We are officially halfway through June in the Montclair area, and the local headlines have been rolling in just as quickly as the summer heat this past week. It’s been another busy week in Essex County, and we’ve got all the Montclair news to keep you up to date. Among the highlights: Fairfield’s first-ever women-focused pilates studio, called Pilates Please, opens its doors; the Vietnamese cafe, Bánh Voyage, has announced plans to open in the former Da Pepo space in Montclair; and a new trade high school in Newark may not be fully completed in time for its September opening. Read on for all the news in Montclair and the surrounding Essex County towns for the week ending June 15th, 2025.
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Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):
- Fairfield’s First-Ever Women-Focused Pilates Studio, ‘Pilates Please,’ Opens
- New Newark Trade High School May Not Be Completed in Time for September Opening
- The Annual Montclair Jazz Festival is Returning for 2025
- Montclair’s Pockets of Light to Hold Annual Fundraiser at Pineapple Express on 9/27
- Vietnamese Cafe, Bánh Voyage, to Open in Former Da Pepo Space in Montclair
- Candidates Elected for the 2025 New Jersey Governor Primary Election
- Somedays Bakery Opening in Montclair on 6/27
- Montclair’s School Business Administrator Resigns, Effective 7/1
- Updates at EWR: FAA Issues Final Order Restricting Flights Through December
- Woofie’s Montclair Launches Mobile Pet Care Van at Montclair Pride
Fairfield’s First-Ever Women-Focused Pilates Studio, ‘Pilates Please,’ Opens
Pilates Please is a new Muslim women-owned and focused Pilates studio at 24 Little Falls Road Unit D, Fairfield. This spot officially opened in late May and bills itself as a safe space for women. Pilates Please is also the first-ever Pilates studio in Fairfield. Click here for more.
New Newark Trade High School May Not Be Completed in Time for September Opening
The Newark School of Architecture + Interior Design, located in the former St. James Hospital building at 155 Jefferson Street, is a new trade school slated to open its doors for the first time this coming September. The school, funded by the district at an eventual cost of $300 million over 30 years, originally planned to open in the fall of 2022, but kept being met with new stop-work orders. As per Chalkbeat Newark, the gym and auditorium are still unfinished and most likely will still be by the time of its opening. This is because the deadline for the developer to finish those areas of the school isn’t until mid-2026.
Montclair Jazz Festival Announces Downtown Jamboree Headliners
The annual Montclair Jazz Festival, presented by Jazz House Kids, kicked off on June 1st, 2025. The festival is a three-month-long affair, featuring musical events in collaboration with The Wellmont Theater + the New Jersey Hall of Fame, as part of the Wellmont Arts Plaza Outdoor Concert Series. The festival will end on September 13th with its annual Downtown Jamboree + Block Party. Headliners for the event that have been announced so far include saxophonist Lakecia Benjamin, vocalist Jazzmeia Horn, Ursa Major, and the festival’s music director and curator, Christian McBride. Click here for more.
Montclair’s Pockets of Light to Hold Annual Fundraiser at
Pineapple Express on 9/27
Pockets of Light is a Montclair-based nonprofit organization providing free resources and support to those who have experienced the loss of a pregnancy or an infant. The organization will host its annual fall fundraiser at Pineapple Express, located at 1 Lackawanna Plaza, on September 27th, 2025. Specific details have yet to be announced, so check out Pocket of Light’s website for future announcements.
Vietnamese Cafe, Bánh Voyage, to Open in Former Da Pepo Space in Montclair
Kevin Zaballero and Deborah Wang, the duo behind Local Coffee at 107 Watchung Avenue in Montclair, have announced their newest business venture: a Vietnamese cafe in the former Da Pepo space. Located at 54 Fairfield Street, Bánh Voyage is planning to soft open in three to four weeks. Click here for more.
Candidates Elected for the 2025 New Jersey Governor Primary Election
New Jersey residents voted in the Primary Election on June 10th, 2025, for the upcoming Governor Race in November. The Primary Election ballot included 18 candidates, including three from Essex County. Jack Citarelli has been elected as the Republican primary candidate, and Mickie Sherrill as the Democratic primary candidate. Click here for more.
