What is Elizabeth known for Jersey Gardens/IKEA
Morris Ave./Elizabeth Ave.
Montevideo?
Keep it simple
El Iman
Montevideo Pixza
La tostada? Best Cuban sandwiches!
if you can make this just an ethnic blog!
if you can make this just an ethnic blog!
Portuguese algarve?
Entering north from Route 1 and 9, Elizabeth does not look like the prettiest city. However Elizabeth does have a lot to offer and I would consider it to be one of the most successful urban cities in New Jersey. Elizabeth has Jersey Gardens and IKEA. A transportation hub, Elizabeth has an airport, a seaport, and the turnpike and Route 1 and 9 pass through here. Elizabeth also has nightlife, great parks, and a diverse selection of good restaurants, due to its ethnic diversity. The homes here are also better kept than some of the other urban cities of New Jersey.
Intro
120,000
Over 60 percent Latino census well census says it’s 59 percent but I think it’s more bc of undocumented immigrants
Bc it’s Latino it did not decline like other cities since Latinos opened up businesses and add life to the city.
Elizabeth hosts the annual Latin Carnival, every September. As many as a quarter of a million visitors come, according to the city’s website. where does the city hold it?
However like other urban cities, Elizabeth does face its problems of poverty and crime. Still compared to other urban cities in the state like Paterson, Trenton, and Camden, Elizabeth is in much better shape.
out of all the six major cities in New Jersey, it has the second highest quality of life after Jersey City, but that's because Jersey City is close to Manhattan.
should I not say Paterson, Trenton, Camden?
Midtown. In most cities, the Central Business District is called "the downtown." However in Elizabeth it is different. Downtown refers to the port, Midtown refers to the Central Business District. Midtown kind of feels like the Third Avenue Shopping Center or the Fordham Shopping Center in the Bronx or maybe just a bit like the Jamaica Shopping Center in Queens. Midtown was once a place where the wealthy shopped. Today Broad Street, the main strip, is full of discount stores. The street is packed with Hispanics, blacks, and poor whites.
This is vacant land near the train station. This is such a shame since it is a high value area. The area could be mixed use development.
suggestions for midtown
upper floors should be used for artists or professionals empty so you are not kicking out anybody plus it is near a train station
convert this empty lot into mixed use retail and residential space maybe office space.
lot is bigger than shown on picture just a heads up.
Midtown remains a major shopping option for the lower income population and you don't want to kick these people out the customers of the shopkeepers.
have more art for example one place you could have a mural that showcases elizabeth's proud history need a photo for that
Elizabeth Avenue/Peterstown
Below are pictures of the main street in the neighborhood, Elizabeth Avenue, one of the most commercially vibrant streets in Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Avenue
out of all the six major cities in New Jersey, it has the second highest quality of life after Jersey City, but that's because Jersey City is close to Manhattan.
should I not say Paterson, Trenton, Camden?
Midtown. In most cities, the Central Business District is called "the downtown." However in Elizabeth it is different. Downtown refers to the port, Midtown refers to the Central Business District. Midtown kind of feels like the Third Avenue Shopping Center or the Fordham Shopping Center in the Bronx or maybe just a bit like the Jamaica Shopping Center in Queens. Midtown was once a place where the wealthy shopped. Today Broad Street, the main strip, is full of discount stores. The street is packed with Hispanics, blacks, and poor whites.
This is vacant land near the train station. This is such a shame since it is a high value area. The area could be mixed use development.
suggestions for midtown
upper floors should be used for artists or professionals empty so you are not kicking out anybody plus it is near a train station
convert this empty lot into mixed use retail and residential space maybe office space.
lot is bigger than shown on picture just a heads up.
Midtown remains a major shopping option for the lower income population and you don't want to kick these people out the customers of the shopkeepers.
have more art for example one place you could have a mural that showcases elizabeth's proud history need a photo for that
Broad Street with St. John's Episcopal Church.
Union County College.
Shopper's World. This is probably the largest department store in Midtown Elizabeth.
Bobby's Department Store. This is a bargain department store.
Urban Planning Section
Elizabeth Avenue/Peterstown
Below are pictures of the main street in the neighborhood, Elizabeth Avenue, one of the most commercially vibrant streets in Elizabeth.
Elizabeth Avenue
The Hispanic migration began with Cubans and Puerto Ricans in the 1950s and ‘60s. Many Cubans would settle in the Elizabeth Avenue area, joining Italians and African Americans. Everybody more or less got along.
