If you’ve lived in Jersey City for any period of time, then you know Van Hook Cheese + Grocery is a family-operated gourmet grocery serving cut-to-order artisanal cheese and a selection of specialty jams, spreads, and accouterments just waiting to be put on a charcuterie board. We recently discovered that Van Hook also serves grilled cheese sandwiches that make for the perfect lunch to shake up your work-from-home routine. Keep reading to learn more about the delicious grilled cheese offerings at this unique grocery store in Jersey City.
The Road to Cheese
Van Hook Cheese + Grocery is a family-owned cheese shop in Historic Downtown Jersey City. The name comes from a blending of two beloved Jersey City neighborhoods — Van Vorst and Paulus Hook.
The owners, Carl and his wife, Laura, opened a second location in Montclair in 2021, and both storefronts serve up a curated selection of meats, cheeses, and spreads. There are more than 75 artisanal cheeses in the shop, so don’t hesitate to ask for a recommendation.
Read More: A Tour De Grilled Cheese Sandwiches in Hoboken
Grilled Cheese Choices
There’s more than specialty snacks, gourmet groceries, and blocks of cheese at Van Hook Cheese + Grocery (although we also love all of these offerings). This shop also sells made-to-order grilled cheese sandwiches that are great for a grab-and-go lunch.
Order ahead if you’re in a rush, or you can place your order inside the shop. We had to wait about 15-20 minutes when we ordered in person, so it’s not a bad idea to call ahead if you don’t have a long lunch break.
All of the grilled cheese sandwiches are served on sourdough pullman — which, we can confirm, is delicious. Here are a few other picks from the menu:
- Classic — with house cheddar blend
- Bonus: For an extra charge, you can add fig spread, Mike’s hot honey, ham, hot soppressata, or prosciutto
- French Onion — with gruyere + shallot confit
- House Mutz — with housemade mozzarella + salami + pesto
- Duck — with smoked duck breast + raclette + sour cherry preserves
- Hot Honey — with taleggio + hot sopressata + hot honey
- Truffle — with truffle gouda + honey
We recently tried a Classic with Fig Spread, and it was phenomenal. We’ll definitely be back soon to try another combination — eyes are on that House Mutz.
Other Specialty Selections
While waiting for a grilled cheese, it’s not hard to peruse the other provisions — the shop truly has everything you need for an elevated picnic or foodie gift purchase. A well-curated selection of tinned fish, pickles, specialty salts, olive oils, dark chocolate, and more line the shelves.
If charcuterie boards are calling your name, at the counter, Van Hook sells cured meats such as prosciutto and jamon, sliced to order If you want to leave the board building to the experts, Van Hook has pre-made platters — with 24 hours’ notice.
See More: Where to Get Unique Grilled Cheese in Montclair + Beyond
Our Toast to Grilled Cheese
We’re surprised it took us so long to try the grilled cheese at Van Hook, but now that it happened, it could quickly turn into an obsession.
Jersey City’s shop is located at 528 Jersey Avenue and is currently open on weekdays from 12 PM to 7 PM, Saturdays from 10AM to 6PM, and Sundays from 10AM to 5PM.
Weehawken Pool Memberships Now Open to All New Jersey Residents
While we patiently wait for summer here in Hudson County, the Weehawken Township Pool Complex is wasting no time. The public pool, located at 2 Port Imperial Boulevard in Weehawken, is getting ready for the warmer days ahead and has officially released its 2025 season membership details for all New Jersey residents this week (and rumor has it, spots sell out fast). Read on for everything we know so far and how to register for a membership at the Weehawken Township Pool Complex in New Jersey.
2025 Information
The Weehawken Township Pool Complex will re-open just in time for Memorial Day Weekend this year and pool-goers can make a splash as early as May 24th, 2025. After MDW, the pool will only be open on weekends throughout June. The full pool season will begin on June 24th, 2025 with an extended schedule after schools officially close for summer break. Membership is open to all New Jersey residents — registration can be done here.
Read More: Public Pools in Hudson County to Enjoy This Summer
Pool Hours
- Weekdays (starting June 24th, 2025)
- 6AM-8AM: Lap Swim
- 8AM-10AM: Swim Lessons
- 10AM-8PM: General Hours
- Weekends (starting May 24th, 2025)
- 7AM-9AM: Lap Swim
- 10AM-8PM: General Hours
Memberships + Pricing
Annual Membership for Weehawken Residents
- $125 for the adult primary
- Plus $75 per adult in household
- Children under 17 admitted for free when accompanied by adult member
Annual Membership for Non-Residents
- $250 for the adult primary
- Plus $150 per adult in household
- Children under 17 admitted for free when accompanied by adult member
Day Passes
Day passes are non-refundable, must be pre-purchased online, and cannot be purchased in-person. Day passes also are limited to weekdays only and cannot be used on weekends or holidays. Regardless of residency, day passes will be $40 per adult and $20 per child. Day passes will be available starting on June 25th, 2025 and can be used between 10AM-8PM.
Background on the Weehawken Pool
Weehawken’s municipal swimming pool (aka the Weehawken Township Pool Complex) opened in the summer of 2021. The $10.5 million complex has views of the NYC skyline, a water slide, a lap pool, splash pads, and more. The pool formerly only permitted Weehawken residents to become pool members, but after various efforts from surrounding towns without public pools, the conversation escalated and the state got involved.
See More: Where to Find Indoor Pools + Aquatics Programs in North Jersey
The pool had been built using some state funding provided by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Green Acres Program, and back in June, the DEP claimed it wasn’t right for Weehawken to restrict membership after having used state funding. The DEP even withheld $4 million in Green Acres funds for ongoing projects at the Waterfront Park until Weehawken opened its membership to non-residents, per TapInto. It wasn't until August of 2022 that the pool would officially start permitting out-of-town residents to use the outdoor pool. Now, the Weehawken Pool is open to all New Jersey residents.
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