Woofie’s Montclair Launches Mobile Pet Care Van at Montclair Pride
The pet service company Woofie’s Montclair launched its new mobile pet care van on June 14th at the Montclair Pride Festival. This new mobile van, which serves the entirety of Essex County, provides services like mobile grooming, dog walking, pet sitting, and 24/7 veterinary telehealth support.
Somedays Bakery Opening in Montclair on 6/27
Somedays Bakery, owned and operated by the team behind Chip City, will officially open its doors on June 27th, 2025, after announcing its arrival to Montclair earlier this year. The Parisian cafe, specializing in artisanal croissants, can be found at 260 Bellevue Avenue. Click here for more.
Montclair’s School Business Administrator Resigns, Effective 7/1
Christina Hunt will step down as the Montclair Public Schools Business Administrator, effective July 1st. This comes after a series of financial-related issues, including unpaid invoices, late notices, requests for payment from the district amounting to $5.799 million, and a petition signed by Montclair parents demanding a forensic audit of the district’s finances and the reinstatement of Ms. Kersey’s position as Vice Principal at Hillside Elementary School, according to Montclair Local.
‘Ongoing Law Enforcement Activity’ Prompts FBI Visit to Montclair House
FBI agents were at a house on Central Avenue in Montclair, between James Street and William Street, in the early morning of Thursday, June 5th. According to Montclair Local, details are slim, but an officer confirmed that agents were there for “ongoing law enforcement activity.”
FAA Issues Final Order Restricting Flights at EWR Through December
On June 6th, 2025, the FAA issued a final order on flight arrival rates at Newark International Airport to make further headway on the structural improvements and technological issues. Arrivals and departures are now limited to 28 each per hour during airport construction on weekends from September 1st to December 31st, 2025. During the rest of the week until October 25, 2025, arrivals and departures will not exceed 34 each per hour. Click here for more.
$4 Million Bloomfield Avenue Bridge Replacement Reaches Completion in West Caldwell
On June 7th, 2025, a $4 million renovation project to replace the Bloomfield Avenue Bridge in West Caldwell was completed. This effort is part of Essex County’s ongoing initiative to upgrade existing infrastructure and improve pedestrian + traffic safety. “Bloomfield Avenue stretches from Newark in the east all the way to West Caldwell in the west and is one of the most heavily used and relied upon roadways in our county,” Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. said in a statement. “Making sure our infrastructure, which includes the Bloomfield Avenue Bridge, is up to date is essential in making sure our residents can get to school and work and go about their daily lives safely.”
Several Montclair Roads Closed for Gas Line Service + Repairs
Several roads in Montclair have been closed since June 9th for PSE&G gas line service and repairs. From now until June 20th, Squire Hill Road, between Alexander Avenue and Lane Court, and Tuers Place, between Squire Hill Road and Lane Court, will remain closed. According to a township advisory, the Lane Court, between Squire Hill Road and Dead End, will also close from Monday, June 16th, to Friday, June 20th.
Montclair + Essex County Summer Bucket List: 50 Must-Try Activities for 2025
The Montclair Girl has created a free and downloadable summer bucket list of activities featuring 50 local things to do, including outdoor adventures, foodie spots, must-attend festivals, and more. Readers can expect to find ideas like walking the South Mountain Reservation Fairy Trail, paddle-boarding at Verona Park, and more. Download our guide to a local Montclair + Essex County summer here.
Latinos of Montclair Launches New Summer Cultural Enrichment Program
Latinos of Montclair, a nonprofit organization dedicated to celebrating and uplifting the local Latino community, has launched a new summer cultural enrichment program called Ritmo Jardín for kids in grades K-5. This program, taking place on Mondays from July 21st to September 19th at the Geyer Family YMCA, located at 159 Glenridge Avenue, Montclair, will teach students percussion instruction, foundational Spanish vocabulary, cultural history, and traditional Latin dance styles like Bomba, Salsa, Merengue, and Bachata.
30 People Charged with Drugs + Firearms Offenses Tied to Newark Drug Trafficking Organization
Thirty defendants were charged on June 11th in connection with a drug trafficking organization accused of distributing controlled substances like fentanyl and cocaine near Newark’s Kretchmer Homes housing complex along Frelinghuysen Avenue. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the individuals were charged with “conspiracy to distribute 400 grams or more of fentanyl and 280 grams or more of cocaine base, and various firearm and substantive narcotics offenses.”