The Cuban refugees that came here in the 1960s were mainly white collar professionals. This explains why they repainted the buildings in this neighborhood and opened up many businesses.
La Voz, is a Cuban American newspaper company that is still in Elizabeth.
Cubans
Lions Club
Question where did I find Materva? before Super Supermarket sold Materva now they don't. it shows to you the decline of the Cuban population in the Elizabeth Avenue area.
Cubans
Lions Club
Question where did I find Materva? before Super Supermarket sold Materva now they don't. it shows to you the decline of the Cuban population in the Elizabeth Avenue area.
Cubans
Great food along Elizabeth Avenue
Elizabeth Avenue
Outline
Traditionally Working class and immigrant area
Poor
broad st rich el
Why does Elizabeth mean anything to you?
Why does Elizabeth mean anything to you?
La Voz my dad used to work here
Saw an episode of the Simpsons in Cuba and the buildings were in the show were as colorful as the ones in Elizabeth.
I could imagine beautiful women
I could imagine beautiful women
Elizabeth Avenue is one of most commercially active thoroughfares in the city. It is bustling with activity and the restaurants are superb. And there are many different types of restaurants one can find in this area---Cuban, Puerto Rican, Peruvian, Colombian, Italian, Portuguese, and even Venezuelan. Overall it is a very colorful and vibrant neighborhood. How so?
Salermo's
If a business has been this long you know has to be good.
Loud music
Salermo's
If a business has been this long you know has to be good.
Loud music
describe petersburg. the boundaries
italians the councilmember that represents this neighborhood is an Italian American-- what is his name Frank Mazza.
In describing the ethnic diversity, we will first talk about the Italian community since they are the oldest community here. Then we will talk about Cubans, and then the more recently arrived Central and South Americans.
Note mention how Salvadorans are largest group also noticeable populations of Peruvians, Colombians, and Ecuadorians.
Note mention how Salvadorans are largest group also noticeable populations of Peruvians, Colombians, and Ecuadorians.
Still some Italians, Cubans, and Puerto Ricans
Some Portuguese
Even though the Italian American population in the neighborhood has seen a decline, the community still remains intact. There is a Facebook page for Peterstown where Italian Americans reminisce about their neighborhood and where members post pictures of events in the neighborhood such as religious processions and even super bowl parties. There are still plenty of Italian businesses around Third Avenue. There is even a Peterstown book that highlights the Italian American history of the neighborhood. It is called "The Peterstown book" by Joe and Tina Renna.
What is interesting in this ethnic neighborhood is that Italians and Cubans have remained in the neighborhood. This is unlike the Chambersburg in Trenton or even 21st Avenue in Paterson, where there is only a scant presence of the previous ethnic group that used in live in these neighborhoods, the Italian Americans. I further explore how the Italians have kept ties to the Peterstown neighborhood. This is what makes Peterstown different from other ethnic neighborhoods in the state where European Americans leave very little if any ties or vestiges in the neighborhood such as the Jewish community in Weequahic in Newark or the Polish community in the Bayway section of Elizabeth.
Even though the Italian American population in the neighborhood has seen a decline, the community still remains intact. There is a Facebook page for Peterstown where Italian Americans reminisce about their neighborhood and where members post pictures of events in the neighborhood such as religious processions and even super bowl parties. There are still plenty of Italian businesses around Third Avenue. There is even a Peterstown book that highlights the Italian American history of the neighborhood. It is called "The Peterstown book" by Joe and Tina Renna. 
Centanni's Meat Market - Anybo?
If you are a Sopranos fan, like I am. You would know this Tony Soprano would often make stops here, possibly to get some gabagool or frequent with the owner, Mike.
Just kidding but anyways, everyone of the staff here is super friendly and la carne (meat in Italian) is of good quality.
You could find great deals here!
I bought a half a pound of provolone cheese for less than three dollars. That's a steal! No pun intended, Tony!
But anyway you can't find that in the mainstream supermarkets in the suburbs.
Everything here is imported from Italy!
Much of the remaining Italian community in Petersburg can be found along Third Avenue. We still start with Barone’s Meat Market and head north
Barone's Italian Food Market.
Barone's is a Uruguayan meat shop that sells c
explain all the products some Italian products
Barone's is a Uruguayan meat shop that sells c
explain all the products some Italian products
Spiritos Restaurant
This is a good authentic Italian restaurant that has been here for generations.
This is Sacco's Meat Market. This is a great butcher shop and they sell imports from Italy as well. feels old school. If you dig deep enough you can find old world Italian culture here.
Italian Americans still come here.
Italian Americans still come here.
