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People
One of our favorite things about Hoboken + Jersey City is seeing the people behind the businesses, projects, and ideas shaping the local community. There are so many people in each city making an impact, from entrepreneurs and local leaders to creatives bringing a fresh perspective. Hoboken + Jersey City are full of plenty of residents making an impact, and we’ve rounded up a handful to keep an eye on. Read on for our list of local people to watch for November 2026.
Allie Quiñones | Founder of The Relentless Art Jiu-Jitsu Academy
Photo Credit: Allie Quiñones
Allie is a Jiu-Jitsu practitioner of 12 years and counting, a 1st-degree black belt, and the first woman to earn a black belt under The Relentless Art Jiu-Jitsu Academy (TRA), which is based in Jersey City, Bayonne, and Bloomfield. Allie has been a Hoboken resident since 2009 and established the TRA program in 2019.
Allie is inspired by seeing people from all walks of life improve in a martial art they never thought could be possible. She loves to see the community created within martial arts spaces, which are not only a safe space, but a place for people ot support and take care of one another. “Doing what I love gives me the energy to show up, and everything disappears once I walk through the door. I’m very blessed and honored to be able to teach amazing humans daily,” Allie explained to The Hoboken Girl.
Allie’s local favorites: Leo’s Grandevous, Elysian, Grand Vin, Viv & Jules, The Hive, Lisa’s, and Dozzino’s.
Learn more about TRA and Allie’s work here.
Amanda Giuffre + Chelsea Talarico | Co-Authors of Adventures of Gnocchi & Bo
Photo Credit: Robbie Nero + BFA
Amanda Giuffre and Chelsea Talarico are the co-authors of Adventures of Gnocchi & Bo, a children’s book series.
Amanda, who was a 2024 Best of Hoboken Awards winner for “Best Local Maker/Artisan”, began her career in the luxury fragrance and beauty industry, and later founded Noun New York in 2020, where she brings her illustrative style to life through drawings of places, things, and everyday moments. Her latest venture is Noun Littles, a recently launched bespoke shop that has hand-painted collectibles for children’s spaces.
Chelsea is a Jersey City native with over a decade of experience in fashion and lifestyle. Her in-house career began at European fashion houses such as Valentino and Dior, where she built an expertise in luxury branding and communications strategies. Chelsea’s latest chapter has been working as co-author of Adventures of Gnocchi & Bo, where she can channel her creative energy and love for storytelling into a lasting legacy for her daughter.
Amanda + Chelsea’s local favorites: Brooke & Beel, Emme & Max, Forum, bwè kafe, Flour, 10th Street Pizza, Hudson City Kids, Hazel Baby & Kids, The Little Gym, and Maxwell Alley.
Learn more about Amanda, Chelsea, and Adventures of Gnocchi & Bo here.
Angela Wang | Founder of WITH AN
Photo Credit: Amanda Elizabeth
Angela Wang is a Jersey City resident and the founder of WITH AN, a maternal care brand rooted in Chinese postpartum traditions. After becoming a mother, Angela’s perspective on success, time, and work shifted and inspired her to provide local moms with care and a space for support. She cites health care as something that has always been personal to her, with her experience as a caregiver for her father helping shape her perspective.
As Angela grows WITH AN one step at a time, her long-term goal is to build a nonprofit arm that supports mothers who may not have access to the resources they need. “I’ve experienced what it means to have a village. My goal is to help more mothers feel that kind of support, starting in our own community,” she shared.
Angela’s local favorites: Brooke + Bel, bwè kafe, The Hive, Michaelina, Salon Gatto, and Dao Shang Acupuncture.
To keep up with Angela’s journey and see updates on WITH AN, visit her Instagram here.
Jacquees “Peace” Thomas | Founder of Àbákẹ́ Books & Café
Jacquees “Peace” Thomas is a writer, editor, producer, director, and entrepreneur with over a decade of experience in independent film and episodic storytelling. She is a member of the Writers Guild of America East (WGAE), a creative producer at The Black Effect Network, and the creator + host of BLK LIT, a podcast on iHeartMedia’s Black Effect Podcast Network exploring Black literature.
On the local level, Peace is the founder of Àbákẹ́ Books & Café in Jersey City Heights, a bookstore, café, and cultural gathering space that celebrates Black literature, LGBTQ+ voices, and marginalized communities. Àbákẹ́ hosts literary showcases, live storytelling, creative exchanges, and other community-forward events. Her guiding belief is “Every Story Is Valuable”, based on her commitment to making room for storytellers and the communities that sustain them.
