Home CultureAAPI-owned Ani Ramen Flagship Moves North on Bloomfield Avenue

Ani Ramen Flagship Moves North on Bloomfield Avenue

by Gabriela Lachapel O'Brien
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New location, same umami. One of North Jersey’s favorite ramen restaurants opened Monday, August 30th at their new location at 511 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair without missing a beat. After stalled plans, a few pivots, and hopefully the worst of COVID-19 behind them, Ani Ramen is back with a vengeance. Read on to see what the fascinating owners of Ani Ramen House have been up to this past year and a half and their future plans.

ani ramen

(Photo credit: @aniramen)

Looking Back

At the onset of the pandemic, Ani Ramen was operating locations in Montclair, Jersey City, Summit, and Maplewood with plans to open at least three more when the world came to a screeching halt. 

The Ivy at Chatham

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The owners immediately shifted their businesses to serve frontline workers and communities in need by donating their inventory with free meal kits. Then, a few weeks later, the team opened not only one but two not-for-profit restaurants in partnership with Be Awesome Feed Somebody, Rock City Pizza Co., and Bang Bang Chicken. Rock City served Detroit-style pizza and Bang Bang Chicken offered Thai rotisserie chicken (with a borrowed recipe from another Montclair fave, Kai Yang!). 

ani ramen

(Photo credit: @aniramen)

Both pizza and chicken traveled much better than ramen, were less expensive to produce, and were more approachable to diners. While these take-out spots have closed, their presence will never be forgotten. Between Rock City Pizza and Bang Bang Chicken, over 30,000 meals were served or donated. 

A Growth Spurt

ani ramen

(Photo credit: @aniramen)

One of Ani Ramen’s primary focuses was always to hire back the staff they, unfortunately, had to lay off in 2020. Slowly but surely, throughout the course of the year and with the help of Be Awesome Feed Somebody, expanded take-out/delivery services, the return of indoor dining, new locations in Cranford and New Brunswick, and internal incentives, the group expects staffing levels to return to pre-pandemic levels. 

Part of the growth also included upgrading the OG location in Montclair. The new spot has about twice the capacity of its previous home but all the same great vibes, hospitality, and of course… food!

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There are five more locations slated to open sometime next year including the first locations in New York at Hudson Eats at Brookfield Place, Larchmont, and Tarrytown, as well as Princeton, New Jersey. The hospitality group behind Ani Ramen House also has new concepts in the works like a sushi concept that was born out of their previous partnership with Sushi By Bou and a revival of Bang Bang Chicken. 

Follow Ani Ramen on Instagram to stay up to date with all their happenings and ventures on the horizon. 

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