This is St. Anthony de Padua's Church.
I believe this was an Italian church however as the demographics have changed in the neighborhood so has the parish. Masses in this church are now in Spanish and many of the parishoners are now Hispanic.
DiCosmos Italian Ices. This place has been open for over a century. The lemon ice is good from what I have read.
This is Centanni's Meat Market, an Italian American meat market. This is a good meat market and definitely feels like an old school Italian meat market, maybe like the one you would find in South Philadelphia. This store was featured on "The Sopranos."
This is Bella Palermo Bakery, probably the only Italian bakery left in Elizabeth. I had a birthday cake from this bakery once and my friends loved that cake.
The following two pictures are pictures of hot dog places. I remember reading in the news about how people from other states come to eat hot dogs here.
The Cuban presence
Cuban Americans starting arriving in large numbers to the Elizabeth Avenue area around the 1960s. Many of these Cubans opened up businesses along Elizabeth Avenue. Today only a few of the Cubans from the 1960s and the 1980s remain in Elizabeth. There are however some recently arrived Cuban immigrants in Elizabeth. There are newly opened Cuban businesses like Yoly’s on Elizabeth Avenue near Broad Street.
Cuban Americans starting arriving in large numbers to the Elizabeth Avenue area around the 1960s. Many of these Cubans opened up businesses along Elizabeth Avenue. Today only a few of the Cubans from the 1960s and the 1980s remain in Elizabeth. There are however some recently arrived Cuban immigrants in Elizabeth. There are newly opened Cuban businesses like Yoly’s on Elizabeth Avenue near Broad Street.
Mara Bakery on the left. It is a good Cuban bakery and has been here when Elizabeth Avenue was much more Cuban.
Alvarez Café is a Cuban restaurant. The food is decent.
El Palmar Restaurant. This is a fusion Cuban and Puerto Rican restaurant. Puerto Ricans and Cubans were the first Hispanic groups to settle in Elizabeth in large numbers in the 1950's and 1960s.
La Palmita Bakery. As you can see by the awning, it is a fusion Cuban and Honduran bakery. It is a pretty good bakery. This bakery also makes the best Cuban sandwiches!
Pro Cuba social club
La Tostano
A store that caters to Cubans. It offers money wiring and trips to Cuba.
South and Central Americans. South and Central Americans are the recent arrivals to the neighborhood as well as some Mexicans. These groups include Salvadorans, Hondurans, Colombians, and Peruvians. Like the Cuban immigrants before them, these ethnic groups have opened up their own businesses. "Little Havana" has now become a mix of different Latino cultures, each sharing their own cuisines and adding to the rich flavor of Elizabeth Avenue.
South and Central Americans. South and Central Americans are the recent arrivals to the neighborhood as well as some Mexicans. These groups include Salvadorans, Hondurans, Colombians, and Peruvians. Like the Cuban immigrants before them, these ethnic groups have opened up their own businesses. "Little Havana" has now become a mix of different Latino cultures, each sharing their own cuisines and adding to the rich flavor of Elizabeth Avenue.
El Iman Restaurant. This restaurant serves excellent Peruvian food. You do not have to go to Paterson to eat amazing Peruvian food.
Another Peruvian restaurant across the street with a picture of Machu Picchu on the front door.
Banana King. Banana King is a Colombian chain fast food restaurant in New Jersey. t. You could order a combo that includes a Cuban sandwich or maybe a hamburger with a shake of many types. They have papaya, mamey, and other flavors.
Antojitos y Mas. A Colombian bakery
Orejas?
Add Cali burger.
A Peruvian restaurant on Elizabeth Avenue
El Punto Marino. This is an authentic Peruvian restaurant that serves great ceviche. I always say you can't get better Peruvian food in the United States than in Northern New Jersey.
A supermarket and a Somos Peru store.
A hybrid Mexican/Colombian restaurant
Venezuelan restaurant
Pizza Market and Arepas.
This is a great Venezuelan restaurant on Third Avenue. Venezuelans are not too common to see in the Northeast but Elizabeth's Hispanic population is so diverse they even have a Venezuelan restaurant.
Should I get rid of this?
A store that sells Ecuadorian products like quinoa, sodas, sweets, breads, and fish. Even though there is a signifcant number of Ecuadorians in Elizabeth there are not that many Ecuadorian businesses on Elizabeth Avenue. It may be because they are a recent group.
Mi Bella Guatemala. Guatemalan Ice Cream shop.
According to this store's sign I think this place sells souvenirs and helps Salvadoran immigrants to send parcels to El Salvador.
