Englewood, bustling , no matter the time of day!

The village of Englewood was part of Hackensack township from its inception, Hackensack, Palisade, Ridgefielsd and Englewood.  This, until 1871 when the State Legislature divided Bergen county into four townships. Each municipality had its own school district. In 1895 Englewood moved to incorporate into a city and in 1899, this became a reality.. The population of Englewood today is far more diverse than that of most suburbs, including many of its Bergen County neighbors
Architecturally there are many contrasts, tree lined streets filled with victorian mansions, wonderful tudors, mixed in with modern low rise condominiums and recently built contemporary homes. It all works and driving around, there is so much eye candy, it is hard to keep your mind on the road 

Today Englewood is a suburban town with a cosmopolitan and upbeat atmosphere. It has wonderful and diverse restaurants, lots of ice cream choices, outdoor cafes and beautiful shops. It is buzzing no matter the time of day. A new addition to the local scene is the “ECLAIR LAND CAFE, on the corner of Palisade Avenue and Engle street.  You cannot miss it, outdoor seating and lively blue umbrellas. Their cappuccino is amazing and the pastries beautiful to see and better to devour,  Also on the menu, great sandwiches, soft serve ice cream, and a choice of other hot and cold beverages, The manager, Jacki, has been in the food industry for many years, He has attended culinary school and is a chef and a baker.The cafe is immaculate, and is just an all around welcoming space. 53 E Palisade Ave, Englewood, (551) 321 8613 ​

Hummus Elite

Hummus in Hummus Elite

An icon, a go to for delicious Mediterranean and fresh kosher food, HUMMUS ELITE is the older kid on the block, This gem of a restaurant, has been enhancing Palisade Avenue for the past fourteen years. Owner and Chef, Giyora Malka and his previous partner had the idea of opening an Israeli type, vegetarian restaurant. At that time there were few options for people who kept kosher and so Hummus Elite became a lovely place for them to go, and enjoy fresh and delicious food. For the first year the menu options were limited to hummus, salads and other vegetarian dishes. At the end of the first year they realized that if they did not redesign the menu, they would have to shut their door and so the menu was revamped. They began serving amazing hamburgers, chicken and fish. Their business grew and now it is hard to imagine the street without trying to peer into the window, to see what is going on inside. Giyora has a strong food background. He graduated from the French Culinary Institute, trained at Restaurant Daniel and at Blue Hill, now a two star Michelin restaurant, and other well known New York and New Jersey restaurants. Stellar credentials! Before settling in Englewood, Giyora and his then partner opened a restaurant and an AirB&B in Spring Lake , a really beautiful town at the Shore. Eventually, the partners were not getting along and decided to move on. From this point, today’s Hummus Elite was born and has become an Englewood staple. The sit down restaurant does well, and they have a very healthy take out business. 39 E Palisade Ave, Engewood, (551) 305 4703 ​

He cares very much for these clients and today dresses the children and grandchildren of women he has helped for many years. During Covid, his clients supported him and helped him to survive. This was a special feeling, to know that the people he had helped, whose wardrobes he had curated, really cared about him. During covid it was necessary to shop online for the store. But being unable to feel the fabric was very uncomfortable for Gito. He could not do it. Women in New Jersey no longer have to travel to New York City to find the perfect piece for that special event. That place is right here on E. Palisade Avenue in Englewood. GITO, 5 E Palisade Avenue, Englewood (551) 400 8239

Feeling down, had a bad day? The cure, enter The HANGOUT on Dean Street, Lauren Turk will make you forget your troubles. Her big smile and a grand hello are just what you need.  Shopping here is stress free and fun. The shop is an unusual, upscale consignment shop, clothes in mostly excellent condition. After working for ten years at another job in Englewood, Lauren gave her boss a one year notice. She had decided it was time to do something of her own. She opened the HANGOUT on February 17th 2020, and we all know what occurred a few weeks later. Timing is everything. But Lauren is no slouch. She went into her shop during covid lockdown everyday and went on her instagram and entertained her audience. She discussed her merchandise, the history of the pieces, talked about the various designers and, in this way, grew her instagram following. Her instincts are great and she did some giveaways, Hangout sweatshirts and tees. During covid a lot of us cleaned out our closets, a boon for Lauren. She attracted many consignors. She is meticulous in what she chooses for her store. If something is pre-owned it has to be slightly used and in very good condition. Much of her inventory is brand new. How many of us buy something, never wear it, and even leave the tags on. This is true of most of her items. Most of them have never been worn. The store is chock full of beautiful dresses, hand bags, totes.and shoes. Everything from Gap and J Crew to Chanel, YSL and Monique Lhuillier. It’s an amazing potpourri. You can spend a good hour looking through the merchandise, but, It is hard to tear yourself away. The HANGOUT, is a pun, but also, it is just that. One can meet some of the most interesting people and find a friend in this most creative of shops.To top it off, the Mayor of Englewood gifted Lauren with the key to the city. 8 N Dean Street Englewood (551) 383 3093.