City Partners With Local Business Owners

Why go to a mall when you have so many shopping options right here in Hoboken?

That's the question Mayor Dawn Zimmer and several local business owners tried to answer on Monday morning as they announced "Shop Hoboken," an initiative to encourage people to spend their dollars locally.

On June 11 and June 12—just in time before father's day—36 local shops are participating in the event, which the mayor said she hopes is the first of many initiatives to help the local economy. During those two days, the city will provide free shuttles around Hoboken to make it easier to visit shops in different parts of town.

"The stores we have in Hoboken," Zimmer said at Anastasia's accessories on Monday morning, "make up the fabric of the city."

Zimmer said that for every $100 spent in local shops, $68 stays in the local economy.

Zimmer said she also wanted the many out of towners who stand in line for Carlo's Bakery to walk around the city, shop locally and enjoy everything the town has to offer.

"We're encouraging them to experience Hoboken in full," Zimmer said.

Anastasia Kamper, owner of at 88 Garden St. said the initiative was thought of by several small business owners in town. As part of the event, Anastasia's is offering a free surprise gift with every purchase and 15 percent off all merchandise.

The event is also supposed to get people off of Washington Street and on to the side streets, where many other shops are located.

Abbe Rivers, owner of located on Bloomfield and Fourth Streets, said she was based on Washington Street for ten years, before high rent forced her to move. Still, she said, people come to Empire Coffee, regardless of the local starbucks and Dunkin' Donuts.

"We're the real deal," said Rivers, who has owned Empire Coffee for 17 years.