Sometimes an ideal night isn’t a night out; it’s a glass of French wine and falling asleep to a good book. And not an illuminated Kindle or Nook, dear readers. A real, paperbound, feel-the-weight-in-your-hands book. We’re firm believers that everyone should spend less time on social media, believe it or not, and more time with their noses in a book, so we rounded up a list of local spots to help you accomplish just that. Read on for a list of bookstores in Hoboken and Jersey City to pick up your next read.
Hoboken
Hoboken Public Library | 500 Park Avenue (Main Library) + 124 Grand Street 2nd Floor (Grand Street Branch)
The Hoboken Public Library was established under the NJ General Library Act of 1884. It is on the National List of Historic Places. Most people love a good bookshelf and collection of books, but if you’re not the purchasing type, the Hoboken Public Library is a no-brainer place to go. On the bottom level of the library, there is a section dedicated to books that are for sale — and on the second floor, locals can search Hoboken archives, there’s a collection of movies and CDs, a library of things, weekly events, and much more.
Read More: A List of Books That Take Place in Hudson County
Little City Books | 100 Bloomfield Street
Little City Books is an independent bookstore that happens to be the perfect place to find newly released books and popular authors. The selection of books includes architecture, art, business, drama, history, cooking, gardening, medical, nature, true crime, and sports, among other topics. The bookstore also hosts monthly events.
Symposia Bookstore | 510 Washington Street
Symposia Bookstore is a local non-profit that has gently used books for a fraction of the price you’d pay in stores. Though it may not have the newest arrivals, the collection is always chock-full of goodies in all genres including fiction, non-fiction, biographies, history, art, psychology, and children’s books, among others. Symposia Bookstore also hosts weekly events such as Puppetonia puppet shows for toddlers, yoga, author meet-and-greets, open mic sessions, and more.
Jersey City
Lawn Love ranked 2022’s Best Cities for Book Lovers. It compared the 200 biggest U.S. cities based on access to public libraries, bookstores, little free libraries, book clubs, and events. In addition to its overall 3rd place nationwide ranking, Jersey City ranked in some key metrics (1 = Best) as follows:
- Bookstores per 100,000 Residents — 1st
- Independent Bookstores per 100,000 Residents — 1st
- Public Libraries — 61st
- Books “in the Wild” (BookCrossing) per 100,000 Residents — 32nd
- Silent Book Clubs — 63rd
- Book Events and Festivals per 100,000 Residents — 144th
Jersey City Free Books | 3396 Kennedy Boulevard
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For a more unorthodox and feel-good option, Jersey City Free Books does exactly what its name suggests. This community exchange book organization serves Hoboken, Jersey City, and the greater Hudson County area — completely for free.
Jersey City Free Public Library | Multiple Locations
The Jersey City Free Public Library has so many books of all genres for residents to enjoy. But what’s even cooler are the additional services the library provides like employment assistance, college readiness, services for adults and children, a community awareness series, and other things. There are multiple branches that can be found throughout Jersey City, but The Priscilla Gardner Main Library is located at 472 Jersey Avenue.
See More: This 3-Story Bookstore in Montclair is One of the Largest in the Tri-State Area
WORD Bookstore | 29 McWilliams Place
There are always new arrivals to read your newly purchased book, and an awesome selection of gift cards here. This bookstore always keeps an inventory of books that reflect the current cultural and political climate. Customers can also browse the staff picks for good recommendations on what to read next.
Hoboken PATH Station Fully Closing for 25 Days Starting 1/30
Hoboken's PATH station, located at 1 Hudson Place, will fully close this week for various repairs. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) announced the news on October 31st, 2024 saying that the station will close to complete critical track + switch upgrades and station rehabilitation work as a part of the two-year PATH Forward program. The closure will take place from late evening on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 through early morning on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025. Read on for what we know about the upcoming Hoboken PATH station closure.
The Details
The PANYNJ announced via a press release on Thursday, October 31st, 2024 that the Hoboken PATH station will be closed from 11:59PM on Thursday, January 30th, 2025 through 5AM on Tuesday, February 25th, 2025, as part of the agency’s two-year, $430 million PATH Forward program that will see the rehabilitation of four major stations: Hoboken, Grove Street, Newport, and Exchange Place.
During the closure, the Port Authority will carry out critical safety repairs and improvements across several elements of the 116-year-old system. The full station closure enables the PANYNJ to complete track and station work on an expedited basis that would otherwise necessitate severe schedule reductions and service suspensions repetitively over a prolonged period.
Track and station work will include the following:
- Replacement of Hoboken Interlocking + tracks: PATH will replace in-station tracks and the Hoboken Interlocking, the intricate system of tracks and switches that allows all service from two tunnels to access three tracks at the Hoboken station. The press release noted that without the continuous 25-day outage, this work by itself would require four complete weekend shutdowns due to the scale and location of the interlocking, and an additional 50 consecutive days of significantly reduced service levels in and out of Hoboken due to the reduction in station track capacity required to maintain safe operations during the construction.
- Track repair + maintenance work: PATH will repair 4,500 linear feet of track in the two tunnels leading into the station. The continuous 25-day outage prevents a full year of weekend service reductions that would otherwise be required to complete the work.
