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. Read on to learn more about the cafe closing.
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.
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Marcell’s mother owns a restaurant in Jersey City as well that specializes in Dominican food called El Sol Del Caribe (Note: non-vegan).
More Life Cafe had a casual vibe, with colors of the Caribbean painted throughout. It was buffet-style and most of the food consisted of plant-based items and vegan “junk food” like vegan empanadas and mozzarella sticks — a big hit. Some of the menu items included mixed greens salads, potato salad, Waldorf salad, falafel, mac + “cheese,” black beans, rice, sweet potato mash, and different stews as well as daily specials and specials like the popular BBQ Jackfruit Sliders and the Spicy Chick “N” Burger.
Marcel told Hoboken Girl back when he opened, “I really believe the inner city youth are the most susceptible to deceptive advertising and social programming.”
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On January 10th, a post on the restaurant’s Instagram read “Thank you to everyone that supported me, helped me, and guided me. I can’t thank you enough for the support I received.” It continued, “We will no longer be opening our doors at 191. Sorry to everyone awaiting our return.”
For more inspiration on what vegan dishes to try next, see our list of vegan-friendly restaurants in Jersey City here.
