Daylight savings time has arrived with more hours of sunshine every day as spring quickly approaches. It has been another week of news in Hudson County, and we’ve got all the headlines to get you caught up, as we do every week — from all around the internet. Among the local news: Forum Coffee is opening in Hoboken this week; Meximodo is opening a second New Jersey location in Downtown Jersey City; and Abercrombie & Fitch signage was spotted at the former Arthur's Tavern building in Hoboken. Keep reading for all the news in Hoboken + Jersey City for the week ending on March 9th, 2025.

Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected].

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Among the Headlines (read on for the full stories + more):

• Jersey City Restaurant Fest 2025 Runs Until 3/15
• Forum Coffee to Open in Hoboken
• Abercrombie & Fitch Signage Up in Former Arthur's Tavern Building in Hoboken
• Meximodo Opening 2nd New Jersey Location in Downtown Jersey City
• Alessio's to Open Casa Italia Gourmet Market in Hoboken
• Man Barricades Himself at a Dunkin' Donuts in Hoboken
• Hudson River Park Bench Dedicated in Loving Memory of Former Hoboken Resident
• BB.Q Chicken to Open in Downtown Jersey City
• Shaka Kitchen Announces Lemon Blueberry Loaf Collaboration with Hoboken Residents
• International Bagel + Cafe Closes in Jersey City
  

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The Hoboken Girl Sandwich on Alessio's Menu Now Raising Money for New Non-Profit

Photo Credit: Hannah Taub

In honor of International Women’s Month back in 2024, The Hoboken Girl partnered with local restaurant Alessio’s to create The Hoboken Girl breakfast sandwich as a fundraiser for York Street Project, a Jersey City-based non-profit dedicated to helping individuals in need of shelter, food, and education in the Hudson County area. After selling almost 2,000 sandwiches in 30 days last year, it was excitedly decided that our collaboration was going to continue — and will continue to give back to local non-profits, too. This quarter, we’ll be giving back to Hudson County CASA — a non-profit organization that connects children in the foster care system with advocates. Click here for more.

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Jersey City Restaurant Fest 2025: See the 37 Spots Participating

To celebrate all of the incredible food options in our area, Jersey City’s annual Restaurant Fest is back for 2025 and includes over 35 local restaurants to try out. The event kicked off on Saturday, March 1st and runs through Saturday, March 15th. Click here for more.

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Forum Coffee Opening in Hoboken on 3/14

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In this Mile Square city, every storefront is full of history. Pour Amour, which originally took over the location of Empanadas Cafe in 2021, closed its 123 Washington Street location in mid-February, making room for local franchise Forum Coffee to take its place and continue the cycle of change in the neighborhood. Now, we know that Forum Coffee will officially open its Hoboken outpost on Friday, March 14th. Click here for more.

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Abercrombie & Fitch Signage Up in Former Arthur's Tavern Building in Hoboken

Photo Credit: @britttneybarnett

Is Abercrombie & Fitch coming to Hoboken? The question of the hour this past summer — thanks to a few savvy locals who have shared some updates about the brand’s plans to come to the Mile Square. Below is the gist of what is public knowledge about Abercrombie coming to Hoboken, New Jersey as well as an exclusive comment from the realtor who brokered the deal. And yes, it’s coming to the former Arthur’s Tavern location. As of March 2025, signage is up in the space — further solidifying that the clothing brand is coming to the Mile Square. Click here for more.

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Meximodo Opening 2nd New Jersey Location in Downtown Jersey City

 

 

 

 

 

 

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With the abundance of new food spots coming to Hoboken and Jersey City, so far, 2025 has been a year of fun foodie adventures. Those who love exploring new flavors will be pleased to hear that a popular New Jersey-based Mexican restaurant has announced its arrival in Jersey City. Planting roots at 25 Christopher Columbus Drive, Meximodo Cocina Mexicana + Tequila Bar, a trendy Mexican eatery and bar, will open in the downtown area in the spring. The restaurant has another location in Metuchen. Click here for more.

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Alessio's to Open Casa Italia Gourmet Market in Hoboken

If you live in Hoboken and Jersey City, you’ve likely heard of Alessio’s. Founded by Luca Infantino, the cafe made its debut in the Mile Square in 2020 and has quickly become a local favorite for Italian eats and goodies. In recent years, the brand has expanded to three locations in Hoboken and Jersey City — and we recently found out about Luca’s next venture. Enter Casa Italia — a gourmet Italian specialty market. The Hoboken Girl had the chance to chat with Luca to learn more about the new spot, which is looking to open this April at 600 Park Avenue. Click here for more.