8 Essex County Seniors Win Annual Writing Contest
View this post on Instagram
Essex County residents Carol Jenkins of East Orange, Linda Buset of Nutley, Eva Ogens of Caldwell, and Maryam Bey of Newark have won the 2025 Essex County Senior Citizen Legacies Writing Contest. This annual contest invites older residents to submit personal essays “about the people and events that have influenced their lives,” according to the contest’s website. A luncheon honoring the winners was held at Newark’s Cherry Blossom Welcome Center in Branch Brook Park on May 28th.
The Montclair Girl Invited to First Look of Lackawanna Station Ahead of Its Grand Opening
The Montclair Girl was invited this past Wednesday to see a sneak peek of the newly reimagined Lackawanna Station, located at 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair. Prior to its revival, the space had been left empty for almost a decade. The space will host a grand opening and ribbon cutting on Saturday, June 21st. Stay tuned for more details about the MG team’s visit.
Turtle Back Zoo Visitors Can Now Learn from Zookeepers in a New Program
Turtle Back Zoo, located at 560 Northfield Avenue, West Orange, now hosts “Keeper Talks,” a program in which guests can learn directly from the zookeepers about the animals’ daily diets, behaviors, and more. This program is free for all attendees and is scheduled weekly. See here for the schedule.
4th Annual Montclair Pride Festival Returns for 2025
The 4th annual Montclair Pride Festival, organized by Out Montclair, returned for 2025 on Saturday, June 14th. After successful festivals in 2022, 2023, and 2024, this year’s event featured live entertainment across three stages, 200+ local vendors, including food + drink vendors, food trucks, LGBTQ+ owned businesses, artisans, crafters, community organizations, and much more.
Somedays Bakery Opening in Montclair on 6/27
Since the opening of its Montclair location in 2023, Chip City has become Montclairons' go-to for all of their cookie cravings. After spotting signage on Bellevue Avenue earlier this year, The Montclair Girl can confirm that the team behind Chip City is now bringing its newest concept, Somedays Bakery, a cafe specializing in artisanal croissants, to the Montclair community. The team shared with us this week that the Montclair store will open on Friday, June 27th. Read on for what we know about Somedays Bakery opening its third location (and first New Jersey site) in Montclair, New Jersey.
Somedays Bakery Coming to Montclair
Cookie franchise Chip City has a sister brand that serves artisanal croissants, cakes, specialty coffee, soft serve, and almost every sweet treat one could think of. Somedays Bakery, which first opened to the public in Astoria, New York, in the spring of 2024, put up signage back in March on Bellevue Avenue next to the dearly missed Bellevue Theatre — which is currently undergoing renovations.
Read More: New Lingerie Design Studio, Greymade, Opens in Montclair
The future Montclair spot follows a series of expansions, with Someday's Long Island City location, which opened on January 31st, being the most recent. According to the Astoria Post, a Bay Terrace site is also in the works. Someday's Montclair site will be the company's fourth location in the Northeast region and the first New Jersey location.
Upon opening, locals can expect sweet and savory treats that take an innovative twist on the traditional croissant. The menu will consist of items like the Pistachio Lattice, which features pistachio frangipane, raspberry jam, white chocolate, and an intricate laatice design; the Loukaniko Suisse, made with Greek sausage and dodonis feta and topped with garlic oil, hot honey, and a pecorino, and more. Somedays Bakery will also serve La Colombe coffee beverages, tea, and cakes.
The Montclair Girl has reached out to Somedays Bakery and will update this post with any further information.
About Chip City
The cookie company, Chip City, has quickly expanded throughout New York’s boroughs and the Northern New Jersey areas, opening locations in Hoboken, Newark, and — of course — Montclair at 2 Church Street.
The cookie company serves its customers over 16 different cookies, ranging from classics like chocolate chip to explorative flavors like the signature s’mores. Chip City also releases a revolving menu of “ooey and gooey” flavors each week. Some of the popular flavors in the past have included glazed pear, red velvet cheesecake, white chocolate, snickerdoodle, butterscotch toffee, and cookies + cream. To find the weekly options, see here.
See More: Blue Angel Artisan Cafe + Bakery Soft Opens on Hudson Street in Hoboken
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