Ashtyn Asay 
La Bella Princess Cafe has been the backdrop for countless birthday parties, tea parties, and magical memories since opening at 553 Bloomfield Avenue in Verona over two years ago. Now, the princess-themed eatery will say goodbye to Verona after a zoning dispute that co-owners Martha Peralta and her daughter Karissa Teixeira say will force them to close the location. Read on for more about La Bella Princessa Cafe’s closure in Verona.
About the Cafe
Bella Princess has been creating princess-themed entertainment for families across New Jersey since 2003, when founder Martha launched the business as a traveling children’s entertainment company. After spending years bringing princess parties directly to homes and event venues, Martha partnered with her daughter, Karissa, to create a permanent destination where families could experience the magic year-round.
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The mother-daughter duo opened La Bella Princess Cafe on Bloomfield Avenue in 2024, combining a whimsical café with a children’s party venue under one roof. The pink, fairytale-inspired space featured themed drinks, desserts, tea parties, princess makeovers, and character events, while Bella’s Enchanted Hall hosted birthday celebrations and private parties for children.
About the Closure
In a statement shared on social media, Martha and Karissa announced that the Verona Board of Adjustment denied their appeal at its meeting on Friday, July 9th, upholding its decision to rescind La Bella Princess Cafe’s operating permit and ordering the business to cease operation immediately.
“We did everything right. We followed every rule,” Martha and Karissa wrote. “The Township of Verona officially approved and issued our permit in 2023. We invested our life savings. We built something beautiful. We served your families with our whole hearts.”
Martha and Karissa also emphasized what they described as a spotless operating record, stating they received “zero noise complaints, zero police reports, [and] zero code violations” during more than two years in the space.
According to the owners, the township rescinded the permit following an unrelated incident at another venue in Verona.
“We are not going quietly,” the statement continued. “What was done to Bella Princess was unjust and cruel.”
Martha and Karissa are now searching for a new home in Northern New Jersey and are asking the public to recommend available commercial spaces. The women also said they are contacting families with existing bookings individually and plan to continue operating once it relocates.
“It’s been a whirlwind, and we are trying to catch our breath,” Martha and Karissa told the Montclair Girl. “As of right now we are just trying to move the events that we have on our books to other locations.”
What Led to the Decision
The Verona Board of Adjustment voted on July 9 to uphold the zoning officer’s May 6 decision rescinding Bella Princess’ permit, finding that the previously issued permit was inconsistent with the property’s earlier zoning approvals. The board advised the business that it could pursue a use variance if it wished to continue operating the venue in its current form.
“The zoning officer who granted this particular variance… was relatively new and did not stay long,” Chairman Daniel McGinley said at the Verona Board of Adjustment’s May 9 meeting.
During the hearing, Bella Princess owner Martha Peralta and her attorney argued that the business operates primarily as a children’s entertainment venue with scheduled events, a limited café component, and private parties, and that it should qualify under the property’s existing approvals. The board ultimately disagreed and voted to affirm the permit’s rescission.
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Now, despite the uncertainty surrounding its Verona location, the owners say the business itself isn’t disappearing.
“We are taking our 20-year legacy, our performers, our characters, and our magic to a community that actually welcomes and protects small business owners,” the statement reads. “The crown isn’t slipping. We are simply moving to a new kingdom.”
As of publication, Bella Princess has not announced where it plans to relocate, but says it hopes to remain in Northern New Jersey. The Township of Verona did not immediately respond to a request for comment and has not publicly responded to Bella Princess’ social media statement.
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