The line extends around the corner at Magnolia Bakery with eager customers waiting patiently for their popular cupcakes. 

Made with Love Artisan Bakery and Cafe, located on Jersey Avenue in Downtown Jersey City, serves coffee and bakery goods made with organic ingredients.  Organic bakery items at this establishment have a low keyed unique feel and taste.  Not too sweet yet delicate and delicious. 

Corner of Jersey Avenue and Fifth Street. Moving from the Paulus Hook Historic District to the Hamilton Park Historic District.  Originally primarily a take out and delivery pizza restaurant, La Rustique Pizza will now have more seating and allow BYOB.

Mac Ayoubi and Michael Sobsey opened Sobsey’s Produce 18 years ago.  Originally the store was half its current size but as a neighboring flower shop and bridal dress store moved out, they expanded the store to its current size.  Sobsey’s Produce has fine imported foods and organic produce and carries an assortment of fresh fish, such as tuna and salmon. Sobsey’s is located at 92 Bloomfield Street, Hoboken, NJ; (201) 795-9398. Photos taken morning of 1/21/2008.

Top Right: Swiss Premium Yogart by Emmi
Bottom Right: A California Blood Orange

The only bagel store that makes their own bagels in Downtown Jersey City: Downtown Bagel Corporation, 517 Jersey Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07302; (201) 433-8082

The Downtown Pharmacy in Downtown Jersey City has a nice selection of household goods and groceries most of which are at reasonable prices.  Tired of paying $3 for a gallon of water you can buy at the supermarket for $1 just for the convenience of picking it up on the way home from work, then try this local establishment for reasonable markups over supermarket prices.  52 Essex St, Jersey City, New Jersey ( NJ ) 07302; (201) 434-2200

Hansen Chiang owns and operates Liberty Wine and Deli.  He first came to Downtown Jersey City in 1984. Starting Friday February 1st there will be wine tasting every Friday from 6:30pm to 8:30pm. Location: 200 Washington Street, Jersey City, NJ; 201 860 9868

Clifford Rullow originally from Manchester England came to Downtown Jersey City because he wanted to be part of the exciting redevelopment of JC.  He opened LIFE, a trendy men’s and women’s store in September of 2005.  LIFE was named by GQ magazine in 2007 as one of the top 100 best stores in America for men. LIFE has a nice selection of stylish jeans and shirts which are classic basic in design and promote longevity in wear ability. 112 Morris Street, Jersey City, NJ; 201-332-1444

Organic produce store, Subia’s Market, located at 506 Jersey Avenue, Downtown Jersey City, NJ; (201) 432-7639.  Here you will find organic products and home made organic cakes.  Subia’s Market carries a sugar substitute called SweetLeaf which is made from the stevia leaf.  You will NOT find this product at your local Whole Foods.  This product is terrific (all natural) and expensive ($12.99 a box of 100) as compared to other sugar substitutes, but well worth the additional cost.

Light Horse Tavern, Downtown Jersey City, serves blue point oysters or littlenecks on a half shell.  You can spend $25 to $35 for an elaborate entree or $10 for a delicious burger with french fries.  They have a nice selection of beers and wines to boot.  Located at 199 Washington Street, Jersey City, NJ; 201-946-2028

History of the name: Henry Lee III “Light Horse Harry” 1756-1818

Harbor Casino on Warren Street (corner of Warren and Essex), Jersey City NJ 07302 reopens.

Pure organic black mulberry juice by Elite Natural and imported from Turkey, $10 for 32 ounces.  Expensive but most of us would pay that for a bottle of wine containing sulfites as a preservative.

Blood orange soda by Rieme and imported from France.  You can find this soda at The Cheese Store in Hoboken, 720 Monroe Street.

The Harvest Cart in Downtown Jersey City has good, healthy take out dinners, sandwiches and desserts all for a reasonable price.  Only one item on the menu is over $10.  The address is 133 Morris Street, Jersey City, NJ. Phone: (201) 985-1212.

The Cheese Store in Hoboken on Monroe Street run by Chung Park offers fine cheeses and specialty foods, and serves up gourmet sandwiches made with bread from Balthazar Bakery.  I picked up a delicious liter of blood orange juice imported from Italy.