North Bergen has a gorgeous new full-service hair salon. Mayor Nicholas Sacco, accompanied by Commissioners Hugo Cabrera and Julio Marenco and Freeholder Anthony Vainieri, cut the ribbon on at the grand opening of The Hair Den at 9025-27 River Road.
Monique Fitzgerald, who spent the last six years as a hairstylist in Hoboken after shedding her first career as an accountant, put 16 month into completely gutting and rebuilding the interior of The Hair Den along with her husband Sharif Elsaid, and the care they put into the place shows in its beautiful design and amenities.
A native of the area and the daughter of a hair stylist, Fitzgerald always dreamed of opening her own salon here, and when she spotted the available location in her old “stomping ground,” she jumped at the chance.
The Hair Den offers all services for men, women, and children, including cutting, coloring, extensions, and much more. Call 201-282-2020 or email thehairden925@icloud.com for an appointment.
Mayor Nicholas Sacco welcomed another great business to our community on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 with an official ribbon-cutting at Magnolia’s Salon & Spa.
Located at 9252 Kennedy Boulevard, Magnolia’s offers a huge selection of options for health and beauty treatments, including massages, facials, hair services, nail care, waxing, and foot care. Coming soon are a sauna and body scrub.
Owner Magnolia Arango hails originally from Colombia, where she began her studies in holistic treatments. She continued her studies in the U.S., where she obtained her licenses in cosmetology and massage therapy, and opened her first spa in Edgewater, before moving to North Bergen to embrace its cultural diversity. Her beautiful Kennedy Boulevard location was designed in consultation with a feng shui specialist in order to be elegant, comfortable, and inviting.
Commissioners Julio Marenco and Hugo Cabrera were joined by Freeholder Anthony Vainieri and a group of employees, friends, and supporters to help cut the ribbon and launch the new business.
Magnolia’s is open seven days a week with a staff of five professionally trained employees eager to pamper customers and offer them an optimal spa experience. For more information visit http://www.magnolia-salonspa.com or call 201-917-5529.
Two warehouses in North Bergen occupied by global fashion industry distributor Bergen Shippers are being refinanced with $51.5 million from JPMorgan Chase, according to the Commercial Observer.
Cushman & Wakefield equity, debt and structured finance experts John Alascio, Mark Ehlinger and T.J. Sullivan arranged the debt for Bergen Shippers, along with industrial leasing specialist Bonni Heller.
The outlet reported that JPMorgan provided $44 million via a 10-year loan to refinance separate mortgages on industrial properties totaling 730,000 square feet at 5903 Westside Avenue and 7300 Westside Avenue in North Bergen. Cushman said 5903 Westside, a 600,000-square-foot fashion logistics center for Bergen Shipping’s Bergen Logistics, was built in 1987 for Liz Claiborne. The financing includes a $7.5 million line of credit.
The establishment that once brought droves of leather jackets and Harley Davidsons to midtown North Bergen officially closed their doors on December 21st, 2018.
Jimmy D’s Blues Saloon was purchased in 1991, and built its reputation as a fun, neighborhood dive bar. But after 25 years, the owner put the building up for sale.
Realtor (and occasionally Jimmy D’s bartender) Vienna Bello facilitated the sale of the property, however, after 4 years on the market the Blues Saloonwas still up for grabs.
Bello, a lifelong Hudson County resident, decided to take a chance on the bar and re-open as “Hudson Burger & Beers.”
Why burgers?
“Before Jimmy D’s, the bar was named Ray’s Old Mill Tavern, and they were known for their burgers and cherry bombs,” says Bello. “I thought it would be great to bring that back to the neighborhood.”
Vienna says she is putting a lot of emphasis on building as a community.
“We are going to purchase our meat from Pat LaFrieda, our buns from Hudson Bread, and our beer from NJ Beer Co. All North Bergen based companies.”
“Please join us as we celebrate over 25 years of memories one last time as Jimmy D’s Blues Saloon,” Bello invites the public. “Complimentary buffet style food provided while it lasts. Bring your cameras. Look forward to seeing you there!”
There’s a new spin on dog care right here in North Bergen. Pawtanicals offers organic soaps and DIY pet washing with special ergonomically designed basins and equipment.
Local residents and co-owners Daniela Salazar and Eric Fernandez first got the idea when they adopted Tank, an English Bulldog, only to discover he had skin problems. With her background in chemistry and biology, Salazar crafted a special organic soap that eased his issues, then expanded the line to include options like Charcoal Mint and Chamomile Lavender, selling them successfully at local flea markets and online. That led to opening their own “salon” in North Bergen, catering specifically to the health and well-being of local canines.