Peace’s local favorites: The Griot, Busy Bee & Organics, Hoboken Basic Goods, Rudo Plants & Home, La Bodega, Carol Ann’s Table, and Riverview Farmers Market.
Keep up with Peace’s journey on Instagram here.
Melissa McCourt | Founder of Styled by Meeshamore
Melissa McCourt is a Hoboken resident and the founder of Styled by Meeshamore, a personal styling and wardrobe consulting business based in the Mile Square. Melissa and her family have a deep connection to Hoboken; her husband was born + raised in the city and is a third-generation police officer. Her love for the community and passion for helping other women feel confident is what drives Styled by Meeshamore.
Part of her work with Styled by Meeshamore is helping others refresh their wardrobes, find exciting pieces, and put together looks for special occasions. Melissa understands that personal style is constantly evolving, and what ultimately matters is feeling comfortable and confident in oneself. Long-term, Melissa wants to collaborate with other Hoboken businesses, support fellow women entrepreneurs, and create opportunities that bring people together.
Melissa’s local favorites: The Hive, Hidden Grounds, Joboken, Cafexico, City Bistro, Viv & Jules, Dino’s, Grand Vin, and Peper & Parlor.
To check out Styled by Meeshamore and see Melissa’s work, visit its website.
Meolah Delinois | NYC + New Jersey-based Content Creator
Meolah is a NYC + NJ-based content creator who started her career with a passion for videography, with experience in creative directing and social media management. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a BA in Psychology and Women and Gender Studies, she picked up content creation collaborations with influencers. See her portfolio here.
Michael Berritto | Founder of Clean Bites
Michael Berritto is a long-time Hoboken resident and the founder of Clean Bites, where he highlights seed oil-free eateries in pursuit of building a clean food community that supports healthy choices. He is passionate about supporting local businesses and helping locals find options for non-processed food that are affordable and accessible.
Michael is also currently developing a platform that will launch in 2027, which will help people make cleaner, healthier choices. He wants to host events in Hoboken and other cities where local clean vendors and the community come together for healthy activities + food.
Michael’s local favorites: Dozzino’s, Pinwheel Garden, and Hudson Golf.
To learn about Michael and his business, Clean Bites, follow along on Instagram here.
Oran Luft | Founder of ORAN Apparel
Oran Luft is the founder of ORAN Apparel, a family-owned menswear boutique in Hoboken + Montclair. Oran grew up around the menswear industry, and by the age of 12, was already learning the business alongside his father, who operated seven menswear stores throughout New York.
“Whether you’re shopping for your first suit, refreshing your wardrobe, or preparing for one of life’s biggest moments, our goal is to make you look your best while delivering the kind of personalized service that has defined our family for decades,” Oran stated on his website. To learn more about ORAN Apparel and see its collection, follow on Instagram here.
Sara Levine | Founder of Ritual House
Photo Credit: Sara Levine
Sara Levine lives in Jersey City and, in addition to a full-time career in luxury furnishing sales, has recently launched the pop-up matcha brand Ritual House. Sara has always loved food, traveling, design, and finding hidden gem cafés, and was inspired to create Ritual House to represent those interests. Over time, the business has grown into participating in weekly farmers’ markets, pop-ups, collaborations, and private events throughout Hoboken, Jersey City, and NYC.
Sara has a long-term dream of opening a Ritual House storefront, which will be a space for wellness + community. She envisions it being somewhere visitors could take a Pilates class, grab a matcha, catch up with friends, and more. In the meantime, Sara is focused on expanding Ritual House’s farmers market presence, growing its retail matcha collection, and participating in more private events.
One of the business’s upcoming happenings is “The Holiday Market with Ritual House” on Saturday, December 12th, at River Street Garage in Hoboken. It will bring together local businesses for an afternoon of holiday shopping, food, and giveaways, while collecting toys for Marine Toys for Tots and winter coats for The Hoboken Shelter. Learn more here.
Sara’s local favorites: Allevio Wellness, Mile Square Cafe, Baking Mama, Flour in Hoboken, and Riverview Farmers’ Market.
To keep up with Sara and catch Ritual House at a pop-up, follow along on Instagram here.
Theo Iyer | Actor
Theo Iyer is an actor, producer, influencer, and Hoboken local. He was originally born in Durba, South Africa, and moved to Southern California at the age of 4. He later moved to New York City to attend NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he graduated with a BFA in Acting. Currently, he plays the character Kyle Konar on The Morning Show.
See More: Vieilles Âmes: A Local Design Studio + Shop in Montclair, New Jersey
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