There’s a reason why Torico Ice Cream, located at 20 Erie Street in downtown Jersey City, is a classic part of a JC summer. With delicious, hand-made flavors that are frequently updated with seasonal specials, this family-run shop is one of our favorite sweet stops. If the smell of the freshly-made waffle cones wasn’t enough to lure a person in, the works-of-art ice cream cakes are certainly worth a stop. Now, this downtown staple will open a second location in the Bergen-Lafayette neighborhood. Read on to learn more about the second location for Torico Ice Cream, coming this summer to 1041 Garfield Avenue.
About The Expansion
Plans for Torico’s expansion were announced in early 2021, via Jersey Digs. A recent post from the team via its Instagram showed the storefront, clearly under construction, with a ‘coming soon’ caption. The location is in a one-story building at 1041 Garfield Avenue between Berry Lane Park and The Junction.
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According to Jersey City municipal documentation, the space houses over 3,500 square feet of industrial space and 310 square feet of retail space. According to Christine Berrios, the daughter of Pura and Peter Berrios and the second generation of the family to work in the store, the new facility will have a retail space for visitors, and serve as a production facility.
Read More: Unique Ice Cream Spots in Hoboken + Jersey City
Don’t fret, Torico’s original location isn’t going anywhere amidst plans of expansion. You’ll still be able to scoop your favorite flavors, milkshakes, sundaes, pints, cakes, and pies from the original shop on the corner of Erie and 1st Street. Torico is known for incorporating unique ingredients into the ice cream flavors, homemade waffle cones, custom ice cream cakes, and much more. On any given day, Torico has 50-60 flavors to select from and experiment with, including flavors inspired by the Berrios family’s Puerto Rican heritage like coquito during the holidays.
How Torico Came To Be
Originally opened by the Berrios family in 1968 as a deli, the original concept for Torico’s came from a pregnancy craving for tropical flavors. Shortly after the ice cream was introduced to the deli counter, it became the main reason patrons stopped by the shop. By the mid-1970s, the Berrios family decided to follow customer’s hearts and transition the storefront to focus solely on ice cream. The original hand crank machine used to churn flavors still sits in the shop today. Learn more about the history behind Torico via our feature on the small business during the 50th anniversary.
See More: Kreme + Krumbs: Artisanal Ice Cream Right Here in Montclair
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Who’s Running for Jersey City Mayor in 2025?
Residents of Jersey City are set to elect a new mayor in 2025. Steven Fulop is currently serving as mayor, but announced he won’t seek re-election as he’s running for governor of New Jersey this year. The nonpartisan municipal election will take place on November 4th, 2025. The deadline to file a nomination petition for mayor is August 21st, 2025 by 4PM. So far, six candidates announced their plans to run for mayor of Jersey City. As announcements are made, we’ll be keeping track of all the prospective candidates in this article. Here’s what we know about the candidates who declared they’re running for mayor of Jersey City, New Jersey in 2025.
Disclaimer: This list is for informational purposes only. The Hoboken Girl does not endorse any mayoral candidates. We will be updating this as additional candidates announce their candidacy.
Candidates Running For Mayor, in Last Name Alphabetical Order
Mussab Ali
Mussab Ali is the former president of the Jersey City Board of Education. He is also an education nonprofit founder and cancer survivor. Back in 2017, Mussab made history when he was elected to the Jersey City Board of Education at just 20 years old. He was the youngest elected official in Jersey City history. According to his website, Mussab says his “values align closely with the Democratic Party.” Learn more about Mussab’s background and his proposed plans for Jersey City on his campaign website.
Read More: Who’s Running for Hoboken Mayor in 2025?
Flash Gordon
This 61-year-old Jersey City resident is looking to be the next mayor. Flash Gordon announced his campaign plans on Instagram in January of 2023. Flash is the father of former New York Giants linebacker Jonathan Casillas, according to his social media. He works in the Jersey City Department of Parks and Recreation, and played amateur basketball before taking a job there.
Jim McGreevy
The former Governor of New Jersey is looking to become the next mayor of Jersey City. The democrat was born in Jersey City and served as governor from 2002 to 2004, when he resigned. According to his website, Jim’s focus is on “prioritizing investments in underutilized areas, advocating for tax reform, enhancing educational outcomes from the early stages, and ensuring the delivery of efficient services, Jim seeks to foster a city that not only thrives economically but is also a beacon of opportunity, safety, and quality of life for all its residents.” Details on his plans for Jersey City can be found on his campaign website.
Bill O’Dea
Bill O’Dea was narrowly elected to serve as The Hudson County Commissioner in 1997. The Jersey City native is currently serving his eighth term in office. He previously served as a Jersey City Councilman in 1985 and 1989. Bill also previously served as the Executive Director of the Jersey City Democratic Party. He looks to prioritize improving public safety, making the City more affordable, and creating a more functional City government. Learn more about Bill’s background on his campaign website.
James Solomon
James Solomon is a Jersey City Councilor looking to throw his mayoral hat in the ring for Jersey City. Previously, he was elected to Jersey City Council in 2017. James is a father, teacher, and cancer survivor. His vision for becoming mayor, according to his website, includes, “affordable housing and good public schools, stable property taxes, ending sweetheart deals for developers, and streets and sidewalks clear of trash.” More details about James’ background can be found on his campaign website.
See More: All of the Candidates Running for New Jersey Governor in 2025
Joyce Watterman
The Jersey City Council President is running for mayor of Jersey City. Joyce Watterman tells the New Jersey Globe she’s “committed to listening to the voices of our community and working tirelessly to make Jersey City a more prosperous, inclusive, and sustainable place for all.” If elected, Joyce would be both the first woman and first black woman to serve in office. Learn about Joyce’s background on her website.
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