The facility is designed to be user-friendly – “user” meaning both humans and pets – with amenities like a handicap-accessible ramp for disabled dogs, and features like discounts for service members and for newly adopted animals, with every tenth wash free.
Mayor Nicolas Sacco cut the ribbon officially welcoming them to the neighborhood on Friday, Jan. 25, 2019 accompanied by Freeholder Anthony Vainieri and Commissioners Allen Pascual and Julio Marenco. Numerous local pet-owners joined in the celebration and booked their first visits.
The township’s latest hotel is being proposed for a property located just north of Route 495 that faces both Paterson Plank Road and Tonnelle Avenue/Routes 1 and 9. A legal notice that was issued at the beginning of November states that the building would be 12 stories tall, making it one of the tallest structures in the immediate vicinity. 198 guest rooms would be included in the hotel along with two automated parking garages, according to the notice.
A rendering posted by Manhattan-based MSP Engineering, Inc. shows that the 165,000-square-foot project is being designed by PMI Architectural Services. The drawing also includes plans for a green roof and deck.
An upcoming development in North Bergen will be among the tallest buildings along the entire Bergenline Avenue corridor.
An 11-story building has been approved by the North Bergen Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) for 8619 Bergenline Avenue, between 85th Street and 87th Street. 8619 Holding Company, LLC received Preliminary and Final Site Plan approval with variances such as use, density, and height, according to a recent legal notice. The development is expected to include 135 residential units, with 50 being studios and 50 containing one bedroom. The rest of the units would be two-bedroom apartments.
My name is Gregg Ascolese and let me start off by saying I am not a food critic or a writer. I was asked by James de los Santos, HudPost publisher, who is a friend and former football player on the team that I coach in the early 2000’s. James, or as I call him ‘MJ’, asked me to write a top five or 10 pizzerias in North Bergen list.
This I feel is a loaded question but I am honored.
My experience is based on a show I hosted on Facebook Live called Pizza Time. The show was about Pizza and Love, produced by Chris DePierro. It was also co-hosted with a slew of friends and relatives.
I would love to rip the Band-Aid off and drop 5 places but it goes much deeper than a rating.
I can just try from a year of shows what I gathered.
North Bergen is a strange demographic that’s always changing. The cliché term would be a melting pot. It gets even deeper than that. People from “the Berg” speak of cardboard ice teas, chicken calzones, shrimp sandwiches with swiss, lettuces, tomato, oil and vinegar on a hero role gutted, Rustico salads, spicy mussels, chicken and meatball parms, a number 2 in the oven, Sicilian square and round.
Let’s not forget about the beverages! Soda, cardboard containers held together with a clip, Coke, Diet Coke, some carry Nestle, and some carry Snapple. They had pizza boxes that had a discount cut out to get you a free 12th pie. Just when you thought it couldn’t get better…Some had little doll house tables keeping the box off the cheese.
People from big companies try to smash the Mom and Pops, and I wish I could tell you that they all stood the test of time, but they didn’t. Dominos had a thirty-minute delivery or half off. Pizzeria Uno had breadsticks. I never went to a Little Caesar’s maybe because “The Berg” didn’t have one.
We North Bergenites might have been misled for a second but that didn’t let us fall for the nonsense. We knew what frozen taste like and if we didn’t know, we know now. After the haze of processed cheese, and sausage that looked like rat-turds wore off. We went back to good people who make good food. Unfortunately, by then we lost a few. Sad, but some weathered the storm here in “the Berg” and some didn’t. Not saying they all fell for that reason but like people in “The Berg,” we all have flaws. That being said with every action comes a reaction.
Head towards Kennedy towards 86st Roma’s on opposite side. Our show Pizza Time revealed that it was the favorite of everyone in the Berg. The chicken calzone can’t be explained and I wouldn’t even try. Pizza and soups are great. They have a few different items you wouldn’t find anywhere else; strambone, spinach and cheese calzone. Still no parking but a great delivery place. Be prepared to wait at least 55 minutes but it’s worth it!
Now we’re rolling along to 79th and Bergenline is a Neopolitan Pizzeria Restaurant called Trattoria La Sorrentina ; I call it the freshness nightlife movement.
I can dazzle you and pretend I know what I’m talking about but we are from North Bergen and you will see right through it.