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Man Barricades Himself at a Dunkin' Donuts in Hoboken

Police and a county SWAT Team responded to a Dunkin' Donuts in Hoboken on February 28th on reports of a barricaded man. Floyd Gabreth, 30, locked himself in the bathroom around 12:30AM on Friday, Hoboken spokesperson Marci Rubin confirmed. The Hudson County SWAT Team and police were finally able to remove Floyd around 3AM. He was charged with drug offenses, disorderly conduct, and criminal mischief. Marci said the incident was not related to the incident just a day earlier in which a man barricaded himself at the Neumann Leather building on Observer Highway.

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Proposal to Redevelop Parking Garage B in Hoboken Advances

A 40-year-old parking garage in downtown Hoboken could be transformed into a new apartment building. The City of Hoboken proposed plans to transform Municipal Parking Garage B at 28 2nd Street in Hoboken into a mixed-use building earlier this year. The proposal was approved on first reading with a 5-3 vote by the City Council and will move forward to a second reading later this month. Click here for more.

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Hudson River Park Bench Dedicated in Loving Memory of Former Hoboken Resident

Jack Ciapciak recently shared a tragic yet heartwarming story on social media about proposing to his boyfriend at a bench at Hudson River Park two months before he passed away. John DeWitt Lorentzen “Jack” was a former Hoboken resident. He and Jack would go on walks together at Hudson River Park and would visit the bench in front of the LGBTQ+ Memorial and look out to the view of Hoboken. The bench has now become a memorial for Jack with a plaque that reads: “In loving memory of Jack Lorentzen, October 26, 1992 - December 24, 2022. Find out who you are and try not to be afraid of it.”

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The Hoboken Girl Foodie Recommendations Featured on Rent.com

The Hoboken Girl was featured on Rent.com in an article about hidden gems and things to do in Jersey City. Some of our foodie recommendations made the list including Jane Doe, The Alps, Bread + Salt, and Corto.

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Jersey City Craft Beer Fest 2025 to Feature Over 100 Beers

The Jersey City Craft Beer Fest is taking place on March 22nd from 6PM to 9:30PM at Harborside Atrium, 210 Hudson Street, in Jersey City. Beer lovers can enjoy over 100 varieties from New Jersey breweries and beyond. Inspired by Oktoberfest, the festival will also feature live music and food from local vendors. Guests can try as many beer samples as they want and will have the chance to talk to brewers, learn about different beer styles, and discover new flavors. Only people who are 21 or older can enter. Click here to purchase tickets and to learn more.

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Updates on NJ Transit's Plan To Replace Clouded Train Windows

Regular commuters know that no matter what the weather forecast predicts, the commute will typically look foggy due to clouded windows on NJ Transit trains. It’s become a problem with passengers sometimes struggling to figure out what station they’ve arrived at when no announcement has been made. Now, the company is taking steps to clear up the view so commuters can not only take in the magnificent views of New Jersey during their travels but also ensure they’ll be able to see what station they’re stopping at. Click here for more.

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New Bubble Tea Shop, Iroh’s Tea, Opens in Journal Square

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A new bubble tea shop opened at 60 Sip Avenue, in Jersey City. Iroh’s Tea Shop features bubble tea in a variety of flavors as well as milkshakes, smoothies, and more. The owner combines his love for tea and anime to bring something unique and new to the community.

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BB.Q Chicken to Open in Downtown Jersey City

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Korean fried chicken restaurant, BB.Q Chicken, is opening in Downtown Jersey City at 360 Grove Street. BB.Q Chicken was founded in Seoul, South Korea with one simple mission: to serve great-tasting, high-quality Korean fried chicken to the world.

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Shaka Kitchen Announces Lemon Blueberry Loaf Collaboration with Hoboken Residents

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by SHAKA KITCHEN ®️- Island Inspired (@shakakitchen)

 

Shaka Kitchen announced via Instagram that the Lemon Blueberry Loaf for the months of March and April will be sold in collaboration with Maya and Naomi Sims of Hoboken who are debuting their YouTube series Cooks and Hooks. A portion of proceeds from the Lemon Blueberry Loaf will go to Wise Animal Rescue, a foundation selected by the girls.

