An upscale restaurant coming to one of the Mile Square City’s most famous corners has officially been given a moniker and new images of the design are providing a glimpse into what’s coming to the property.
Last October, we broke the news about a new eatery taking over the former home of Maxwell’s following the legendary rock club’s closure after several decades. The new restaurant will be coming to 1039 Washington Street courtesy of Gabi Lombardi, who has owned and managed Sorellina Italian Kitchen across the street for the last four years.
Construction officially started at the storefront in early January and while a name hadn’t been settled on back then, we unearthed further details confirming that the restaurant would predominantly feature seafood. The name of the restaurant drives that point home, as the endeavor will be called Sirenetta Seafood & Raw Bar.
Sirenetta, which is Italian for mermaid, will be a food-and-wine-focused endeavor sporting a drink menu of specialty cocktails. The overhaul of the 3,565-square-foot space was designed by local firm Nastasi Architects and will alter the previous aesthetic a bit, replacing the trademark blue of Maxwell’s exterior with gray panels sporting a series of bi-folding windows.
A complete repainting and re-detailing of the storefront is underway and the look within Maxwell’s is being brightened up by painting the interior brick white from the previous dark hues. Newly obtained renderings show table, hi-top, and seating at two separate bars including a raw bar on the eastern side of the building. The former music performance space of Maxwell’s is slated to become a lounge area.
The future restaurant was slated to seat about 100 and include a small outdoor cafe section along the 11th Street side of the building, but their initial capacity could be scaled back if they open when some COVID-19 restrictions are in place.
The restaurant will be presenting their updated plants to Hoboken’s Historic Preservation Committee during their virtual meeting on May 4, which will be held through Zoom and can be accessed here or by using the meeting ID 421 943 6513.
