213 New Jersey Restaurants Closed in First Half of Year, 12th in U.S., as Lease Expirations and Bankruptcies Mount

A Restaurant Data report shows that 213 restaurants in New Jersey closed through the middle of this year, ranking the state 12th in the nation. Across a wider area that includes New York, northern New Jersey and Long Island, first-half closures are estimated at about 491. In northern New Jersey, restaurants have continued to shut down in recent weeks because of bankruptcies and expiring leases.

According to the local news outlet Patch, a report released in July by the research firm Restaurant Data estimated that about 491 restaurants closed in the New York, northern New Jersey and Long Island metropolitan area in the first half of this year. New Jersey had 213 closures through mid-2026, placing it 12th among states. Texas ranked first with 1,039.

Among recent cases, the Hackensack location of the chain True Food Kitchen officially closed on Sunday, Oct. 4. A company spokesperson said 12 locations nationwide have closed since the bankruptcy filing, while 34 remain open. Maroons Ice Cream in Hoboken closed permanently after its landlord declined to extend a lease that ends in December, though its Ridgewood location will remain open. Rockin Roots, a family-run café in Hillsdale, also closed at the end of September when its lease expired. Owner Michael Merida told Patch that the landlord did not renew the lease because it wanted to bring in a different business.

Other restaurants that closed this year also cited mostly lease and operating conditions. Shaka Kitchen, a poke restaurant in Hoboken, chose not to renew its lease and will keep only its other location on the west side of town, explaining that deliveries have grown at city restaurants, making it better to downsize. The owner of Justin's II, an Italian restaurant in Wood-Ridge, said running two locations had become too difficult in the current economy; the original Hawthorne location remains open. Speedy's JC, a burger shop in Jersey City, closed at the end of July after moving out of the downtown area and finding too little foot traffic.

Some closed locations are being replaced by new businesses or relocating. Viva Margarita, a Mexican restaurant in Cliffside Park, closed on Aug. 2, and Rojo Tequileria and Mexican Grill is reportedly taking over the space. Buddy's JC in Jersey City is moving to 187 Warren St. and plans to open with a new concept in the fall or winter. Patch also reported that many new restaurants have recently opened in northern New Jersey.