ms. Marvel’
Kamala: “It’s not really the brown girls from #JerseyCity who save the world”
“Maybe now they do.” ❤️🔥👏🏾 @GWillowWilson @disneyplus https://t.co/84QDKvTPk0
— City of Jersey City (@JerseyCity) November 16, 2021
Marvel’s newest hero is young, female, and representing Jersey City in Ms. Marvel. The main character, Kamala Khan, is a Pakistani-American teen who discovers her polymorphus powers and leads many adventures and quests to save the world. The City of Jersey City posted the show’s trailer on Twitter, where Khan says, “It’s not really the Brown girls from Jersey City who save the world. Her friend responds, “Maybe now they do.” Ms. Marvel is coming to Disney+ in late 2021.
Jersey City Adjusts Bayfront Bonding Strategy
Local officials are opting for long-term bonds to pay for the 95-acre Bayfront redevelopment plan, reported Tap Into. The city originally acquired the space in 2018 from Honeywell Corporation with a short-term bond. Their payment strategies have since changed, but do not imply an overall increased city debt.
Amazon No Longer Expanding to Jersey City Waterfront Property
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Amazon pulled out of its original 400,000 square-foot deal in Downtown Jersey City, according to NJ.com. Amazon discussed the office space acquisition with developer Mack-Cali for months before they decided to pull the plug. Mack-Cali has yet to comment on the situation.
