The storefronts near Hoboken’s train station that have re-emerged post-COVID-19 closures will be gaining a new neighbor aiming to bring Greek-style eats to a cobblestoned block.
During their October 4 meeting, Hoboken’s Historic Preservation Commission heard plans to revitalize the retail space at 62 Newark Avenue. The spot was formerly home to a Surf Taco location, which closed early last year.
Construction has already quietly begun on the project, which will see the exterior of the storefront painted a dark blue. The first part of the restaurant’s name originates from a neighborhood in Athens that sits in the foothills of the Parthenon in the shadow of the Acropolis, while the second cites the Greek staple of meats and vegetables on a skewer.
The upcoming eatery will be run by Nicholas Babalis and Aristotelis Hartouliaris, who combined have over 30 years of restaurant experience in various foodservice venues. The pair says that they felt Hoboken and Jersey City lacked a good Greek fast-casual concept and decided to fill that void and launch a place of their own.
Plaka Souvlaki promises traditional Athenian Souvlaki, artisanal Yeero, and a variety of other Greek eats. The restaurant’s recipes will use locally sourced meats and vegetables and the Instagram account at the handle @plakasouvlaki has already teased a few dishes that include a Horiatiki salad.
While the restaurant’s menu is not 100% finalized, Plaka Souvlaki will be open seven days a week for delivery, pick up, or dine-in when fully up and running. Planned daily hours range from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., with late-night service to follow on weekends until 2 a.m. The restaurant hopes to open its doors sometime in November.
Plaka Souvlaki will add to an evolving retail and restaurant landscape near the city’s train station. The long-planned Fat Taco recently added a tequila bar to the neighborhood and an outpost of NYC’s Jackdaw is in the works on First Street. Other upcoming businesses coming to the area include a location of Sticky’s Finger Joint, the coffee-centric Pour Amor, and not one but two medical cannabis dispensaries.
