The masterminds behind Orale, one of Downtown Jersey City’s most prominent restaurants, are working on bringing a new restaurant named Madre to Jersey City.
Per a public notice that was issued earlier this month, an application has been filed with Jersey City’s Alcoholic Beverage Control Board to transfer a liquor license to the storefront space at 333 Newark Avenue. The address is home to the 333 Flats and sits directly next to the concert venue White Eagle Hall.
The entity behind the endeavor, HECHO G&B 1 LLC, says they will be doing business as Madre according to the notice. The majority ownership of that company is associated with Alexander Mendelsohn and Luis Alvarez, who launched Grove Street staple Orale Mexican Kitchen in Jersey City almost a decade ago.
Mendelsohn and Alvarez began Orale after cutting their teeth at Rosa Mexicano for many years and opened a second location in Hoboken back in 2019. The pair opened a Morristown location along South Street earlier this year.
Little is known about Madre from a culinary standpoint, although one may assume Mexican-inspired cuisine will be featured on the menu. The liquor license transfer assures there will be libations at the restaurant, but an inquiry Jersey Digs placed to Orale seeking further details about Madre has not yet been answered.
Construction paper has nonetheless already been placed on the windows at the 333 Newark Avenue storefront and the upcoming restaurant will serve a growing neighborhood. Several new developments have opened along this stretch in recent years and the buzz of construction is still prominent along the road.
There’s no word on when the latest endeavor from Orale’s ownership may open their doors, and the restaurant doesn’t appear to have established any social media presence just yet. Madre will be joining the soon-to-open Madame just a block away at the former Madame Claude Bis spot, ensuring the neighborhood will have a strong matriarchy for years to come.
