Louise and Jerry’s has been a longtime staple in the Hoboken community, spanning several generations of ownership — all within the same family. So when rumors were circulating regarding its closure of over the last few weeks, we had to do our due diligence. To get to the bottom of the story, The Hoboken Girl had a sit-down chat with owner and Hudson County Commissioner Anthony Romano, who denied any intention of selling the establishment or closing the bar at 329 Washington Street in Hoboken. Contrary to the rumor, Romano said there is actually a chance Louise & Jerry’s may expand its reach. Read on to learn more as well as some of the history of Louise & Jerry’s in Hoboken.
The Rumors
There have been several rumors circulating about Louise & Jerry’s online, that started with rumblings of closure a few weeks ago, back in late January and early February. In fact, the amount of chatter that was omnipresent in the community forced Louise & Jerry’s Instagram account to post an Instagram post detailing that they were not, in fact, closing.
“Hey everyone!” the Instagram post stated, “Just wanted to spread a little sunshine amid the rumors floating around — our beloved bar isn’t going anywhere! We’re here to stay, serving up your favorite drinks and creating those unforgettable nights. Ignore the whispers and come see for yourselves. Here’s to more laughter, more memories, and most importantly, more cheers together! See you all soon!”
View this post on Instagram
The comments included responses, “Yoooo that’s some crazy sh*t people are trying to spread!” and “Louise & Jerry’s is one of the furthest from closing or being near that. The staff is amazing, you can’t beat the pricing and cool vibes! Best Dive Bar in town!” as well as others noting that they were relieved to hear the news negating the closing directly from the bar.
We spoke to Commissioner Romano, who confirmed this was the case, that Louise & Jerry’s would not be closing — it was not in the cards, and he had no plans to do so.
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A Tragedy Strikes
As the rumors slowly calmed down, coincidentally, a tragedy struck the L&J team. Several weeks later, in late February, the bar’s longtime manager, Dave Demorit or ‘Demo’ as he was affectionately called, passed away at 55 years old of a heart attack in his home.
“We had a bad December; someone smashed our window [in Hoboken] with a rock. It’s been tough. Then this — it’s just so awful and tragic,” the Commissioner shared with The Hoboken Girl regarding Dave’s passing.
He explained that Amelia, the night bar manager, was taking over the day shift of bar manager as they looked for additional help.
“I know it’s a temporary fix, but we’re working on it — it’s been a lot to process,” Romano said. He noted that even with this tough scenario, the bar had no plans to close — in fact he was considering expanding it.
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This isn’t the first time a bar closure rumor has been given a bit of false airtime, and cleared up quickly by its owners — as City Bistro’s John Avoletta had to do in late 2023. At the time, he shared that the only thing changing was that he’d also be taking over The Stewed Cow on Adams Street.
What’s Next for Louise & Jerry’s?
The bar’s history is quite impressive, being that Commissioner Romano’s aunt and uncle bought the ownership in 1959 and it’s been in the family ever since. Romano shared that his late mother and father both worked at L&J’s till their passing, as did his aunt and uncle. As the owner now, he’s dedicated to preserving its legacy.
“When it was first built in the 1880s, it was a hotel. Then, my Aunt Louise and Uncle Jerry rented it in 1958. At the time, it was a Dutch sailor’s bar called The Old Neerlandia. It was basically a planks-on-barrels bar with a potbelly stove in the back,” he said.
A sign still hangs to honor The Old Neerlandia’s history in the space.
“I have a tenant moving out [nearby] soon, and I’m considering a new concept nearby, or even expanding the bar out further. We’ll see what happens,” he shared.
The next steps for Louise & Jerry’s remain to be seen — but rest assured, it will still continue to be a dive bar with a local community feel, passed down by several generations of BNR Hobokenites.
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