We’re now approaching the end of June, and while some may have spent the week relaxing on their annual vacations, here in the Montclair area, it’s been seven days of endless headlines. 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: Lackawanna Plaza has opened its doors in Montclair; the former Montclair teacher accused of security threats in January will face trial in November; and Montclair History Center announces its new online collections portal. Read on for all the news in Montclair and the surrounding Essex County towns for the week ending June 22nd, 2025.
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Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):
- One of the World’s Largest Solar Installations Now Completed at Port Newark Container Terminal
- Former Montclair Teacher Accused of Security Threats in January to Face Trial in November
- Employee at Al Bazaar in Montclair Stabbed During Robbery
- Lackawanna Plaza Opens in Montclair
- Ironbound Neighborhood of Newark to Welcome Its First Boutique Hotel
- Nutley Police Department Issues Vehicle Theft Warning
- West Orange Township Council Calls for Candidate Applications
- Port Authority Announces $160 Million Project to Make Transit Accessible to Newark + Elizabeth Riders
- Montclair History Center Announces New Online Collections Portal
- Arrests Made in Connection with Montclair Robbery
One of the World’s Largest Solar Installations Now Completed at Port Newark’s Container Terminal
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The City of Newark and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have completed a 7.2-megawatt solar installation at Port Newark Container Terminal, located at 241 Calcutta Street. According to a news release, this is now “one of the largest solar power installations at any container terminal in the world,” as it provides 50% of the terminal’s annual energy needs, generates power for terminal operations, and feeds excess power into the regional utility grid.
Former Montclair Teacher Accused of Security Threats in January to Face Trial in November
As of July 17th, 2025, the former Montclair elementary school teacher, Amir Doctry, will be tried in court for charges in connection with security threats made via social media that caused schools to be canceled on January 13th, 2025. The ex-teacher rejected the plea deal that would have included no prison time and a maximum sentence of five years on probation, contingent on his undergoing mental health treatment. Instead, he decided to proceed with a trial, slated to begin with jury selection on November 11th. According to NorthJersey.com, the former teacher is facing two third-degree charges of making terroristic threats.
Employee at Al Bazaar in Montclair Stabbed During Robbery
An employee of Al Bazaar, a tobacco shop located at 580 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, was stabbed by a Newark man during a robbery that took place in the early afternoon of June 11th. The individual, who was found bleeding from the chest by local police, was soon transported to Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. According to Patch, the suspect was charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon, and shoplifting.
Lackawanna Plaza Opens in Montclair
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Lackawanna Station, located at 1 Lackawanna Plaza, Montclair, opened its doors for the first time on June 21st, 2025. The official grand opening ran from 11AM to 7PM, and featured live music, interactive art, shopping, kids’ activities, giveaways, and more. The space now boasts over 20 new businesses, including Montclair Flea, Ironbound Farm Market, and The Little Shops, among many others.
Ironbound Neighborhood of Newark to Welcome Its First Boutique Hotel
On May 29th, Newark’s Zoning Board approved plans for a 153-room, eight-story boutique hotel in the Ironbound neighborhood at 114-126 Monroe Street. This property will be Newark’s first boutique hotel, which is owned by Antonio Seabra and Albano Seabra, the duo behind the multicultural grocery store Seabra’s Market. The hotel will be located across the street from the owner’s flagship market at 260 Lafayette Street, Newark.
Nutley Police Department Issues Vehicle Theft Warning
The Nutley Police Department recently issued a statement warning residents about the ongoing series of high-end vehicle thefts happening in the Essex County region. As per TapInto, each case includes a home burglary, followed by the theft of car keys and the resident’s vehicle. Residents are encouraged to lock all doors, windows, and cars, remove keys and key fobs from the cars, and ensure that all lighting, light sensors, surveillance cameras, and alarms are functioning properly.
West Orange Township Council Calls for Candidate Applications
The West Orange Township Council has posted a call for candidates to fill the seat left vacant by Councilwoman Asmeret Ghebremicael. The appointed individual will hold the seat until the General Election on November 4th, 2025, and the elected individual will finish the remainder of the former councilwoman’s term, expiring on December 31st, 2026. To be considered as a candidate, applicants must have lived in West Orange for at least a year before the election, collect 75 signatures from West Orange residents, and undergo a background check by state police.
Port Authority Announces $160 Million Project to Make Transit Accessible to Newark + Elizabeth Riders
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has begun construction on a $160 million project that will add a new entry point to the Newark Liberty International Airport Train Station. The project’s goal is to make local transit more accessible to historically underserved areas of Newark and Elizabeth, and is slated to be finished in 2026. The work includes an extension of the existing pedestrian bridge at the station to a new public access area off Frelinghuysen Avenue. This area will also feature a pickup + drop-off point for private vehicles, taxis, buses, and for-hire vehicles, as well as bicyclist and pedestrian access.
Montclair History Center Announces New Online Collections Portal
Since Fall 2024, the Montclair History Center has been working to launch a new, centralized collections system. Now, after months of developing the project, local researchers can explore a selection of digitized collections in the center’s Online Collections Portal. This includes maps, quilts, postcards, photographs, oral histories, Montclair High School Football archives, and more. In the coming months, Montclair History Center, located at 108 Orange Road, will add more collections, such as the Montclair Ambulance Unit and Lantern Slide Collection.
