JERSEY CITY, NJ — As construction workers hopped onto the stools of Boulevard Drinks — an iconic hot dog restaurant in the center of Jersey City — on Wednesday morning, the manager confirmed for Patch that the spot will close later this month. But it will reopen nearby in a different form.
The restaurant lies in the center of the rapidly redeveloping Journal Square area, a once neglected neighborhood that's now seeing Kushner Companies and other real estate giants build residential towers. A Target and several new restaurants have opened blocks away.
So how could one small hot dog shop survive?
Located across from a PATH train station, the 89-year-old mainstay is inside a building that was recently sold, reports said. In spring, the owners were told they'd have to leave.
But because the spot is beloved, fans spoke up, including Mayor James Solomon.
"When its longtime home was at risk, my team worked with the Port Authority to secure a new space and keep this beloved business right where it belongs," Solomon said in a statement last week. "Boulevard Drinks will soon move to a new location on the PATH Plaza ... Stay tuned for news about a food truck!
"I promised the owners and employees, Effie, Victor, James and Salah I would do everything to keep them in Journal Square and I am proud the Square remains their long term home," he added.
The current spot will be open through the end of Thanksgiving weekend, closing on Nov. 29, the manager confirmed for Patch.
Until the last day, you can pick up your hot dogs and beverages at 48 Journal Square.
Read more about them here.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Jersey City Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.