We can call it Napolitano, which has subsidiaries like margarita, margarita extra, marinara, coal burning, wood burning. Less carb more freshness. La Sorrentina is a great place but way better food then Pizza. Always packed which is good but I drive by. I would recommend a family gathering with mussels and wine. Everything is great but the crowd. Pizza is amazing for pick up and the owners are wonderful.
Then I drive down Bergenline towards Gandolfo’s. Wow! Bread pasta dishes, penne vodka, chicken and broccoli cavatelli, and special garlic bread!
I drive by and down 77th to Broadway make a right and look in on Aumm Aumm, parking sucks and the lights burn your eyes but if I ever wanted to eat outside this is your place. I don’t so it doesn’t matter to me. The Art Deco chairs are tight and sharp but the crowd is cool. Great food but sometimes the specials aren’t priced and you get buried for a piece of Salmon. The Antipasto is fresh and if you go around 5 o’clock they put out awesome apps for the patrons. The pizza has a lot to offer and the atmosphere is amazing. Owners and staff are the best and it’s a fun experience. You can double park which gives it a neighborhood feel.
I keep driving down Broadway towards Palermo’s but once again parking sucks. I like the food but it’s better to order delivery. They have a bar with no footrest which hurts but they have a side dining area but the young waitresses forget you are in there. Great New York pizza and Rustico salad. Soups are off the hook! Stracciatella in particular.
But I keep driving I make a left on 72st and head back up Boulevard East to Bulls Ferry Road. Head down towards the river to another Napolitano Pizzeria called Porto. Nice little-hidden spot on old River Road (they make 13-inch pizzas which helps you not overeat.) Again great owner and courteous staff when they can speak the language. It’s Italian but they have some Latin spicy foods. Easy to find parking and a very friendly place. Not a big menu but a quality menu. Perfect to chill and relax and forget you are in “the Berg” if you’re looking to hide.
When it’s still nice out and want to keep driving I turn around and drive River Road to about 60st street and head up to Bergenline Avenue towards our West New York cousins and go to Sal’s Pizzeria. Bar in the back and the chicken marsala over capellini is insane. Mostly find North Bergen people there and the West New York people are aces. Everything on the Menu is good. Lots of parking in the back but the numbers in the spots are worn away so you need to count down from ones you can see. Besides that, you won’t be disappointed.
So there it starts at 91st Angelos then drive to Kennedy Blvd 86st Roma’s then make a left on 79st to Losorentinos then stay on Bergenline to see Gandopho quick left down 78st then a right on Broadway and check out Aumm Aumm the go three blocks up and see Palermo’s then a left towards Blvd east down Bulls Ferry and a left on River Road towards Porto which is an old Fire House. Then if it’s still nice out go to Sal’s on 61st Bergenline.
But if it is a list that you insist on…in no particular order;
‘The Mansion on the Cliff’ sold for a whopping $1,200,000.00.
This 6-bedroom, 4400 square foot house sits high atop the Woodcliff section of North Bergen with unobstructed views of Manhattan. The price tag on this property makes it the most expensive family home in North Bergen.
“The sale of this property was a win for North Bergen. This puts us on the map with cities like Jersey City and Hoboken,” says Pharoah Lozano, the real estate agent who organized the sale. “North Bergen is better than most places in the county. We have the best schools, parks, DPW, and stable taxes. I think people are starting to notice.”
Lozano, who works under Keller Williams Realty, is a North Bergen High alumnus who played on the state champion Bruins football team of 1997.
Local diners have a great new option for exotic cuisine, with the Ethiopian restaurant Ghenet (meaning “heaven”) now open at 7312 Broadway. Mayor Nicholas Sacco joined the ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, June 6 along with County Executive Thomas DeGise, Freeholder Anthony Vainieri, Commissioner Julio Marenco, and a crowd of supporters and neighbors.
“Where angels eat,” is the motto of the restaurant, which serves a wide variety of traditional Ethiopian dishes, both with meat and from an extensive vegetarian selection. Owner Yeworkwoha Ephrem, 72, emigrated to the U.S. during the Ethiopian civil war of 1974. She worked for many years at the United Nations before retiring and opening her first Ghenet Restaurant in Manhattan in 1998, moving it to Brooklyn 10 years later.
A 20-year resident of North Bergen, Ephrem is bringing Ghenet to her hometown. Purchasing a former hardware story in 2016, she remodeled it into an inviting eatery and installed a kitchen downstairs to prepare healthy, affordable cuisine.
Ethiopian food, she explains, is notable for its unique spices and cooking methods. “Once you taste it,” she says, “you’ll crave it.”
Hudpost 