JERSEY CITY, NJ — The owners of CoolVines — a group of quirky liquor and snack stores in Jersey City and Newark — shared more details with Patch this week about restaurant they plan to open in an alley in downtown Jersey City.
CoolVines Founder Mark Censits said that his partners, along with a “team of experienced restaurant operators,” hope to open Maxwell Alley in early 2025.
They recently acquired the lease and assets for the now-closed Gringos bar and restaurant, which has an address on Coles Street, they said.
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Censits said the restaurant will serve contemporary American cuisine.
He described the concept as “an ever-changing, seasonally inspired menu of locally sourced ingredients, incorporating flavor and technique influences from cuisines around the globe.”
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Former Industrial Space
He said the name Maxwell Alley comes from the block-long alley where the eatery will be located. Jersey City contains several thin alleys that were once home to industrial businesses or horse stables.
In this case, the alley was named after Maxwell Rope Walk, where nautical ropes were made at one point in the 1800s.
“The team plans to completely renovate and redecorate the space, originally an auto filling and repair station,” Censits said.
Will Include Morning Cafe
He noted that the restaurant will offer dinner and full bar service six day s a week, and brunch on weekends.
“Additionally, Butler Café, with sites currently inside CoolVines Powerhouse and, seasonally, outside CoolVines’ Grove Street store, will operate a morning café inside of Maxwell Alley on weekdays,” he said.
Renowned Chef Involved
The group described their team in a release:
“Joining the team on this effort is seasoned Chef Alex Tronstad. For the past five years Alex has headed the kitchen at Rivertown Lodge, one of Hudson NY’s top restaurants. There she worked side by side with James Beard nominated chef Efren Hernandez, who was recently named Esquire’s rising star chef of the year.
“Her focus is centered on a seasonally rotating menu, made from locally sourced proteins and produce, prepared with influences from a wide range of global cuisines. Making nearly everything from scratch, including pastas, cheeses, and fermented goods, her work will reflect the bounty of local farms while also accessing the culinary refinement and resources of nearby New York City.
“Also joining the team is Matt Colvin, a former CoolVines employee, who in 2019 opened, with his wife and partner Margie Sobotor, the highly successful Lawrence Park cocktail bar, also in Hudson NY. Matt is a bar industry professional with over 15 years of experience crafting original cocktail menus and leading front of house teams. Specializing in high-concept cocktails with a science driven approach, Matt’s creations have been featured in local, national and global publications, such as The Times Union, Punch and Imbibe. Margie will lead the new restaurant’s professional team as its general manager.”
Maxwell Alley will operate independently from CoolVines, but will utilize the stores’ wine curation team, led by Wine Director Tim Farrell and his network of importers and distributors. They will put together a wine menu.
A Food Scene Grows In JC
Jersey City is experiencing new residential and retail development in every neighborhood. It was named one of 11 “next great foodie cities” in the country by Food & Wine Magazine in 2022. READ MORE: One Of Top 11 Foodie Towns In U.S. Is Jersey City, National Magazine Says
“We are excited to expand on CoolVines’ oKering to Jersey City’s residents with a restaurant that delivers a full array of world class food, cocktails, wine and hospitality” said Censits. “Our goal is to serve the neighborhood as a regular go-to, whether for a casual weeknight meal, a drink and snack at the bar, or a very special night out with your favorite people.
“Along with this city’s other stellar venues like Razza, Corto, Jane Doe and others, our goal is nothing less than to elevate the epicurean experience available in Jersey City to the level of our neighboring city across the river.”
You can find out more about Maxwell Alley here. And do you know of another restaurant opening or closing in Jersey City or Hoboken? Let Patch know so we can write about it.
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