From sweets to nostalgia to ramen noodles, Jersey City has several exciting eateries in the works, one of which will give a local favorite some much-needed space to expand their operations.
The latest addition to The Heights is farmers market favorite Bang Cookies, who just opened a baking factory in the neighborhood. Taking the place of a Domino’s Pizza outpost at 1183 Summit Avenue, the company’s new spot doesn’t have a sign up yet, but the building was inaugurated last week when they made their first batch of cookies.
The bakery, which uses only organic ingredients in their sweets, will have pick-up order service at their new digs and offers free delivery to all of Jersey City and Hoboken on orders over six cookies, as well as nationwide shipping.
Baked goods appear to be invading The Heights, as Choc-O-Pain will soon be coming to 330 Palisade Avenue. The French-style bakery, first started in Hoboken five years ago, is hard at work getting what will be their fourth outpost up and running, which will be a large space that spans almost three full storefronts.
The increased room will allow the latest location to double as a commissary baking and production kitchen. Reps for Choc-O-Pain say the spot should open sometime in March.
Downtown, residents have been eagerly anticipating the opening of Ani Ramen at 218 Newark Avenue, and the wait will soon be over. The Montclair hot spot will be opening their JC location in mid-March, per a representative from Gail Schoenberg Public Relations.
The PR firm says Ani Ramen might have a “soft open” before then if inspections happen sooner. The restaurant, under construction for almost a year, will have a backyard with a charcoal grill for grilling yakitori, a full bar, and will feature both a daily late night menu and lunch on weekends.
The old Union Republic Space at 340 3rd Street is also getting a new tenant. A restaurant concept called FM hopes to open in April this year and will feature 1970s decor with music reflective of the time when rock and roll radio was at its height. The menu will feature classic comfort food from the decade with a few twists, also using locally sourced ingredients.
The group opening FM includes local resident Joe Russo, who also runs a photography business. The dishes at the restaurant will seek to emphasize the balance between creative presentation without compromising simplicity, freshness, and flavor. Interested future diners can sign up for updates at the restaurant’s website.
And finally, a promising enigma at the TelCo Lofts building on 8 Erie Street. Jersey City Upfront is reporting that the retail space formerly home to Bell + Gray is undergoing renovations and appears to be a Korean barbecue outpost. The unnamed establishment is rumored to be owned by Alan Lua, who runs Sky Thai and a few other restaurants in the city.