Arrests Made in Connection with Montclair Robbery
Arrests have been made in connection with an armed robbery that happened in Montclair earlier this month. On June 1st, a woman was walking her dog along North Willow Street when she was robbed at gunpoint. The victim’s jewelry was forcibly removed from her neck and stolen. The car used in the incident was also later recovered in Jersey City and has been linked to similar incidents in Union, Elizabeth, and Jersey City. Now we know that Jersey City natives 18-year-old Wesley Garcia and 19-year-old Kirvin De La Rosa have been charged with first-degree robbery, first-degree conspiracy to commit armed robbery, second-degree unlawful possession of a weapon, third-degree receiving stolen property, and second-degree eluding law enforcement, as per TapInto.
Partially Built Rental Unit in Montclair Hits the Market
A partially built 74-unit rental property at 65 Church Street is currently for sale. The space is 65% built as of this writing, according to RealEstateNJ, and was already approved for 112 parking spaces, 3,873 square feet of retail space, and a 2,400-square-foot public plaza. Upon completion, the property will also feature amenities like a rooftop deck, fitness room, bicycle storage, and more.
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, paddleboarding at Verona Park, and more. Download our guide to a local Montclair + Essex County summer here.
Montclair Scholarship Fund Awards $477,500 in Scholarships to Local High School Students
On June 12th, the Montclair Scholarship Fund (MSF) granted $477,500 in scholarships to 57 students at Montclair High School. As per Montclair Local, the average award per student now exceeds $8,300, with some awards reaching as high as $20,000.
Large Retail Space in Newark Sells for $37.5 Million
Newark’s Springfield Avenue Marketplace, a retail center anchored by ShopRite, was recently sold for $37.5 million. The 110,551-square-foot space, located at Jones Street + Springfield Avenue in the University Heights neighborhood, is 97% leased, according to Jersey Digs. Some known tenants include Taco Bell, Popeyes, T-Mobile, and McDonald’s.
Montclair YMCA Introduces Water Polo to Its Summer Programming
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This summer, the Montclair YMCA, located at 25 Park Street, will host an eight-week, co-ed water polo course for kids ages nine to 13. The course will run for the first time from June 24th to August 14th. Registration opened on June 14th.
Behind the Business: Twocents’ Impact on Marcel Bakery + Kitchen in Montclair
This article is sponsored by Twocents.
Montclair-based platform and app, Twocents, is reshaping how customer feedback is shared. Created by local entrepreneurs Tom Strollo and Drew Weaver, Twocents provides a simple new way for customers to privately share their thoughts directly with local businesses — helping them improve and grow. Twocents has kicked off partnerships with some local Montclair favorites like Marcel Bakery + Kitchen, which is already reaping the benefits. Read on to learn more about Twocents and how this Montclair-founded platform is impacting local businesses for the better.
About Twocents
The team at Twocents understands that public review platforms such as Yelp or Google can often turn from praise to punishment, with rage bait and scathing reviews designed for chasing public visibility. The truth is, these platforms affect small businesses dramatically (whether it be positively or negatively). While constructive criticism is helpful, Twocents believes it's important for businesses to have a safe, private space for useful, honest tips from their customers.
Twocents is changing the customer feedback game by opening authentic conversations between businesses and customers directly, creating space to thrive, improve, and shape the places we know and love (for the better). In the world of Twocents, feedback doesn’t damage reputations, it drives growth. Bringing humanity back to the customer review experience, one step at a time. Twocents is already working closely with local Montclair favorites to begin helping restaurants from within.
Twocents x Marcel Bakery + Kitchen
One of Twocents’ latest partners is Montclair eatery, Marcel Bakery + Kitchen, located at 631 ½ Valley Road. Marcel is one of many local businesses that have started to experience the positive impacts of incorporating the Twocents platform into their lives. The Mediterranean spot partnered with Twocents in hopes of fine-tuning its hosting, service, and delivery.
Daniel, the owner, has been running the show since 2017 and wanted answers to the questions he wouldn't necessarily ask customers directly. Feedback, he acknowledged, is an integral part of keeping a restaurant afloat, especially with the abundance of choices in the Montclair area. Daniel shared with MG that the best business advice he’s ever received for his restaurant is “Stay true to your core belief of what's good and bad for the people you serve.” By working with Twocents, he can do exactly that.
Daniel also shared that he has already received tons of feedback through Twocents, noting that customer kindness has been a happy stand-out. “I think Twocents is doing something beautiful that really didn't exist so much before,” Daniel told MG, adding that when customers can give direct feedback to owners and managers anonymously, an open, authentic forum is created between the two.“Something different happens when they think it's just from me to you,” he shared. “It's not meant to be seen with the world. It's not meant to be advertising anything, it's genuine feedback. People have been really sweet and great."
Using Twocents
To get started, users can simply visit the Twocents website, enter their phone number, and create an account using their email. For those looking for a more mobile-friendly option, the Twocents app is also available with the same sign-up process.
Once you’re in, you can send private comments and feedback directly to any business in Montclair by selecting the category of feedback (quality, service, atmosphere, etc.) and rating your experience on a 0%-100% scale. All users have the choice to remain anonymous.
When users share feedback with businesses, they also rack up reward points, which can be redeemed for discounts as they accumulate. Our team tested the platform ourselves by submitting two reviews and earned 500 reward points instantly. User participation also automatically enters you into a monthly sweepstakes where, each month, one user will receive a free dinner up to $500 at their favorite Montclair restaurant.
Gift cards ranging between $25 and $100 are also awarded to eligible users through monthly giveaways at numerous locations, including Marcel Bakery + Kitchen, Minias, Boschetto, Ani Ramen, Turtle & the Wolf, Paper Plane Coffee Co., and dozens more.
For now, Twocents is exclusive to Montclair — but the team plans to cover all of New Jersey by this summer. NYC will be next, before the platform goes nationwide.
Twocents is currently available for use in the Montclair area before expanding nationwide. To sign up for free, click here.