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International Bagel + Cafe Closes in Jersey City

 

 

 

 

 

 

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International Bagel and Cafe closed its doors at 213 Newark Avenue in Jersey City on March 6th. Per the Historic Downtown Special Improvement District, an Italian eatery from Bayonne may be moving in soon.

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NJMVC Announces ‘REAL ID Thursdays’ Starting 3/20

On Tuesday, March 4th, NJMVC announced the launch of REAL ID Thursdays to help residents obtain a REAL ID ahead of the deadline. Beginning on Thursday, March 20th, NJMVC Licensing Centers will focus on issuing REAL ID, adding nearly 4,500 new appointments each week. This will include added license renewal appointments, where customers with licenses expiring within three months can renew their license and upgrade to REAL ID at the same time, and REAL ID non-renewal appointments, where customers with licenses expiring after three months can upgrade to REAL ID. Click here for more.

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Newark Street Reopens Following Completion of Emergency
NHSA Repairs

The City of Hoboken and North Hudson Sewerage Authority (NHSA) announced via a Nixle alert, that Newark Street and Jefferson Street reopened at 6PM on Saturday, March 8th, following significant upgrades to the combined sewer infrastructure at the intersection of Henderson Street and Observer Highway. NHSA discovered and replaced an existing wooden box culvert with a modern pre-cast concrete culvert structure and installed new pre-cast concrete sewer manholes. This will increase capacity within the system and help to mitigate flooding in the area. Daily updates on construction-related road closures and impacts in the City of Hoboken can be found on the Hoboken OEM X page: @HobokenOEM.

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6 New Spots Coming to Jersey City's Newport Mall

Jersey City’s Newport Centre Mall will welcome a few new businesses in the coming months. From kid-focused clothing stores to a sporting goods chain to new restaurants, we’re sharing everything we know about the new stores that will open in Jersey City at 30 Mall Drive West this spring and summer. Click here for more.

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Hoboken Announces No Arrests Made During LepreCon 2025

The City of Hoboken and Hoboken Public Safety Department announced that for the first time since its launch, there were no arrests made in connection to this year’s unsanctioned bar crawl, LepreCon. Per a City of Hoboken press release, while there were no arrests related to the LepreCon event, the Hoboken Police Department did address a few minor incidents. There were 49 calls for service, 16 motor vehicle summonses issued, four ambulance calls, and zero occupancy violations issued by the fire department, in connection with the bar crawl event.

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Signage for Haraz Coffee House Spotted in Hoboken

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This week, new signage for Haraz Coffee House was spotted in Hoboken. The incoming coffee shop at 89 Hudson Street will take over the former Nest Seekers International Real Estate space. Locals tipped us to the new “brewing soon” signage and a revamped, freshly painted exterior, stirring up excitement. Click here for more.

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New Ordinance Requires Daily Cleaning of Parklets in Hoboken

With warmer weather comes more opportunities to dine outside in Hoboken. A new ordinance passed in Hoboken in February 2025 will require restaurants with parklets to clean underneath them daily. Members of the Hoboken City Council say it’s a push towards a cleaner city. The new cleaning requirements are set to take effect on April 1st, 2025. Click here for more.

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Stevens Cooperative School to Host Women of Color Conference in JC

 

 

 

 

 

 

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With International Women’s Day quickly approaching, we’ve been excited to see the local buzz and events popping up all centered around Women’s History Month. This year, we wanted to spotlight the first-ever Young Women of Color Conference hosted by Stevens Cooperative School, which took place on March 8th. Click here for more.

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FanDuel Opens New Office in Jersey City

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Senator Raj Mukherji (@rajmukherji)

 

FanDuel cut the ribbon on a new office in the Newport neighborhood of Jersey City at 111 Town Square Place, on February 27th. New Jersey has been a home for FanDuel since 2016 and also has a location at the Meadowlands Racetrack in East Rutherford. State Senator Raj Mukherji (D-32) shared on Instagram, “Fanduel is bringing 400 jobs to Jersey City (out of nearly 2,000 in the industry now in JC) and today opened its offices here.”

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The Inheritance Theater Project Brings Playmaking to Hoboken

On Chicago’s South Side and West Side, the Inheritance Theater Project (ITP) is bringing together artists, activists, and local leaders to lay the groundwork for a playmaking process. Per Fund for a Better Waterfront, by fall, this project will culminate in a production that honors the many stories that emerged. ITP’s newest project is in Hoboken, NJ. Last fall, it partnered with the City of Hoboken, Mile Square Theater, Hoboken High School, United Synagogue of Hoboken, All Saints Episcopal Parish, and the Fund for a Better Waterfront(FBW). The stories told about Hoboken and water will be distilled into a performance this spring at the Mile Square Theater.

