Openings:
Àbákẹ́ Books & Cafe, Jersey City
This bookshop and coffee spot, billed as “literary fourth space,” celebrated its grand opening in Jersey City last month. Àbákẹ́ Books & Cafe is owned by Jacques Peace Thomas, a queer Black woman who is devoted to sourcing coffee beans from regions across Africa, spotlighting authors from around the world and celebrating cultural diversity.
Owner Jacques Peace Thomas celebrates the grand opening of Àbákẹ́ Books & Cafe. Photo: Giselle David/Courtesy of Àbákẹ́ Books & Cafe
While researching her genealogy, Thomas discovered that the name “Àbákẹ́” belonged to the oldest known ancestor in her family tree. In Yoruba, it translates to “to be loved,” which informed her vision for the café: a space rooted in care, community and connection. In that same spirit, ten percent of café proceeds go toward initiatives that build community and emphasize the importance of literature.
Àbákẹ́ is open Wednesday through Sunday.
MŌQA BRĒW, Morristown
This artisanal café soft-opened in Morristown earlier this month. The menu features beverages such as a brown sugar shaken espresso and cranberry orange-ade, alongside pastries like pain au chocolat and jam turnovers. Guests can also customize dessert crêpes waffles and croissants. A Freehold location is expected to follow.
Soulmate Bakery & Cafe, Ringwood
Soulmate is reopening under new ownership. At the grand opening on Friday, March 20, customers will receive a complimentary small coffee or tea with any purchase. The menu features salted caramel cookies, Bavarian cream puffs, pistachio mousse cake and lemon poppy muffins, along with a wide selection of vegan and gluten-free treats. Twenty percent of opening-day sales will be donated to New Jersey-based SAFE House Animal Rescue and Sanctuary.
Closings:
Flight Deck Diner, Rio Grande
After 16 years, the Flight Deck Diner—the beloved spot at Cape May Airport, housed in a former terminal building and located adjacent to the Naval Air Station Wildwood Aviation Museum—closed its doors last week. The decision to shutter came after damage from this winter’s extreme cold, including a burst pipe that forced a temporary shutdown in early February.
Owner Chrissy McMullan is prioritizing finding new employment for her staff and is encouraging locals to reach out to her privately on Facebook with information about job openings.
Dining news:
Joe Tea, the beverage and potato chips company founded in 1998 by Montclair entrepreneurs Steven and Ann Prato, is relocating its headquarters from Essex County to Bucks County, Pennsylvania. The company recently secured a sizable loan from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority to acquire the new facility, where it plans to expand its manufacturing operations.
Abby Taylor Jordan, co-founder of Monmouth County’s flagship Playa Bowls, is bringing a new concept to the Shore with the opening of Bev Shop, a “dirty soda” spot in Bradley Beach. Dirty sodas—fountain drinks mixed with cream, flavored syrups and the occasional lime wedge—have gained a cult following on the West Coast through chains like Swig and Sip City. The menu will also feature lemonades, iced teas, hydration drinks and more. Bev Shop is expected to open in May.
Gnocchi on 9th, a buzzy spot serving piping-hot pasta in Chinese takeout-style boxes, is opening its first location in New Jersey after eight in Manhattan. Construction is reportedly underway on Jersey Avenue in Jersey City. The concept centers on four gnocchi options: alla vodka, black truffle cacio e pepe, pesto and pomodoro. All gnocchi servings are vegetarian, with gluten-free alternatives available, and a few Italian-inspired desserts round out the menu.
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