Cashless Café, Now Accepting Cash, Will Expand To Bergen County

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Bluestone Lane, a café that serves up breakfasts and coffee in 55 locations around the country, made a name for itself by going cashless — until New Jersey cracked down on businesses that failed to comply with a state law demanding they accept cash.

Earlier this year, the company's Hoboken location finally began accepting cash. After announcing this summer that a new location will open in Paramus, a company spokesperson confirmed this week that the new café will accept cash also.

"We are slated to open in early 2024," said Vice President for Marketing Andrew Stone, of the location coming to Bergen Town Center in Paramus. "We're excited to have already received countless inquiries from locals who want our coffee and brunch."

He added, "We will be ensuring that we're taking cash in line with regulations."

There are already at least 55 locations of the Australian cafe, including in Jersey City, Philadelphia, New York City, California, and Texas.

The "brekkie" menu ranges from yogurt parfaits to avocado toast to eggs.

New Jersey passed a law in 2019 mandating that almost all businesses accept cash, although enforcement waned during the pandemic. In February 2023, the state AG began fining businesses that didn't comply, even small coffee shops.

Around that time, Bluestone in Hoboken began accepting cash.

Very few business have an exception. (See the exceptions in this story.) Rental car companies and some airport businesses are allowed to be cashless.

The purpose of the law is to prevent discrimination against those without bank accounts or who can't get a credit card, including an estimated 4 percent of New Jerseyans. Experts say that refusing to accept cash disproportionately impacts marginalized groups. (Read this story to find out how you can report a business breaking the law.)

Learn more about Bluestone Lane and see its menu here.