{"id":390632,"date":"2026-11-02T06:56:25","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T06:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/390632\/"},"modified":"2026-11-02T06:56:25","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T06:56:25","slug":"10-locals-to-watch-in-hoboken-jersey-city-november-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/390632\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Locals to Watch in Hoboken + Jersey City | November 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"

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People<\/p>\n

One of our favorite things about Hoboken + Jersey City is seeing the people behind the businesses, projects, and ideas shaping the local community<\/a>.\u00a0There 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\u2019ve rounded up a handful to keep an eye on. Read on for our list of local people to watch for November 2026.\n<\/p>\n

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Allie Qui\u00f1ones<\/a> | Founder of The Relentless Art Jiu-Jitsu Academy<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Allie Qui\u00f1ones\n<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

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. \u201cDoing what I love gives me the energy to show up, and everything disappears once I walk through the door. I\u2019m very blessed and honored to be able to teach amazing humans daily,\u201d Allie explained to The Hoboken Girl.<\/p>\n

\"Vein<\/a>\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Allie\u2019s local favorites: Leo\u2019s Grandevous, Elysian, Grand Vin, Viv & Jules, The Hive, Lisa\u2019s, and Dozzino\u2019s.\n<\/p>\n

Learn more about TRA and Allie\u2019s work here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Sparrow<\/a>\"\"\/
\nAmanda Giuffre + Chelsea Talarico<\/a>\u00a0| Co-Authors of Adventures of Gnocchi & Bo<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Robbie Nero + BFA<\/p>\n

\"Vista<\/a>\"\"\/<\/p>\n

Amanda Giuffre and Chelsea Talarico are the co-authors of Adventures of Gnocchi & Bo, a children\u2019s book series.\n<\/p>\n

Amanda, who was a 2024 Best of Hoboken Awards winner<\/a> for \u201cBest Local Maker\/Artisan\u201d, 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\u2019s spaces.\n<\/p>\n

Chelsea<\/a> 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\u2019s 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.\n<\/p>\n

Amanda + Chelsea\u2019s local favorites: Brooke & Beel, Emme & Max, Forum, bw\u00e8 kafe, Flour, 10th Street Pizza, Hudson City Kids, Hazel Baby & Kids, The Little Gym, and Maxwell Alley.\n<\/p>\n

Learn more about Amanda, Chelsea, and Adventures of Gnocchi & Bo here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Angela Wang<\/a> | Founder of WITH AN<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Amanda Elizabeth<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

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\u2019s 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.\n<\/p>\n

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. \u201cI\u2019ve 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,\u201d she shared.\n<\/p>\n

Angela\u2019s local favorites: Brooke + Bel, bw\u00e8 kafe, The Hive, Michaelina, Salon Gatto, and Dao Shang Acupuncture.\n<\/p>\n

To keep up with Angela\u2019s journey and see updates on WITH AN, visit her Instagram here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Jacquees \u201cPeace\u201d Thomas<\/a> | Founder of \u00c0b\u00e1k\u1eb9\u0301 Books & Caf\u00e9<\/p>\n

Jacquees \u201cPeace\u201d 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\u2019s Black Effect Podcast Network exploring Black literature.\n<\/p>\n

On the local level, Peace is the founder of \u00c0b\u00e1k\u1eb9\u0301 Books & Caf\u00e9<\/a> in Jersey City Heights, a bookstore, caf\u00e9, and cultural gathering space that celebrates Black literature, LGBTQ+ voices, and marginalized communities. \u00c0b\u00e1k\u1eb9\u0301 hosts literary showcases, live storytelling, creative exchanges, and other community-forward events. Her guiding belief is \u201cEvery Story Is Valuable\u201d, based on her commitment to making room for storytellers and the communities that sustain them.\n<\/p>\n

Peace\u2019s local favorites: The Griot, Busy Bee & Organics, Hoboken Basic Goods, Rudo Plants & Home, La Bodega, Carol Ann\u2019s Table, and Riverview Farmers Market.\n<\/p>\n

Keep up with Peace\u2019s journey on Instagram here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Melissa McCourt<\/a> | Founder of Styled by Meeshamore<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

Melissa\u2019s local favorites: The Hive, Hidden Grounds, Joboken, Cafexico, City Bistro, Viv & Jules, Dino\u2019s, Grand Vin, and Peper & Parlor.\n<\/p>\n

To check out Styled by Meeshamore and see Melissa\u2019s work, visit its website<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Meolah Delinois<\/a> | NYC + New Jersey-based Content Creator<\/p>\n

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<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Michael Berritto<\/a> | Founder of Clean Bites<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

Michael\u2019s local favorites: Dozzino\u2019s, Pinwheel Garden, and Hudson Golf.\n<\/p>\n

To learn about Michael and his business, Clean Bites, follow along on Instagram here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Oran Luft<\/a> | Founder of ORAN Apparel<\/p>\n

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.\n<\/p>\n

\u201cWhether you\u2019re shopping for your first suit, refreshing your wardrobe, or preparing for one of life\u2019s 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,\u201d Oran stated on his website<\/a>. To learn more about ORAN Apparel and see its collection, follow on Instagram here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Sara Levine<\/a> | Founder of Ritual House<\/p>\n

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Photo Credit: Sara Levine\n<\/p>\n

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 caf\u00e9s, and was inspired to create Ritual House to represent those interests. Over time, the business has grown into participating in weekly farmers\u2019 markets, pop-ups, collaborations, and private events throughout Hoboken, Jersey City, and NYC.\n<\/p>\n

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\u2019s farmers market presence, growing its retail matcha collection, and participating in more private events.\n<\/p>\n

One of the business\u2019s upcoming happenings is \u201cThe Holiday Market with Ritual House\u201d 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<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Sara\u2019s local favorites: Allevio Wellness, Mile Square Cafe, Baking Mama, Flour in Hoboken, and Riverview Farmers\u2019 Market.\n<\/p>\n

To keep up with Sara and catch Ritual House at a pop-up, follow along on Instagram here<\/a>.\n<\/p>\n

Theo Iyer<\/a> | Actor<\/p>\n

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\u2019s Tisch School of the Arts, where he graduated with a BFA in Acting. Currently, he plays the character Kyle Konar on The Morning Show.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n

See More:\u00a0Vieilles \u00c2mes: A Local Design Studio + Shop in Montclair, New Jersey<\/a>\n<\/p>\n

Follow @thehobokengirl on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0+\u00a0TikTok<\/a>\u00a0for the latest Hoboken and Jersey City updates,\u00a0sign up for our weekly newsletter here<\/a>\u00a0that shares everything you missed each week, and check out our\u00a0events calendar<\/a>, which has over 100+ events weekly to peruse.\n<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>\"\"\/<\/p>\n