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Local Non-Profit, Rock the 21, to Celebrate 10th Anniversary with Gala

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Rock the 21 is a non-profit corporation dedicated to celebrating and supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families, as well as fostering social awareness of their meaningful acceptance and inclusion in our communities. The organization is celebrating its 10-year anniversary on March 21st, which also happens to be World Down Syndrome Day, with a Blue + Gold Gala and fundraiser on March 22nd at the Westin in Jersey City. This will mark the 5th gala organized over the past decade. Click here to make a donation to Rock the 21.

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NY Waterway Increases Weekday Morning Service with Third Vessel

NY Waterway has added a third vessel to its Port Imperial and Hoboken 14th Street to Brookfield Place weekday morning service, providing commuters with significantly increased frequency. This additional service was added in response to heightened consumer demand for these routes during last month’s temporary Hoboken PATH station closure.

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Mile Square Mommies to Host Women's Self-Defense Workshop in Hoboken

 

 

 

 

 

 

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In honor of Women’s History Month, Mile Square Mommies and Amazing Truth Society are hosting a free Women's Self-Defense Workshop in Hoboken on March 29th. The workshop will be led by Shihan Ray Rodriguez, martial artist, and founder/president of Amazing Truth Society. The event will take place at 411 Marshall Drive, in the Community Room at 1PM. Those interested in attending can RSVP to @milesquaremommies via DM, as space is limited.

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NJCU Board Votes to Pursue Strategic Merger with Kean University

The New Jersey City University (NJCU) Board of Trustees voted unanimously (7-0) “to pursue a strategic merger” with Kean University at a special meeting on March 5th. New Jersey Secretary of Higher Education Brian K. Bridges, Ph.D named Henry Amoroso as the state fiscal monitor for NJCU back in August 2023. Since then, Moody’s and Fitch Ratings moved the university’s credit rating from negative to stable. Montclair State University had also been considered but did not come up for a vote from the NJCU board.

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York Street Project to Host Gala Honoring Jersey City Heroes

 

 

 

 

 

 

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York Street Project announced on March 3rd its 2025 York Street Project Gala: A Celebration of Hope, taking place on March 27th, from 6PM-10PM at Hudson House in Jersey City. This event will bring together community leaders, artists, philanthropists, and supporters. Click here to purchase tickets or learn more about how to support this event.

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Former Hoboken Police Lieutenant Sworn In as OEM Coordinator

The City of Hoboken and the Hoboken Department of Public Safety announced on March 6th the appointment of Kevin Cruz as the permanent, full-time Office of Emergency Management (OEM) Coordinator. Cruz, a Hoboken native and former Hoboken Police Officer, has been acting OEM Coordinator since April 2024. As head of the division, he oversees emergency response efforts including major storm events, boil water advisories, and power outages.

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Newly Renovated Arts + Powerhouse Building Begins Leasing in
Jersey City

Photo Credit: CPG Interactive

The former A&P warehouse in Jersey City, recently renovated by Kushner Companies and KABR Group, announced the leasing of the Arts + Powerhouse Building at 130 Bay Street. Commercial spaces range from 4,000 RSF to 100,000 RSF, featuring open layouts, up to 27-foot ceilings, and access to a 10,000-square-foot rooftop amenity deck with panoramic views of Manhattan. The building already has Rumble Boxing, Daily Provisions, Spear Physical Therapy, and One Medical, an Amazon company, on the ground floor.

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Hoboken Man Charged with Aggravated Assault + Weapon Possession

The Hoboken Police Department (HPD) announced on March 4th the arrest of 52-year-old Preston Dortch of Hoboken in connection with aggravated assault and weapons offenses, after a weeks-long investigation. Per a City of Hoboken press release, on February 13th, a ride-share driver was returning a cell phone left behind by a passenger. During the interaction, the passenger allegedly pointed a gun at the driver’s head. No shots were fired, and the victim left the scene unharmed after the suspect took the phone and returned to his residence. Preston was apprehended on March 3rd by Hoboken police and was transported to Hoboken Police Headquarters where he was charged with aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for unlawful purpose, and unlawful possession of a weapon. He will ultimately be transported to the Hudson County Correctional Facility.

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