JERSEY CITY COFFEE SHOP OWNER TURNS ADVERSITY INTO ADVANTAGE AT THE HAZEL LUXURY RENTAL IN BERGEN-LAFAYETTE
The Upscale Six-Story Building was the Perfect Solution for Mike Clark of The Grind Shop After His Family was Recently Displaced by Nearby Fire
JERSEY CITY, NJ – Bergen-Lafayette, the hidden residential treasure bordering Jersey City’s Liberty State Park, is known for a close-knit, friendly vibe where helping hands are never far away. This supportive, small-town mindset was recently on display when the owner of the popular neighborhood Grind Shop experienced an unfortunate circumstance that temporarily displaced his family from their home.
The Grind Shop and General Store is the brainchild of Mike Clark and his wife who both had a passion for great coffee and curated goods. The couple initially opened the coffee shop at 360 Communipaw Avenue in 2015. At the time, the gourmet coffee outpost was a pioneering endeavor in a neighborhood poised for growth. As Bergen-Lafayette evolved, so did The Grind Shop, which expanded its commitment to the neighborhood with the 2020 opening of the Grind Shop General Store at 293 Sundyam Avenue. The general store offers highly curated specialty food items, local goods and merchandise, and more.
“We planted our roots in Bergen-Lafayette as the go-to coffee shop and local grocer,” said Michael. “A coffee shop sets the tone in any neighborhood. We’ve been doing this for six years and like to think Bergen-Lafayette was built around the Grind.”
Deeply embedded into the fabric of Bergen-Lafayette through the Grind Shop, the business owners knew the neighborhood was also the perfect community to raise their family. Their loyalty to the area was rewarded when misfortune struck nearby, forcing the Clarks out of their home and requiring Mike to quickly find interim housing accommodations.
“Our neighbor had a fire that brought some damage to our home, so I wanted to place my family in a calm atmosphere while the repairs are sorted,” Mike explained.
He set out to find a Bergen-Lafayette rental property that was close to his business and where his family could stay comfortably while his home was under construction. He was fortunate to find the perfect new living environment just blocks away from the coffee shop at The Hazel, a collection of 114 luxury apartments at 89 Monitor Street. Best of all, Alpine Residential and FieldsGrade, the building developers, worked with the Clarks to create a lease with terms that would accommodate the family’s timeframe as they worked to get their home repaired.
“We looked at a few other rentals, but nothing compared to the design or quality of The Hazel,” he said. “It just felt like a quality place to live, and my children really enjoy the space.”
The Hazel offered oversized apartment layouts that could perfectly accommodate his family of four. Mr. Clark, his wife and two children settled comfortably into a two-bedroom, two-bath residence at the contemporary six-story building. The Clarks are embracing the opportunity to relax and enjoy a care-free lifestyle in a modern community that provides a distinct hotel-inspired feeling.
“No stone is left unturned at The Hazel,” Mike said. “The apartment layout is great and very spacious. The amenities are like no other building’s in the area. I’m big on design and the interior designer did a top-notch job in the common spaces. We enjoy living here so much we almost hope it takes two years to complete the repairs to our home.”
As a ground-breaking business owner in Bergen-Lafayette himself, Mr. Clark also recognizes the pivotal role The Hazel is playing in the neighborhood’s residential resurgence.
“The Hazel definitely upped the level for luxury living in Bergen-Lafayette,” he said.
The Hazel features a mix of studio, one- and two-bedroom residences outfitted with nine-foot-plus ceilings, luxury plank flooring, custom modular closets, complimentary window treatments, in-home washer and dryer and smart lock entry. Gourmet kitchens boast stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, soft-close cabinetry, full-height backsplashes, and under-cabinet lighting, while spa-like baths are lavishly appointed. Select residences offer a bonus den.
Homes are available at net-effective monthly rents starting at $2,335 with a limited-time grand opening incentive of up to 1.5 months free on select lease terms.
Residents appreciate The Hazel’s pet-friendly, smoke-free atmosphere, as well as its amenities, social spaces, and premium services which include an onsite Concierge, rooftop terrace with barbecues and mist station, Sky Lounge with New York City views, outdoor courtyards, co-working space, library with fireplace, state-of-the-art fitness center, demonstration kitchen and an amenity guest suite. Additional conveniences include a package room, bike storage, covered parking with electric car charging stations, onsite electric scooters, and ground floor retail space. An exciting new amenity at The Hazel is TuLu, an on-demand smart rental store for high-quality household and lifestyle products.
Lying just west of Downtown Jersey City, Bergen-Lafayette is a neighborhood cherished for its hip and authentic bars, eateries, shops, and everyday conveniences. The Liberty State Park Bridge provides great connectivity to Jersey City’s downtown. The Hudson-Bergen Light Rail’s Liberty Park Station is just steps from The Hazel, while nearby Route 78 provides a pathway to the Holland Tunnel, as well as points west.
The Marketing Directors is the exclusive marketing and leasing agent for The Hazel. The property is managed by the developer’s affiliated management company, South Oxford Management
For more information on The Hazel, and to schedule a visit to experience fully furnished model residences, please call 201.345.8989 or visit the www.TheHazelJC.com. The Leasing Office is open daily and located at 89 Monitor Street, Jersey City, NJ.
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