We all remember how fun it was when we were kids and we went to an arcade to play games and hang out with friends. Games like Ms. Pac-Man, NBA Jam, and Daytona USA were always the best ones, hands down. But the only thing that could make these games even better as an adult, quite possibly, is booze. Enter Barcade — a Jersey City spot that combines the best of both childhood and adult worlds. After a 14-year run in Chilltown, Barcade recently announced that its Jersey City location will be closing permanently on June 15th, 2025. Read on for more about the upcoming closure and what we’ll miss about Barcade in Jersey City, New Jersey.
The Closure
Barcade announced on Thursday, February 6th via Instagram that its Jersey City location will be closing permanently on June 15th, 2025.
“It is with great sadness that we announce that our time in Jersey City is coming to an end. After an amazing 14-year run, our lease is ending and the last day of service will be June 15th. We hope to return to JC one day in a new location but in the meantime, we are opening very soon just a short train ride away on Cortlandt Street in lower Manhattan this spring and we hope you will visit us there – or at any of our other bars.
There are still four months of good times to be had, epic kegs to tap, and plenty of Rush songs to play, so stop in and see us before the final last call! JC was the second Barcade we opened and so much has changed since then for us and the city. It’s been a great experience just being here and being a part of it. Thank you so much, Jersey City!”
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Barcade currently has nine other locations in New York City, Philadelphia, Detroit, Los Angeles, and New Haven.
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About Barcade
Not only are the walls filled with classic arcade games at Barcade, but there is also an entire wall of beers on tap. The spot serves only American craft beers, but with a selection that big, there is truly something for everyone. Barcade even partners with certain breweries for exclusive drafts you won’t find anywhere else. If you’re not a beer drinker, however, Barcade has a full bar of hard liquor, wine, and cocktails to suit any palette as well.
The menu includes a selection of small plates, hot dogs, sandwiches, and salads — including edamame hummus, a “Dog of the Week,” and a Jersey Devil Club sandwich with deviled pork roll, lettuce, tomato, and deviled egg aioli on sourdough. You can view the full menu here.
While all of this is certainly why the place gets packed, there is also one other lesser-known feature that is pretty unique, especially for a bar. Barcade is a certified green company, which means that it tries to have as little waste as possible. Barcade composts what it can, straws are not provided, and there are no bottled beers, which keeps down the waste output — not many bars can say they do that.
With a spacious seating area an outdoor seating when weather permits, the atmosphere is laid back and fun — which makes for a great spot to blow off some steam and indulge in some favorite childhood games. Take note though: only those 21 years of age or older are permitted inside the establishment. If you’re interested in playing a bunch of the games during your visit, consider going during the week when it tends to be less crowded. You’ll have no problem grabbing a beer and hitting the pinball machines.
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All About Jersey City’s ‘Secret’ Jewish Deli Pop-Up
The hunt for a delicious Jewish deli in Hoboken or Jersey City continues — and while we've had some luck here and there (hellloo Hank's), there's a new pop-up deli we recently discovered which is helping curb the matzo ball soup cravings as of late. Meet Nana's Deli, a new secret-ish Jersey City pop-up Jewish deli inside of the newly-revamped Harborside building on the waterfront. It's being served inside of The District, which is located at 210 Hudson Street, Jersey City, which recently revamped its menu + cocktails (more on that later). The deli is also providing 50% off in-store purchases for the month of February. In the meantime, here's more about this longtime Jewish deli, famous for its tuna salad, hailing from Livingston, NJ — with Hudson County roots — that now has a pop-up inside of Harborside in Jersey City.
All About Nana's Deli
Owners Marc Dworkin and his son Jason Dworkin credit their Nana Rose, who was Marc's grandmother, for the inspiration behind Nana's Deli. "My father started Nana's, and it was all based on recipes from his grandma, Nana Rose, who was a Jersey City resident." Jason himself grew up in Bayonne, and he quickly followed in his father [Marc]'s footsteps, taking over the family deli business, which was started in 1981 in Livingston.
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The deli is perhaps most famous for its tuna salad. It's a twist on your average — a little bit sweet, just the right amount of mayo, and incredible texture (yes, we tried it).
"Nana’s tuna salad is comprised of approximately 10 secret ingredients that haven’t been guessed correctly in decades," Marc shared previously with us, and noted, “Over the years I have been offered crazy things for the recipe, but I will never divulge it." Jason also shared that as the story goes, when Nana lived in Jersey City, neighbors would bring their cans of tuna over, and ask her to make her special recipe for them. "It's a recipe that's been in our family for years." It's been that coveted that people will Goldbelly it across the country.
Beyond tuna, Nana’s Deli has been serving Jewish staples like matzoh ball soup, brisket, and more for years at the deli in Livingston. In Jersey City, it's a similar menu, served currently through The District at lunchtime on weekdays, which is the restaurant in Harborside (that just launched a new cocktail and dinner menu, btw).
Some of the other standouts are deviled eggs, baked herbal sour cream chicken, poached salmon, and sweet and sour meatballs — all a must-try, but vary day-to-day depending on availability. There is a long list of sandwiches including The New Yorker (pastrami on rye), Turkey Triumph (turkey on rye), and the Hudson Cutlet, which has an Italian twist (chicken cutlet, mozzarella, roasted peppers, and balsamic). There are also sides of potato salad, macaroni salad, fries, and cole slaw.
See More: Hobby’s Delicatessen + Restaurant — A Top-Rated Jewish Deli in Newark
While right now Nana's is found in a pop-up scenario at Harborside, a very credible word on the street is that it may become a permanent fixture at The District's new marketplace — coming soon to the building — as part of a bigger revitalization project. But for now, you can get your tuna and matzo ball fix with Nana's current setup, serving lunch between 11:30PM-3PM inside The District bar/restaurant on weekdays. Nana's is also providing 50% off in-store purchases for the entire month of February — so now's the time to try out all of the delicious eats here.
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