Retail

Hoboken’s storefronts don’t seem to stay vacate for long these days and some of them will soon be filled with a wide variety of new establishments, along with the return of an old favorite.

In a press release yesterday, Trader Joe’s officially announced its plans to open in Hoboken. It will be located in Harlow Hoboken at the southwest corner of Willow Ave. and 14th St. and will be approximately 11,700 square feet. With the announcement came a rough timeline for the new store.

After hearing rumors for awhile, we finally have some confirmation. It looks like the Rainbow clothing store at 145 Newark Avenue will be closing. The space won’t remain vacant for long, though, as the proprietors of Hoboken hotspot 1 Republik will be taking over the space.

In Hoboken’s north-west corner, a transformation is taking shape. The long industrial area is being reimagined as Hoboken’s go to destination. Collaborations between the City and developers are propelling projects in the area forward.

A few weeks ago when we announced Tender Shoot Farm will be closing, there was speculation about a massive rent hike driving the owners out. Now, a new listing has come up for the prime retail space. The 4,800 square foot space spans two levels and is asking $22,000 a month.

As 532 Jersey Avenue finishes up construction, we’ve been keeping a close eye on what will be moving into its retail space. New signage indicates that Smart Start Academy will filling the Jersey Avenue facing storefront.

Two new businesses opened up in Hoboken on opposite sides of the city in the last few days, a week that also saw a long-time establishment revamp their menu, a new restaurant set an opening date, and a beloved bar provide a “teaser” of things to come.

Several completed redevelopment projects in Downtown Newark that included retail space are now starting to see their storefronts fill up, adding some vibrancy to an area long considered a 9 to 5 business district.

Just over a year after opening, Little City Books is ready to expand. The plan is to open what they have tentatively named “Little City Kids” by Labor Day of this year to cater to the many young families in Hoboken.

We first became suspicious when the store’s shelves started emptying about a month ago. Just yesterday we spoke to a source who confirmed they will be closing in August due to a massive rent increase.