Good morning Hudson County! SO much has happened this week in Hoboken and Jersey City — it’s hard to decide where to even begin. Sauced has opened in downtown Hoboken, The Shannon is under new ownership, and an alleged stalker broke into Mayor Fulop’s home. All of this and more, here are your top news stories of the week:
Sauced Opens in Downtown Hoboken
Sauced Hoboken launched their soft opening last Monday at 217 Washington Street, the former storefront of Muscle Maker Grill. The one-of-a-kind sandwich shop is serving DIY-bowls, sandwiches, vegan and gluten-free menu options, all topped with one of their 22 signature sauces. Standout menu items include the Chicken Tikka Masala wrap, The 201 {breaded chicken, fresh mutz, vodka sauce on a wrap}, and the Caulifornia Wrap {roasted cauliflower, red pepper, provolone, machi pesto on a wrap}. No time to stop by? Sauced will soon be available on GrubHub and Seamless…if you can wait that long. Peep more of the inside here.
Ranking of the Fastest Growing Counties in NJ
NJ.com reports that new Census data confirms that Hudson County ranks as the #1 fastest growing county in the state. From 2010-2017, the population grew 9% which translates into roughly 54,000 new residents. Statewide, the population grew 2.4% and is the 11th most populous state in the nation. To put that in perspective, Texas, which had the highest population change, grew by about 12.6 percent in the same time frame.
Hoboken City Hall Celebrates Autism Awareness
Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, City Councilperson Emily Jabbour, and the Hoboken Special Needs Parent Group joined together to dedicate April 4, 2018 as Autism Awareness Day in Hoboken. Among the speakers at the event was Hoboken Fire Captain England, who is coordinating Autism Shield Training for Hoboken first responders. Captain England was inspired to spearhead the training through his relationship with his son Mason who has autism. Captain England stated, “The Hoboken Fire Department is committed to creating a safe environment for all Hoboken residents. With the population of individuals with Autism growing, we believe it’s necessary to create awareness and sensitivity among our first responders. We are dedicated to working with the Board of Education to host POAC Autism Shield Training this year.” In honor of the day, City Hall was lit up in blue lights during the evening hours.
Update on Union Dry Dock
After many days of discussion, Mayor Bhalla, the Office of the Governor or New Jersey, and New Jersey Transit have reached an agreement concerning the Union Dry Dock. NJ Transit has officially agreed to withdraw their bid to purchase the property for a New York Waterway maintenance station. NJ Transit is now looking at another option in Bayonne. Following the decisions, Mayor Bhalla released a statement saying,“I am glad the meeting is being canceled and we now have an opportunity to find a use for the land through an open and public process. It is still my goal to provide a contiguous waterfront in Hoboken, and I look forward to working with the Governor’s office, New Jersey Transit, and New York Waterway to make this a reality and find a reasonable alternative location for the fueling and maintenance site.” A recent poll showed that 92% of Hoboken residents are in support of the construction of a waterfront park.
Car Crashed into Wings to Go
A car crashed into a Wings to Go last Saturday, reports NBC. The crash took place at their 400 Newark Street storefront and destroyed the the front portion of the building. The restaurant was closed at the time and no injuries were reported, aside from minor injuries suffered by the driver. Currently, the Hoboken police are investigating the source of the crash and city building officials are assessing the structural integrity of the restaurant.
Jersey City Craft Brew Fest
The Jersey City Craft Brew Fest is returning to Harborside on Saturday, April 21st. Over 150 craft beers and ciders will be available for tasting. Live music and food from Mozzarepas, Chavas Empanadas, PizzaVita, Angry Archie’s & more will round out the event. Tickets are available online and are $60 for general admission and $15 for designated drivers. All tickets include a tasting glass and unlimited tastings. Session 1 runs from 1:00PM-4:30PM and Session 2 from 6:00PM-9:30PM. Be sure to grab your ticket while they are still available.
Om Sweet Home’s Hello Marketplace
Om Sweet Home’s Hello Marketplace is hosting a pop-up shop at the Celebrate Life Studio. On Sunday April 15th, Om Sweet Home will be serving up selection from the vegan and gluten-free marketplace from 10:00AM-3:00PM. Customer favorites include Hellenic Farms fig salami, Riverdel Fine Foods cheeses, and Graze & Braise prepared meals. For those with a sweet tooth be sure to check out the non-dairy butter alternative, granola, fresh bread loaves and assorted baked goods! Read more about this amazing GF and vegan bakery here.
Northwest Resiliency Park Design Set to be Unveiled
On April 9th at 7:00PM, the City of Hoboken will hold a meeting in the Wallace School Cafeteria to discuss the design for the Northwest Resiliency Park. The future park is the next step in Hoboken’s resiliency strategy and will incorporate green infrastructure and an innovative storm water management system to reduce flooding in its design. The temporary pop-up park, which opened in 2017, will remain open during the permanent park’s construction. If you are unable to attend the meeting, suggestions and feedback can be submitted by emailing northwestpark@hobokennj.gov.
Change of Ownership at The Shannon
For the first time in 62 years, a member of the Wall family no longer be owner at Hoboken’s The Shannon. According to hMAG, the daughter and granddaughter of the bar’s original owners have decided to sell The Shannon citing that it’s time to hand over their family’s legacy to a new generation or Irish entrepreneurs. Luckily, the new owners, three Irish men with varying degrees of ownership, have pledged to retain the name and traditions of the bar. The official transition will take place on April 13th.
Alleged Stalker Broke Into Mayor Fulop’s Home
Jersey City Officers were called to the home of Jersey City Mayor, Steven Fulop, at 7:30PM last Sunday, according to ABC. The Mayor and his wife were not home at the time. 30-year-old Stephanie Espana was charged with burglary, harassment and stalking. This is Espana’s second arrest in connection with stalking the mayor. Espana stated that she did not understand what was happening in the courtroom during her arraignment, so a mental evaluation has now been ordered. The mayor’s office has yet to comment on the situation.
And that’s the latest Word on Washington Street news roundup for your Sunday. Hope you have a great one.
Have any news tips? Email hello@hobokengirl.com and news.hobokengirl@gmail.com to let us know — we appreciate it!
Have you joined our Facebook group yet? Request here to gain access to even more local tips, and connect with fellow Hudson County residents.