- Restoration of passenger infrastructure: PATH will replace the concrete walking surfaces in public areas throughout the station and replace four staircases between the station’s mezzanine and platform levels. Performing the most disruptive work during the outage will reduce a 28-weekend timeline of disruption to customers (selective closures, rerouting of passengers, etc.) at Hoboken. The Port Authority coordinated the rehabilitation with the New Jersey Historic Preservation Office and the Hoboken Historic Preservation Commission.
Read More: NJ Transit To Replace Clouded Train Windows: The Details
The PANYNJ noted that outside consultants and experts identified the full station closure as the best option to simultaneously complete the three projects, and planned the closure for a time of year that traditionally sees lower daily ridership levels.
“This closure will undoubtedly pose challenges for Hoboken riders, and we recognize the impact it will have on their daily routines,” Port Authority Chairman Kevin O’Toole said in a press release. “The PATH system is a vital connection in our region, and this work is crucial to ensuring it remains safe, reliable, and efficient for the thousands who depend on it every day. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our riders as we work to strengthen this essential infrastructure.”
“PATH is continually striving to create the best possible travel experience for our customers,” PATH Director/General Manager Clarelle DeGraffe said in a press release. “We recognize the inconvenience our customers will experience during this period of essential infrastructure and station rehabilitation, and we appreciate their patience and understanding as we work to make this 116-year-old rail network more reliable.”
Travel Alternatives During the Closure
Travel alternatives during the closure will include expanded + discounted ferry service, frequent shuttle buses to other PATH stations, and supplemental PATH, light rail, and NJ TRANSIT bus service between Hoboken and Manhattan. PANYNJ noted that customers still may experience crowing and lines, and encouraged travelers to consider making alternative arrangements around work hours and locations if possible. All alternative travel options are ADA-accessible.
Travel alternatives include the following:
Cross-Honored Ferry Service
- Additional peak period service departing every 10 minutes from the PATH/NJ TRANSIT station terminal, with service to Manhattan’s Brookfield Place/Battery Park City terminal and Midtown/West 39th Street terminal.
- Expanded NY Waterway crosstown bus service from Midtown/West 39th Street terminal.
- Extended operating hours until 10PM on weekdays and 12AM on weekends at both Hoboken terminals.
- Additional weekend route, providing service to Midtown/West 39th Street from both Hoboken terminals.
- Ferry fares will also be reduced to $3 for the entirety of the closure — more information can be found here.
Free PATH Shuttle Bus Service
- Frequent shuttle buses connecting Hoboken riders to continuing PATH service at Newport and Exchange Place stations.
Supplemental Bus Service to Enhance NJ TRANSIT’s No. 126 Line
- NJ TRANSIT will increase the frequency of the No. 126 bus, connecting Hoboken station with the Midtown Bus Terminal.
Supplemental PATH Service
- Additional PATH trains are planned to serve expected additional passengers at the Newport and Exchange Place stations to and from the World Trade Center and 33 Street Stations. The additional service will result in trains arriving at Newport every two to four minutes, and trains arriving at Exchange Place every five minutes or less during rush hours.
Supplemental NJ TRANSIT Hudson-Bergen Light Rail Service
- NJ TRANSIT will provide additional service on the Hudson-Bergen Light Rail weekdays between 6AM-10AM and 3PM-7PM, connecting riders to and from continuing PATH service at Newport and Exchange Place.
Additional details on schedules, service frequencies, and fares can be found on the project website.
Note that while Hoboken locals were under the impression that both the PATH/NJ TRANSIT station terminal and the 14th Street Ferry Terminal would run every 10 minutes to accommodate for the closure, Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher notified residents via email on January 30th that there are not as many additional ferries on the schedule as previously stated. Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher has assured Hobokenites that she will be at the station over the next few days "answering questions, monitoring the situation, and continuing to push for better service," as per her email.
Information Sessions
The PANYNJ also organized several informational sessions, both in-person and virtual, ahead of the closure. Public information sessions were held on:
- Tuesday, November 12th at 5:30PM — Hoboken Terminal Waiting Room, 1 Hudson Place, Hoboken
- Wednesday, November 13th at 5:30PM — PATH Exchange Place Station, 2 Exchange Place, Jersey City
- Tuesday, December 10th at 6PM (virtual)
Other PATH Updates
Through the end of 2024, work continued between Journal Square and Harrison stations, necessitating adjusted service levels on most weekends between those stations. Trains will run every 40 minutes on weekends as outlined on the PATH Forward website. PATH is replacing 6,000 feet of track and installing an additional interlocking system, which will improve operational flexibility and reduce the impact of delays on passengers. This new interlocking will enable PATH trains to bypass disabled trains west of Journal Square, allowing for a quicker resumption of service on the Newark-World Trade Center line. Additionally, PATH is completing a sea wall along the Passaic River that will protect the system from future flooding.
The program began with rehabilitation work at the Grove Street station in 2024, replacing floor tiles, patching and repainting work, refinishing platform columns, and installing LED lighting and electrical wiring.
See More: The Best Commuter Towns in Passaic County, New Jersey
To stay up to date, riders are strongly encouraged to use the RidePATH app, visit the project site specific to the Hoboken closure, visit the PATH Forward website for information on the overall PATH Forward program, sign up for alerts, and follow PATH on social media.
More information can also be found on the City of Hoboken's website here.
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