El Catrachito Restaurant
A Salvadoran Restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Store that sells Latin American jerseys
China Poblana. A Mexican restaurant. Elizabeth does not have as many Mexicans as Passaic, New Brunswick, or Paterson. I believe this was the only Mexican restaurant that I saw.
Include
Paraiso
La cabana
Both Mexican
Caribe Portuguese Bakery.
Minhoto Restaurant. This is a Portuguese or Brazilian restaurant.
Oasis Pastry Shop. A Portuguese bakery. This restaurant has a nice interior probably one of the nicest interiors I have seen on Elizabeth Avenue.
Others
Amigos restaurant
Eagle Supermarket. I remember when I went to this supermarket when I was seventeen. I ate a meal here at their restaurant and I felt like I ate like a king for 6 or 8 dollars I forget exactly how much it cost at the time. This was such a huge difference from one of the wealthier towns I was at in Union County earlier where it was hard to find a good and authentic restaurant that has good prices.
Citi Grocer. Last but not least is the Citi Grocer supermarket that sells Portuguese, Latino, and West Indian products. They even sell Portuguese newspapers at the front. And the store is nice and very clean on the inside.
Of course the Elizabeth Avenue/Petersburg area has more to offer than just ethnic diversity and great restaurants. There are also nice parks like this one, . There is a soccer field here, which is good since there are many South and Central Americans here. Mattano Park is also in the neighborhood and is a big and beautiful park.
A residential street in the Elizabeth Avenue area. Many people in the state think that urban cities in New Jersey are really unsafe and should be avoided. However, many parts in these cities are not as bad. Here we do not see broken windows or boarded up windows. This area is not a warzone. It even looks like other parts of New Jersey. However many people like to say cities like Elizabeth should be avoided even though many parts of Elizabeth look like this or even better. The Elizabeth Avenue/Peterstown area does not have a significant amount of crime. You should not hear gun shots at night here.
Morris Avenue AKA Little Colombia
I read somewhere in many ways, Colombians are the "new Cubans" in Elizabeth
Morris Avenue during a World Cup match when Colombia won.
Morris Avenue also known as "Little Colombia"
Morris Avenue is the Colombian enclave in Elizabeth. This is probably the only enclave of its kind in Elizabeth where many or most of the businesses in a section are of one predominate ethnicity, unlike other commercial thoroughfares that are usually a mix of different ethnicities. Elizabeth has one of the largest populations of Colombians in the country. There are many Colombian stores, restaurants, and bakeries here. There are even places where you can buy Colombian jeans.
A Colombian boutitque. Morris Avenue can be a good place to pick up Colombian clothes.
The dividing lines of the street, are painted yellow, blue, and red instead of just yellow to represent the colors of the Colombian flag.
A colorful Colombian variety store.
Ads for Latino events.
Another scene of Morris Avenue
Las Palmas a nice outdoor restaurant just across the street from the train station. If Elizabeth ever becomes a transit village, I am sure this restaurant will benefit.
Torra A Sorrento Italian restaurant. This is a great and authentic Italian restaurant and even NJ.COM did an article on it so it must be good.
Since Kean University is on Morris Avenue there have been suggestions to create the Little Colombia section of Morris Avenue as a shopping and dining destination for Kean University students as well as just promoting the Morris Avenue corridor up to Kean University. However some feel this will not work because they feel this area is a slum and unsafe. This area is not unsafe at daytime and looking at these pictures shows you this is really not a slum. However it looks like anti urban and anti Hispanic attitudes are still prevalent in New Jersey.
Further north is Tropicana Diner, a typical New Jersey diner with a Latin American twist. This restaurant has good reviews.
The Elmora Section
The Elmora Section was once the Jewish neighborhood of Elizabeth. Today, Elmora Avenue, the main strip, is a mix of Jewish, Colombian, and other Latino businesses. According to the Census, this area is only about 15% white, which means less than 15% of the population is Jewish, unless there are many Latino Jews which I highly doubt. I don't think you have to show percentages. However you can still find synagogues and kosher restaurants, including kosher Chinese, in this neighborhood. The neighborhood also has an eruv which allows Jews to carry non religious items on the Sabbath. The eruv might be what retains the Jewish community here since there are not many neighborhoods with eruvs.
The Elmora Section was once the middle to upper class section. Today it still remains as a middle class section of Elizabeth.
Jerusalem Restaurant.
Kosher Supermarket
There is a Glatt Kosher restaurant next to the Kosher Supermarket.
