Wattle Café has leased 1,000 square feet at 351 Marin Blvd. in Jersey City. — Courtesy: Kushner Real Estate Group
By Joshua Burd
An Australian-themed café has opened its first New Jersey location, taking space at the base of Kushner Real Estate Group’s newest luxury apartment tower in Jersey City.
The business, Wattle Café, occupies 1,000 square feet at 351 Marin Blvd., in a location that is adjacent and connected to the building’s lobby and steps from a new outdoor public plaza with seating. Expanding beyond two locations in Manhattan, the shop will offer organic coffee roasted by a New York-based Australian roaster and a menu that accommodates keto, vegan and other specialty diets.
“A sizable portion of our customer base are young families who want healthy options for their children, and millennials who are mindful of what they are eating,” said Ana Ivkosic, Wattle’s founder. “At the onset of COVID, we saw a number of these customers from our New York City locations migrate to Jersey City. After conducting research, we found downtown Jersey City had a similar demographic base and identified this market as a terrific opportunity for expansion. The vision of the development team at 351 Marin aligned with Wattle Café, making it ideal for our newest location.”
The news comes around six months after the launch of leasing at 351 Marin, a 507-unit property developed by KRE Group and Northwestern Mutual. The tower is steps from the Grove Street PATH station, in Jersey City’s Powerhouse Arts District, providing a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments and a series of indoor and outdoor amenities.
“We’re excited to welcome Wattle Café to 351 Marin and Jersey City,” said Jonathan Kushner, president of KRE Group. “This forward-thinking brand has developed a unique menu that appeals to a health-conscious customer. Their focus on wellness, along with their commitment to being a contributing member of the community, is a great complement to the lifestyle we’ve created at 351 Marin, both for our residents and for the community at large.”
Designed by Hollwich Kushner and HLW Architects, 351 Marin features a distinctively angled base and a corresponding geometric crown overlooking a landscaped, 4,500-square-foot plaza and freestanding pavilion, according to a news release. Amenities at the building include a 37th-floor lounge with co-working spaces, banquette seating and an outdoor, landscaped patio with a tiered theater and views of the Manhattan and Jersey City skylines, along with a 24-hour fitness center, an entertainment kitchen, and a movie and screening area.
