Hoboken Women Business Owners Honored For Outstanding Contributions

HOBOKEN, NJ — Last month, Hoboken Mayor Dawn Zimmer and local bloggers Jennifer Tripucka (Hoboken Girl) and Amanda Morrison (Don't Sit Home) honored five local business owners in recognition of National Women’s Small Business Month.

According to a city news release, the local business owners included:

• Jen DeMarco, CEO of Local Barre
• Meghan Lavelle of Washington General Store
• Arzu, Fusun, and Gonca Esendemir of Flat Bread Grill

“I’m thrilled to recognize these five outstanding women for their contributions to our city,” Zimmer said. “Jen DeMarco, Meghan Lavelle, and Arzu, Fusun and Goncha Esendemir are shining examples of women operating successful businesses in Hoboken. The success of businesses like Local Barre, Washington General Store, and Flat Bread Grill is why Hoboken is one of the best places to shop and dine in the entire state of New Jersey.”

According to city officials:

• “Jen DeMarco, a Hoboken resident and mother of three children, opened Local Barre, a fitness studio that offers a combination of yoga, ballet and pilates classes for women ages 16 and up. She originally opened her fitness studio after moving to Hoboken and searching for barre classes in preparation of her wedding. Local Barre’s fitness classes are offered to both women with and without children. Local Barre opened a third location in Hoboken at the Monroe Center and also has locations in uptown and downtown Hoboken.”
• “Meghan Lavelle is the owner of Washington General, a home and gift store specializing in unique products and home décor. Meghan, a Hoboken resident of four years and a new mother, opened Washington General out of the need for additional luxury gift shops in the City. Washington General often specializes goods based on the time of year or holiday season and includes products such as specialized bags, wine accessories, candles, chandeliers, and more.”
• “Arzu, Fusun, and Gonca Esendemir are three sisters who grew up in Hoboken and started a fast casual Mediterranean restaurant, Flatbread Grill in 2008. They opened their Hoboken location in 2015 and are currently working on expanding the concept worldwide via franchising and company-owned stores. The sisters created the menu and breads based on their parents' recipes growing up. Their father owned one of the first Middle Eastern restaurants in Hoboken in the early 1990s. The sisters live together and work together in owning and operating Flatbread Grill.”

Photos: City of Hoboken

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