Beloved North Jersey hot dog spot may close. But there's a wrinkle
Beloved North Jersey hot dog spot may close. But there's a wrinkle
Ricardo Kaulessar, NorthJersey.comThu, May 7, 2026 at 11:27 PM UTC
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People lined up at the window and took up the small number of seats of the Boulevard Drinks hot dog stand on Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City on a Wednesday afternoon.
They were putting in orders for their favorites. One dog with sauerkraut and sweet onion toppings, a potato knish with mustard on the side, and a lemonade. Two spicy sausages with the homemade chili-onion sauce on top and a pina colada drink.
There wasn't a special sale or promotion that brought customers in droves. Rather, it was going-out-of-business-ish for one of the city's oldest restaurants.
The restaurant that has operated in the city's Journal Square area since 1937 has to close up shop before the end of May to make room for a 55-story tower with 840 residential units and a Whole Foods on the ground floor.
The Jersey City hot dog stand, Boulevard Drinks, which has been in business in the city's Journal Square section since 1937, is on the verge of closing by the end of May.
Victor Victoratos, 62, who manages the business, which has been in his family since 1979, said that while the current owner of the building gave notice on April 27 that Boulevard Drinks has 30 days to leave, there's a lease that keeps it in the space until 2034 that existed under the previous owner of the building. And he would like to stay here a little longer.
"There's going to be a problem between the old owner and the new owner. We're just caught in the middle," Victoratos said during an interview at the restaurant on May 6. "We're told to vacate by May 27. Obviously, we have a lease until 2034, so we don't want to go anywhere."
Ezra Nasser, one of the principals of the development company Nasser Freres, which is building the tower, and Donald Pepe, the attorney representing the developer, both could not be immediately reached for comment.
Meanwhile, plenty of people want Boulevard Drinks to stay.
The menu board at Boulevard Drinks in Jersey City on May 6, 2026, where customers ordered hot dogs and drinks from the hot dog stand given until May 27 to vacate.Hot dogs and memories for 90 years
Jersey City resident Monet Jones stopped by their favorite hot dog joint with her mother, Kathy Martin, and her son, Daneel.
Jones said she has been coming to Boulevard Drinks since her mom brought her here as a child. Now, she was bringing her child. Three generations were sitting on the stools at the short counter, enjoying their afternoon treats.
Jones, while devouring a wiener with chili and mustard, did not relish the idea of a tall building replacing this place.
"A 55-story building that's not going to be affordable for us," Jones said.
Kathy Martin said her mother took her to Boulevard Drinks whenever they had to shop at local stores that are long gone.
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"They need to stay. This place has been around too long. This is a historic eatery," Martin said.
North Bergen resident John Catana came back to his hometown to visit the place that holds special memories for him.
"When I was a kid, I learned to walk across the street by the Jackie Robinson statue. As a reward, I got my hot dog. They chopped it up into little pieces for me to eat," Catana said.
Victoratos said people from all generations and from all corners have been stopping by to get what could be their last bites at what has been an institution in this city.
"A guy today came from California, and I told him, 'You paid over $300 to fly here?' Yes, he says. He said because this is where he grew up," Bardis said. "I guess money is not the object for him. It's about getting his nostalgia."
Hot dogs are being cooked at Boulevard Drinks, the eatery on Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City that is in danger of closing after nine decades in business.What's to come
The reason Boulevard Drinks could be old news is because of a new project.
The Jersey City Planning Board approved plans at its April 12 meeting for a mixed-use 55-story high-rise with 840 dwelling units, including 84 affordable units. That includes approximately 48,687 square feet of commercial space (occupied by a Whole Foods market), amenity spaces, landscape features, and loading bays along Magnolia Avenue, situated at the back of the building.
Boulevard Drinks will not be the only business affected. Several other businesses operate in the area designated for development, including a jewelry store and a McDonalds.
Victoratos said that while he realizes the residential tower and supermarket are "necessities," he hopes the developers would see the value of his business, either by keeping the eatery where it stands or offering sufficient compensation for relocation.
"We're a fabric of this community for 90 years," Victoratos said. "If they want to compensate us, maybe we can work something out. If they're not going to compensate us, we're here until 2034. Let them go build somewhere else."
Ricardo Kaulessar covers race, immigration, and culture for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com
Twitter/X: @ricardokaul
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Boulevard Drinks hot dog stand in Jersey City could close
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