Part of Sinatra Drive In Hoboken To Close For Dining, Walking

Caren Lissner
Updated ·4 min read

HOBOKEN, NJ — The Hoboken City Council on Wednesday passed the latest of several recent initiatives in town to close a portion of a street for outdoor dining and vendors. The newest ordinance will restrict southern Sinatra Drive, between Newark Street and Fourth Street, to pedestrians during certain hours, allowing restaurants to expand into the street next to their business. This program will run from Aug. 1 through mid-October.

The measure is meant to provide more room for pedestrians to stroll, dine, and shop while social distancing among coronavirus.

The ordinance (which can be read in full here) will also restrict parking on the east side of the street from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

The initiative was one of a number of recent programs to close various blocks in town at different times to allow outdoor dining and shopping (see a list of links to the other programs at the end of the story).

Councilman Mike DeFusco and Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher sponsored the initiative, which runs from Aug. 1 through Oct. 15.

“Hoboken’s waterfront is a destination for hundreds of people each day and it’s critical we do all that we can to create a more pedestrian and businesses friendly atmosphere,” said DeFusco.

On Wednesday, Mayor Ravi Bhalla said, “I’m thrilled the City Council is supporting the city’s efforts to provide additional outdoor space for residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. I’m proud that in just a few months, we’ve been able to successfully implement a number of initiatives including open and slow streets, over 50 parklets and streateries, Summer Streets to close streets for dining and shopping, and now our Sinatra Drive ordinance, all of which facilitate safe, socially distant outdoor activities that enhance the quality of life within Hoboken."

He said, "These programs have also provided a boost to our small businesses, many of whom have been struggling given the limitations indoors. Thank you to Director Ryan Sharp, Kimberli Craft and all City Hall staff, as well as the council for working together as we continue to adapt to COVID-19.”

'Summer Streets' Thursdays and Sundays

On Monday, the Hoboken Business Alliance announced that Hoboken's "summer streets" program would kick off Thursdays and Sundays.

Various blocks — near the train station, on Washington Street, and on 14th Street — will be closed to vehicles those days so that restaurants and stores can sell items in the street, in coordination with the Hoboken Police Department and the city's Department of Transportation. Read more about that initiative, and the hours and days for certain streets, here.

Watch Hoboken Patch for announcements of hours for closing certain blocks. And to keep up with breaking news in Hoboken as soon as it happens, or to get a free local newsletter each morning with local news, sign up here for Patch breaking news alerts and/or daily newsletters.

Here is other recent business and dining news in Hoboken:

  • More than 50 of the city's restaurants opened the week of June 15 for outdoor dining. READ MORE.

  • Some of those have added "streateries" for outdoor dining. READ MORE.

  • Various blocks will be closed to vehicles Thursdays and Sundays for "Summer Streets" business initiatives. READ MORE.

  • Hoboken recently received almost $1.9 million in funding for small businesses, to be distributed in $20,000 grants. Read more here.

  • Hoboken businesses received government PPP loans to help with payroll, rent, and more during the pandemic. Read the list here.

  • Kings supermarkets updated residents on their sanitizing procedures and on an employee who tested positive last month. READ MORE.

  • Two of the city's weekly farmers' markets reopened in June. READ MORE.

  • The city and Patch both have directories of businesses that are open and closed. Check them out and add your listing. READ MORE.

  • Here's what you need to know about applying for unemployment and other benefits during coronavirus. MORE.

  • Read more about unemployment, small business, and other coronavirus regulations and benefits in New Jersey here.

  • States around the country have had to pull back on their reopenings, such as Texas, which closed bars and has seen a record number of hospitalizations and deaths.

Read about Hoboken's recent coronavirus statistics and trends here.

Got news? Email caren.lissner@patch.com. To keep up with breaking news in Hoboken as soon as it happens, or to get a free local newsletter each morning, sign up for Patch breaking news alerts and daily newsletters.


This article originally appeared on the Hoboken Patch