Kosher Style Deli Coming to Downtown Hoboken
Hoboken on Rye will open in January at 164 First Street.
Hoboken's historic Jewish community will soon have a new place to get traditional Kosher style food. Coming in January, Hoboken on Rye will open at 164 First St.
“I always thought there was a need for a Kosher deli in Hoboken,” said owner Jon Blair
The deli will be Kosher style, but will also sell officially Kosher products sanctioned by a rabbi. The deli will feature traditional staples such as corned beef, coleslaw, pastrami, pickles, matzoh ball soup, fresh rye bread and hot dogs, plus a variety of cakes, cookies and candies.
“Everyone loves Kosher delis,” Blair said. “We can't wait to bring this to Hoboken."
Though it won't have any indoor seating, Hoboken on Rye will offer takeout service and catered platters.
This is Blair's first business venture. He is only 23 years old. He studied the restaurant and hotel business at Penn State, and also in France, and previously worked at the W Hotel.
“I figured I love doing this, so why not have my own place,” he said.
For Blair, not only is Hoboken on Rye his first business, but a return to his heritage. His family has lived in Hoboken since the 19th century. In the 1890's his ancestors owned a kosher chicken market on Willow Avenue.
His family has passed down many recipes through the generations, which is how Blair first developed his interest in food. He now wants to continue the tradition.
“I would always cook with my grandmother, that's where I got the interest,” Blair said. “I always knew I wanted to be in the restaurant business.”
Blair is related to everyone who will work at Hoboken on Rye. His mother will maintain the decor, his father will run the cash register, his sister will handle the office, and his cousin will service customers at the counter.
“It's an all-family business, that's one of the best things about it,” Blair said.
Coming soon: an Indian restaurant comes to Washington Street, a spa renovates, and a drum shop celebrates one year.
The Business Beat covers businesses opening, closing and relocating in the Mile Square. Have a Hoboken related business tip? Send an email to alanskontra@hotmail.com.
Mike
7:31 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
I hope they have delicious Gibila potato knishes! There is nowhere in Hoboken to get a knish!
Rory Chadwick
9:08 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
YESSSSSS!!!!!!
Grafix Avenger
10:45 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
Best news ever... please please please kasha knishes! Give the people kasha. The real stuff, made with schmaltz... ooooooh.
Can't wait!
xtreme
10:56 am on Friday, December 9, 2011
Ditto on the knishes!!! I'm excited for the place and wish them all the best. Just a few blocks away too!!!
Karen O'Shea
1:48 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
I am so freakin' happy!!!! yay!
Nora Martinez DeBenedetto
5:54 pm on Friday, December 9, 2011
PLEASE be for real kosher! i love maoz, but we could use another option in town! (no i am not jewish, but i work at the synagogue and there is only so much falafel that one can handle.)
Karen O'Shea
10:24 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011
I see someone read my request a couple of months ago, that Hoboken get a Kosher deli:) And a mom and pop and kids deli delish!
Please please have smoked fish and lox. This really made my day yesterday.!!
Grafix Avenger
10:53 am on Saturday, December 10, 2011
Oh yeah, girlfriend. Those are such nice childhood memories... we'd havea spread of bagels, nova scotia lox, smoked salmon, smoked sturgeon, whitefish, and smoked sable maybe once a week. That stuff was cheap back then.. what is sable like $30/lb now? If you can even find it. Of course it's not the healthiest food, but no one's eating it every day. Oh yum... fingers crossed on the kasha knishes.
QJ201
4:02 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
Does this mean we can finally get a decent bagel downtown?
Karen O'Shea
7:46 pm on Saturday, December 10, 2011
Nora that was funny.
I am not Jewish but I grew up on kosher deli because we had Arak's deli on 8th and Washington . Prior to that we had Singer's supermarket on 3rd and Washington St.which later became Singer Shoprite and morph into the huge chain!!
Always had smoked whitefish and sable and herring in the house. yummo
Grafix Avenger
12:23 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
Thanks for that history, Karen. Mmmm... sable is sooo good. Do you know where to get that these days? Whitefish is still gettable.... just de-bone and mash w/a little mayo... YUM. Do you like kasha?
Donnaor
12:07 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
As I understand, Kosher style will not conform to the synagogue's kosher requirements. It is too bad because this restaurant could do some great catering business from USH, if it was certified. Also I would love if this restaurant could get Kossar's or H & H bagels (kosher bagels).
Grafix Avenger
12:34 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
Great idea about the catering... maybe the synagogue could pitch it to the deli owners. I could be wrong, but I think running a kosher food business requires some rabbinical supervision.. an added expense. Plus, your meat-dairy complete separation. Anyway, would be great if it could work out.
Karen O'Shea
2:48 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
Hi Nancy
No, I 'm not sure about kasha. What is that? I know kashi.......and I have not had sable in a looong time.
Nova lox I get but its packaged not the beautiful stuff you get at Fulton fish market. Very pricey these days too! My dad would buy schmaltz herring and pickle it himself boy , to die for!!
This is the first new deli that I can get happy about cause they will have matzo ball soup and bagels. It doesn't take much to please me these days LOL
Karen O'Shea
2:50 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
GA if you're looking for the best: Russ and Daughters are the best and their quality outstanding.
HobokenDad
6:48 pm on Sunday, December 11, 2011
Mozeltoff.
p1ywood
6:58 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2011
My advice: If they get a steam table going with great pastrami and corned beef, and aren't stingy with the portions, they will have a line around the corner during lunches and late nights.