A Kosher Chinese restaurant
A store under rabbinic supervision.
The Elmora neighborhood is also now very Latino.
A store with various Latino flags.
Some Latino businesses on the right.
Rahway Avenue with the Union County Courthouse in the background.
Residential street with the Chilton Towers in the background.
Rou Bakery This is a Uruguayan bakery. Elizabeth has one of the largest concentrations of Uruguayans in the country. There is even a Uruguayan festival on Elizabeth Avenue. I remember on Broad Street I saw a guy with a Uruguayan soccer jersey.
Bayway Circle in Elizabeth. Once you go north to Elizabeth from Linden you will see this circle. I guess this is the entrance to the Bayway section once you head east.
Bayway was once the Polish neighborhood of Elizabeth. Today like many parts of Elizabeth it is primarily Hispanic. There are many South and Central Americans as well as Puerto Ricans here. This is one of the poorest neighborhoods in the city. This is possibly because living near the industrial area nearby lowers the property value here.
Polonia Avenue. This street was probably renamed Polonia Avenue to recognize the once large Polish population in this neighborhood. Other than this and Seabras Supermarket on South Elmora Avenue that offers a section of an aisle of Polish foods, there is not much of a Polish presence here. A polka club that was in this neighborhood closed down. However, Linden just next door has a large population so I am sure a lot of the Polish people that used to live in Bayway now live in Linden.
The housing projects on Bayway Avenue. This might be why the Bayway section is one of the poorest neighborhoods because other parts look kind of suburban.
Montevideo Pizzeria a Uruguayan pizzeria named after their capital, Montevideo. You may ask yourself why Uruguayans are making pizza but did you know many Uruguayans as well as Argentines are actually of Italian descent?
Next to it is Mojito is a nice Cuban lounge and restaurant. According to their website, the chef is from France.
The restaurants here on Bayway Avenue are more spacious and more elegant than on other commercial avenues in the city
Noches de Colombia. A Colombian restaurant
Tumi. A Peruvian restaurant
Habana.
This is Santillo's Brick Oven Pizza on Broad Street. According to the Dailymeal, a foodie site, this is the best pizzeria in New Jersey.
Route 1 and 9 and North Avenue with Crowne Plaza in the background
North Avenue with Route 1 and 9 in the forefront.
A residential street in North Elizabeth
A Portuguese bakery on North Avenue. North Elizabeth has a significant Portuguese presence.
Valenca Bar and Grill. A Portuguese restaurant and possibly one of the most famous restaurants in Elizabeth.
Lisboa Café.
What a mix of cultures. A store that serves Dominican snacks, has a logo of a Portuguese cookie company and has an Ecuadorian flag. Only in Elizabeth lol.
Jersey Gardens Mall. One of the largest malls in New Jersey. This area was once a landfill. Today it houses Jersey Gardens Malls. There are hotels and restaurants like IHOP and Ruby Tuesday nearby as well, as well as a movie theatre. Elizabeth is the most successful Urban Enterprise Zone in the state possibly because of IKEA and Jersey Gardens Mall. So many people who are not from Elizabeth come to Jersey Gardens and IKEA to shop. New Jersey also has no taxes on clothes which makes it a good reason to shop here.
Hotels near Kapowski Road
Parking lot of IHOP with Ruby Tuesday in the background.
Ikea. One of the only Ikeas in the area.
Suggestions
i think i have to do a better job at promoting businesses.
Unlike other many New Jersey cities, Elizabeth has maintained its white ethnic presence. There are still Jews, Italians, and Portuguese here.
the Latino population is very diverse I think more diverse than Paterson. there are even Cubans here a rarity in many New jersey cities now.
because elizabeth was industrial it later turned immigrant?
I like the way that Elizabeth is promoting itself as a tourist destination. Elizabeth is like Perth Amboy but more fun. You have the mall, a movie theatre, plenty of night clubs, a great choice of good restaurants to choose from.
Elizabeth is a big city with many different parts.
Elizabeth is promoting itself. In Jersey Gardens Mall there is a sign at the food court with the slogan "Go Elizabeth NJ" There are also brochures for Elizabeth.
Elizabeth is promoting itself. In Jersey Gardens Mall there is a sign at the food court with the slogan "Go Elizabeth NJ" There are also brochures for Elizabeth.
As mentioned earlier, Midtown Elizabeth was once a shopping mecca. Today it is no longer a shopping mecca. However, Once built on a landfill, Jersey Gardens is now one of the largest malls in the state.
Works Cited
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/30/realestate/30njzo.html?_r=0
