One of Downtown Newark’s main business districts has welcomed a new coffee, breakfast and lunch spot as a Brick City local has realized her dream with the opening of Sweet Jeans.
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Audible CEO Bob Carrigan, Invest Newark CEO Marcus Randolph, and other local government and corporate leaders recently cut the ribbon for the specialty café, which is situated at 494 Broad Street just down the road from Tinjune.
Sweet Jeans offers elevated breakfast and lunch fare, espresso drinks, locally inspired specials, and variety of community events.
The business comes courtesy of Chopped contestant and Newark native Michele Vaccari Harriott and her business partner Victor Soldano. Sweet Jeans is the first retail business to be supported by Audible’s Business Attraction Program and the first recipient of the City’s and Invest Newark’s Retail Reactivation Initiative, which all aim to facilitate inclusive economic development in Newark.
The espresso bar portion of Sweet Jeans offers unique options like a cinnamon honey or tiramisu spin on a latte, while their breakfast menu consists of a variety of egg and cheese sandwiches.
Their lunch menu offers classics like turkey and brie, a B.L.T. or their signature “The Sangweech,” which is served on focaccia with sopressata, mortadell, proscuitto, greens, olive oil, and a balsamic glaze. Rotating specials have already started at the restaurant just days after their launch.
Sweet Jeans will also be hosting “latte 101” classes with baristas designed to inform attendees how to make their own drinks to perfection and better understand the brewing process.
The café is currently open from 7 a.m. until 4 p.m. daily and can be followed on Instagram at the handle @sweetjeanskitchen for further updates.
