The ice cream scene in Downtown Jersey City is getting a serious addition with the arrival of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Shop at 347 Grove Street. The well-known ice cream shop is taking over the empty spot which was once home to the Borinquen Laundromat. Signage was put up in June, and now Van Leeuwen shared with The Hoboken Girl that it will officially open up on Thursday, August 8th. This will be the popular ice cream chain’s second New Jersey location, with the first being in the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford. Read on for more details about Van Leeuwen Ice Cream Shop coming to Downtown Jersey City soon.
The Announcement
Downtown Jersey City non-profit @hdsid_jc announced via Instagram on Monday, October 16th, 2023 that Van Leeuwen would be opening in the downtown area.
“BIG NEWS! Van Leeuwen Ice Cream just signed the lease at 347 Grove Street in Historic Downtown Jersey City,” @hdsid_jc shared, noting that Grid Real Estate had been the brokerage firm closing the deal. A press release also shared that “Emily Green of Brand Urban co-represented the tenant in the transaction alongside Jason Kastner of Dochter + Alexander Retail Advisors, Van Leeuwen’s master broker.”
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Read More: Unique Ice Cream Spots in Hoboken + Jersey City
Behind Van Leeuwen
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream of New York City was founded as a food truck in 2008. The brand is famously known for its artisanal ice cream made with high-quality ingredients. The brand was founded by brothers Pete and Ben Van Leeuwen and Laura O’Neil. The team has a goal of having 40 shops nationwide by 2024. Ben was inspired by the classic frozen treats of childhood, as he worked for several summers on an ice cream truck. The brand was founded on the premise of making really good flavors with high-quality ingredients.
In addition to the creamy classics, fans also like Van Leeuwen for its vegan products. As any vegan or vegetarian will attest, the imitations are often a disappointment compared to the original. However, Van Leeuwen has several vegan options and three different vegan bases: coconut milk, oat milk, and cashew milk. The vegan selections are a smaller portion of the menu than the conventional choices, but the flavors are no less interesting. Flavors like vegan cookies and cream caramel swirl and vegan strawberry shortcake mean that vegans and vegetarians aren’t shut out of the frozen fun. There are even vegan ice cream sandwiches available in four different flavors.
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With its variety of unique flavors from Honeycomb, Earl Grey Tea, and Vegan Cookie Crumble, Van Leeuwen has made a name for itself in the world of gourmet frozen desserts. The simple aesthetic of the brand’s tubs in the freezer section of the grocery store doesn’t give anything away about what creative concoctions lie inside. The first storefront opened in Brooklyn, and now there are stores across America. The frozen treats can also be found in grocery stores nationwide, and are available for shipping nationwide.
Van Leeuwen’s Arrival in JC
The opening of Van Leeuwen represents a tasteful addition to Jersey City’s expansive culinary landscape with vegan and dairy-free options. Preparations were underway in October 2023, with the establishment signing a lease at 347 Grove Street, formerly Borinquen Laundromat’s location.
It was previously confirmed that the ice cream shop would open its doors sometime in spring 2024, signage was put up in the space as of June 2024, and we now know that Van Leeuwen will open up on Grove Street on Thursday, August 8th, 2024. The grand opening hours that day will be 11AM-12AM, and will include deals like $1 scoops from 11AM-1PM, and free totes for the first 100 customers. See the full post below.
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The addition of Van Leeuwen means that Jersey City residents and visitors will have another sweet spot to visit downtown. Other frozen treat vendors within a short walk of Van Leeuwen include Torico (which recently announced the opening of a second storefront in Bergen-Lafayette), Downtown Yogurt, Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices, and Milk + Cream Cereal Bar.
See More: There’s a Hidden Milkshake Spot on Bloomfield Avenue in Verona
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Is Sticky’s in Hoboken Closed?
New York-based fried chicken restaurant, Sticky's, made its debut at 112 Washington Street in Hoboken back in March of 2022. Known for its wings, tenders, and other chicken dishes, the restaurant quickly became popular amongst Hoboken locals. Now in 2025, locals have been wondering if Sticky's has closed its Mile Square outpost for good after noticing that the restaurant has been closed during typical business hours. While The Hoboken Girl cannot confirm the permanent closure of Sticky's at this time, we're sharing what we know so far. Read on for more about Sticky's and its possible closure in Hoboken, New Jersey.
What's Going on With Sticky's in Hoboken?
Eagle-eyed Hoboken Girl readers took to our Hoboken Girl Insiders Facebook group on Monday, February 10th to ask if Sticky's in Hoboken was closed permanently.
"Just curious, I passed by stickies and it's closed..."
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Locals almost immediately chimed in with similar findings, with a handful saying that the chicken restaurant was closed for good. Usual business hours are from 12PM-10PM on Mondays, but one reader mentioned it was closed on the evening of February 10th when it is usually open.
Another HG reader reached out to us via Instagram, saying "I went to sticky's on Super Bowl Sunday and they told me to take extra sauces because it's their last day!"
The online ordering feature for the Hoboken location is also not working as of this writing.
Upon further investigation, Sticky's declared bankruptcy back in April 2024 due inflation from the COVID-19 pandemic and legal challenges, per Restaurant Business Magazine — with multiple other outlets reporting the same thing.
Just two days ago, a post in the AskNYC SubReddit said that all Sticky's locations would be closing, effective on Sunday, February 9th, 2025.
As of this writing, we cannot confirm that Sticky's in Hoboken is permanently closed. The Hoboken Girl has reached out to Sticky's and this post will be updated with any further information.
About Sticky's
Sticky's opened in the former Cluck-U location at 112 Washington Street back in March 2022, marking its first Hudson County location.
The eatery has several mouthwatering specialties that keep customers coming back. The chicken and waffles is an indulgent mix of bite-sized waffles and the restaurant's famous chicken poppers tossed with its signature waffle sauce, crushed red pepper, and graham crackers. The chicken poppers are one of the mainstays at Sticky’s, but it’s really known for its chicken fingers. These crispy tenders can be ordered as-is or in a wide variety of styles. Sticky’s also serves up delectable sandwiches, wraps, and salads featuring the signature gourmet chicken.
See More: Where to Get the Best Chicken Caesar Wraps in Montclair + Beyond
But some don’t even come to Sticky’s for the chicken — the decadent fries too have their own devoted following and are served in a variety of flavors like Cajun, truffle Parmesan, and more.
This post will be updated with any further details regarding the future of Sticky's in Hoboken. For now, follow @thehobokengirl on Instagram + TikTok to stay in the know with all of the local news, sign up for our weekly newsletter here, and check out our events calendar.
