Located on 115 Palisade Avenue in the Heights of Jersey City is a delicious eatery known as the Box Café. Open since March of 2021, the café has brought locally sourced “homemade” meals for people, a sense of community, and a space for folks to come together and celebrate their special moments with their loved ones. However, many people do not know this cozy space is available to celebrate your next special occasion if you wish!
The Inspiration Behind Box Café
Owned by Jersey City residents, husband and wife Linda and Sean Kerly, they have always dreamt of having their café in the neighborhood they’ve called home for almost 25 years. Like for many, the pandemic was an opportunity to reevaluate many decisions in one’s life, and they decided to make this dream of theirs become a reality. “Our passion for living, working, and playing in our beloved neighborhood led us to funnel our energy into Box Cafe. We’re on a mission to offer homemade baked goods and whole quality dishes that cater to the diverse people of Jersey City, all in a cozy setting that reflects our home design,” shared Linda.
The inspiration for Box Cafe was born out of a husband and wife’s love for creative baking and cooking from the heart. Sean, part-French, was constantly enhanced by his quest for the perfect use of ingredients using classic French techniques in his kitchen every night. All their ingredients are locally sourced, as Sean prefers to keep his cooking simple. While Sean focuses on cooking, Linda has her own baking space at the café to make the most delicious cakes and pastries. Her dark chocolate cake is incredible and a customer favorite!
The Charming Space
When I first visited the Box Café (and now a regular customer), the uniqueness of the space caught my attention the most. It felt like I could escape into Paris when I took a step inside the cafe. With antique chairs, couches, carefully chosen art pieces, and French music playing in the background, this place is truly a gem in the Heights. The décor reflects their own home creating a warm and inviting ambiance. You can genuinely sense Linda’s passion for creating a magical space.
A Beautiful Event Rental Space
Although Linda and Sean have hosted several special events, from celebrating 30th birthdays to wedding rehearsals, many people are unaware that this charming space is available as an event venue. Linda and Sean do an excellent job making guests feel welcomed and ensuring everyone has a good time. The entire café is closed for the night when hosting a private event. Linda helps the guests decorate the café into a space of their dreams. “We both love hosting and offering private events in our space allows us to put together an unforgettable experience for special times in our clients’ lives. It’s important for us to offer budget-friendly options so it can be affordable for everyone,” shared Linda. They tailor the food to their customers’ preferences with many different options, such as an upscale variety buffet or sit-down dinner. They don’t charge a rental fee and they’re BYOB, making this a budget-friendly venue to celebrate a birthday or anniversary! One of their most significant events so far has accommodated 56 guests comfortably.
Upcoming Events – Don’t miss out!
Recently, Linda and Sean have welcomed local artists to share their talents in their cozy French venue. In addition, guests can enjoy listening to live music which will take place on select evenings Friday through Sunday. So far, they have had live sitar and Jazz duo perform for their guests, which was a hit. They hope to continue providing live music and opportunities for folks to come together and enjoy the space. A future goal also includes providing their beautiful space to local organizations to hold fundraisers and community groups to use the area for their special events.
You can follow the Box Cafe via Instagram for updates or visit their website. If interested in booking Box Café to celebrate your next special occasion, please email Linda at linda@boxcafejc.com.
