COVID Closes Some Hoboken And Jersey City Restaurants

HUDSON COUNTY — Amid the COVID-19 increase that has forced some New Jersey hospital emergency rooms to divert patients, a few restaurants in busy Hoboken and Jersey City have closed for New Year's weekend, with one saying it's because of "alarming" COVID test results among staff and others saying it's just to be cautious.

The city of Hoboken and several other New Jersey cities have reinstituted indoor mask mandates to slow the spread. READ MORE: Hoboken Reinstitutes Indoor Mask Mandate, With Exceptions

"After a routine testing of our staff," said Battelo, a restaurant on the Jersey City waterfront that had been planning a New Year's Eve party, "we have received some alarming results."

They added, "The decision to close is a tough one but the right one. We believe a key component to hospitality is transparency — we strive to have an environment where guests and staff not only feel welcome & warm but safe."

Meanwhile, Torico ice cream parlor said that "to maintain a healthy environment for our team and community" they're closing for a few days:

In Hoboken, a press release last week announcing the city's mask mandate said, "During the recent Omicron surge, various Hoboken restaurants, bars, and other establishments have been closed by business owners due to outbreaks among staff." The city did not cite specifics.

One Starbucks in town, the uptown Starbucks in the Shipyard, has been closed since Christmas with vague signs saying they are working to reopen. A company spokesperson responded to Patch Wednesday night, saying:

"Our store at 205 N. Hudson Street is temporarily closed and we look forward to re-opening soon. The safety and well-being of our partners and communities have and will continue to be our top priority as we navigate COVID-19. To read more about the steps we are taking to prioritize health and safety, you can visit Starbucks.com/COVID-19."

The spokesperson would not confirm the specific reason for the closing and could not say exactly which day the store will reopen, but that it will reopen soon. READ MORE: Artie Lange's Favorite Starbucks In Hoboken Has Closed Temporarily

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This article originally appeared on the Hoboken Patch