Coffee shops are not hard to come by in a place as big as Jersey City. Whether it's in Paulus Hook, Journal Square, The Heights, or any other diverse JC neighborhood, locals are bound to come across at least one spot that will satisfy their caffeine cravings. Something that is a rarity, though, is a coffee shop that also serves as a bookstore and an event space for creatives, drawing in all kinds of people with literary and artistic interests. Enter the newest spot to announce its future arrival to the crown jewel of the Garden State: Àbákẹ́ Books + Cafe. This shop, located at 2 Webster Avenue in Jersey City Heights, plans to open in June 2025 and will be a bookstore, coffee shop, and event venue, all in one. Read on for what we know about Àbákẹ́ Books + Cafe coming to Jersey City Heights this summer.

The Details

Àbákẹ́ Books + Cafe, located at 2 Webster Avenue, will be the newest addition to The Heights' coffee and creative scene come June 2025. This space, which is a "one-of-a-kind fusion of literary passion and distinctive coffee flavors," as per its website, is owned by Jacquees Thomas (aka Peace), a Jersey City resident, writer, and creator of "BLK LIT," a podcast surrounding black literature.

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Upon opening, this shop will feature brews sourced from African regions like Tanzania and Rwanda and provide space for special events and projects, such as podcast recordings and film shoots. Àbákẹ́ will also provide workshops for writers, author events that highlight works from across the African diaspora, and be a spot for local small businesses and creators to host their own classes.

"One thing I love about Jersey City is that there's a lot of entrepreneurship," Peace told The Hoboken Girl. "Because of that, there's an opportunity for learning and for us to share what we've learned and what we're creating with one another."

Peace decided to bring Àbákẹ́ to The Heights community because she felt that the neighborhood needed a "place where people can convene and celebrate literature and art," she told HG. Coffee brewing is art in itself and, according to Peace, it tells a story. "Coffee was born in Ethiopia but has traveled across the world and I want to take people on that journey."

Another reason why she decided to open her business is because she wants to share her love of reading with others. "I truly love being read to and reading to others," Peace said. "There's something special about this form of intimate storytelling, and I believe many people miss it and would enjoy it just as much."

While customers wait for the official opening date, customers can shop a handful of its products on Àbákẹ́'s website. Among the highlights are the Àbákẹ́ Onward Blend, a blend of coffee beans sourced from Tanzania and Rwanda; The Blind Date Mystery Book Gift Set, which comes with a curated book and custom seasonal flower bouquet; and The Coffee Nomad, a travel set that features a coffee cup, bean grinder, stainless steel 600-milliliter kettle, glass sharing pot, coffee filter, travel case, and bag of the Àbákẹ́ Onward Blend.

About Àbákẹ́

For Peace, the shop as well as its name carries profound personal meaning. While doing research into her genealogy, she discovered that "Àbákẹ́" is a name that can be traced to the oldest known family member in her ancestry. It also translates to "To be loved" in Yoruba.

The history behind this new spot is a "powerful alignment of heritage and purpose," which "inspired the creation of a community-driven haven, one that honors both her roots and the shared connections between people," according to its website.

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Hours

Àbákẹ́ will be open Tuesday to Friday from 8AM to 7PM and Saturday and Sunday from 9AM to 3PM. While the coffee shop will be closed on Mondays and the majority of Sundays, it will accept pickup orders over $25.

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