Kearny Works, a 20,000-square-foot co-working space, is the latest addition to Kearny Point. — Courtesy: Hugo Neu
By Joshua Burd
A sleek co-working space and new restaurant have opened in Kearny, where a company is pushing ahead with a plan to redevelop a historic, 2 million-square-foot former shipyard.
The new spaces, Kearny Works and Dry Dock Bistro, opened in what is known as Building 78 at Kearny Point, developer Hugo Neu announced Wednesday. The openings mark another step in reactivating the historic, 130-acre property as a modern commercial complex.
The fully furnished Kearny Works space is a 20,000-square-foot facility with 20 shared desks and 50 individual suites, which can accommodate one- to 25-person businesses, according to a news release. Additional features include five fully equipped conference facilities, fiber internet and high-speed Wi-Fi, private phone booths and an expansive communal kitchen.
“Kearny Works reflects our mission for the Kearny Point community: to foster a vibrant, creative work atmosphere in beautiful spaces, and at a fair and accessible price point,” Stephen Nislick, chief financial officer at Hugo Neu, said in a prepared statement. “We think that every company — regardless of size or scope — should have access to a flexible and technologically advanced workspace that puts them in a position to succeed.”
Hugo Neu said it was providing budget-friendly membership options, including free one-day trials, $50 weekly memberships and monthly memberships available at $150 per month.
Building 78 is the anchor of Kearny Point, which is less than five miles from Manhattan and adjacent to Jersey City’s West Side, with more than 2 million square feet of industrial space on the site.
Hugo Neu, a 69-year-old recycling company, is the redeveloper that is leading the project.
In subsequent phases, Kearny Point will include a host of indoor and outdoor common areas, including waterfront park space.
The other new addition, Dry Dock Bistro, is a new American bar and grill located on the building’s ground floor, the news release said. The 2,500-square-foot restaurant serves specialty cocktails, micro-brews, sandwiches, paninis, salads, breakfast dishes and coffee provided by NYC roasters Kobrick Coffee Co.
“Dry Dock Bistro is an ideal complement to Building 78’s new workspaces, as more and more businesses and visitors pass through our doors each day,” Nislick said. “We want people to look forward to coming to work each day and enjoy a cup of locally sourced coffee in the morning, grab a quality lunch, or relax with a drink with friends when the day’s over.”
The anchor building also features loft-style flexible office spaces that are home to a host of creative companies. The four-story property features 40,000-square-foot floor plates with polished concrete floors, heavy floor load capacity and 13-inch-high ceilings, among other features.
