After closing its original Jersey City location at 356 Varick Street in summer 2024, Ghost Truck Kitchen (formerly known as gtk) will return to Chilltown this spring. The team shared on Tuesday, February 18th, that its new Bergen-Lafayette outpost will open at 295 Johnston Avenue, inside the forthcoming Bergen Hall. Ghost Truck Kitchen has become a popular local eatery over the years, known for its creative and customizable takeout options. Read on for more about Ghost Truck Kitchen's new Bergen-Lafayette spot, opening inside Bergen Hall in Jersey City soon.

Photo Credit: gtk

The New BeLa Spot

While the Ghost Truck Kitchen team had its eye on expansion, various problems plaguing the project have resulted in redirection. First, the original location at Varick Street closed. According to information provided exclusively to The Hoboken Girl in August 2024, the closure stemmed from a variety of building-related challenges that made it impossible to continue operations. The Hoboken location still provides delivery to Jersey City residents. For the time being, Hoboken will serve as the central hub for operations. The team has worked to expand delivery options to cover a wider range of Hoboken and Jersey City. 

Second, the new location at 295 Johnston Avenue inside the 295J Apartments in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood of Jersey City is still in development but will be solely operated by Ghost Truck Kitchen. In June 2024, The Hoboken Girl reported: "While there is no timeline on the opening just yet, a source close to the project shared with HG that Andrew Martino, founder and operator of GTK, “is working on a new model that will help satisfy the neighborhood’s need for family-friendly dining, event space, and great takeout all-in-one space, in partnership with Southeast-based legacy BBQ brand Sticky Fingers Ribhouse.” Sticky Fingers Ribhouse is no longer a part of the development in Bergen-Lafayette, and Ghost Truck Kitchen will be operating the space as a sole proprietor.

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As of February 18th, 2025, Ghost Truck Kitchen confirmed that its new Bergen-Lafayette spot has plans to open this spring, per a press release.

Ghost Truck Kitchen will operate its takeout-only spot within a larger concept — Bergen Hall (more on that below) — and become its new home base. While sharing a large kitchen with the new concept, Ghost Truck Kitchen will maintain its own dedicated entrance, pickup area, and branded presence, "ensuring the same fast, reliable experience customers expect."

“We’re thrilled to bring gtk back to Jersey City with a convenient place, in an amazing neighborhood, for people to grab the variety and quality of our takeout and delivery options” Andrew Martino, founder of gtk and Martino Hospitality, said in the release.

With the new location also comes an addition to the staff. Ghost Truck Kitchen shared that Brant Schweinsberg, a longtime local with 15 years of experience in hospitality and craft beer, will join the Jersey City team. Brant was previously the Beer Manager at the now-closed Iron Monkey in Jersey City, and also worked with New Jersey Beer Company in North Bergen, as well as Departed Soles Brewery in Jersey City.

About Bergen Hall

So, what is Bergen Hall? Per a press release, the space will be a "casual, modern American dining experience" located at 58 Maple Street.

"Whether you’re stopping by for an afterwork drink, enjoying a dinner with the kids, or watching Sunday football with friends, Bergen Hall is designed to make every visit feel effortless and inviting," the website reads.

About Ghost Truck Kitchen

Ghost Truck Kitchen was launched in 2019 at 356 Varick Street in downtown Jersey City. Andrew wanted to serve high-quality takeout food made with organic ingredients. The spot is known for items like its chicken Caesar wrap, wings, and mac and cheese. It also serves a variety of delicious, health-conscious options like salads, wraps, and protein-packed rice bowls. The menu also has gluten-free, dairy-free, vegetarian and vegan-friendly options.

Photo credit: @sayheysocial 

In 2023, a Ghost Truck Kitchen location opened in Hoboken at 1014 Washington Street as "go to kitchen." At the same time, the team announced plans for another location at the 295J apartment building in Jersey City, located in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood. In August 2024, the team announced the closure of the Varick Street location.

Back to Basics

When gtk opened its Hoboken location, the brand underwent a redefinition, moving away from "Ghost Truck Kitchen" to "Go-To Kitchen" as a way to distance itself from some of the negative perceptions surrounding ghost kitchens.

However, with the transition of the original Jersey City location and the evolution of the business, The Hoboken Girl previously learned exclusively that gtk has returned to its original name — Ghost Truck Kitchen. The decision reflects a decision to return to the brand's roots, embracing the identity that first made it a local favorite.

Photo credit: @sayheysocial

The team hinted at the possibility of this via the FAQ section of its updated website, which went live in July 2024, writing:

“When we first opened in 2019, we called our concept "Ghost Truck Kitchen" because like ghosts, no food trucks actually existed in our kitchen. But, we wanted to create a takeout experience that mimicked that of a food truck festival -- where everyone can easily order the best of the best of whatever they're craving. So, our culinary team created a variety of menu concepts that allowed us to serve our neighborhoods in just this way! In 2021, after some confusion around our name and realization that our true customers call us "gtk", we shifted our brand name to go-to kitchen. But, as Jon Bon Jovi said, who said you can't go home, right? Keep an eye out for updates here in 2024 on our updated brand vision for the future. ”

Andrew said, “the Ghost Truck Kitchen concept was inspired by the tastebud overload experience that is eating at a food truck festival, minus the ‘everyone standing in different, long lines’ part – this idea that everyone can find any and all of the unique flavors they could be craving all in one place. But, on top of confusion that we had an actual truck, the connotation around 'ghost kitchens' in the hospitality industry that just any business can pop up out of a commercial kitchen led to confusion around our chef-driven concept.”

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As gtk navigates this transition, Andrew previously shared with HG “the team remains deeply committed to the community that has supported them from the beginning. The closure of the Varick Street location may be a temporary setback, but we’re looking ahead with optimism and a focus on doing what we do best, with a space that allows us to serve more people in more ways."

Follow @hellogtk and @bergenhall for updates on the new space, including hiring opportunities and the official opening date — which has not been set at the time of this writing.

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