Fall brings many fall activities like apple picking and farm exploring, but also brings a favorite flavor back to the forefront. It’s the time of year for pumpkin spice, in everything from treats to coffee to chai drinks. Several local businesses have seasonal treats to celebrate autumn, which can be enjoyed while watching the leaves change and taking a walk in the crisp air. Check out our list of Montclair spots that serve pumpkin spice drinks.
Eagle Rock Cafe | 202 Bellevue Avenue
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Eagle Rock Cafe is embracing the season with its new autumn menu. A twist on the traditional PSL, the “White Pumpkin” is a latte made with pumpkin spice and white mocha. You can pair this fall drink with a warm, butter croissant. From spooky drinks to cozy lattes, this cafe has a full menu of seasonal drinks. MG pro tip: This is also a great spot for remote work.
Read More: A Guide to Montclair’s Best Coffee Shops
Insomnia Coffee Shop Truck | 111 Glenridge Avenue
This Colombian-sourced coffee truck opened in September 2024, and serves a plethora of items from hot coffees to empanadas, including the classic PSL. You can find this coffee shop on wheels in the parking lot of Lackawanna Station.
Java Love | 244 Bellevue Avenue, 49 Church Street, 39 Glenridge Avenue, + 1 University Promenade (on Montclair State’s campus)
This Instagram-worthy cafe serves a wide range of flavors in organic coffee, as well as pastries and other treats. With four locations in Montclair, one being on Montclair State University‘s campus, the small, family-owned chain provides a homey space to enjoy the fall classic, pumpkin spice beverages. On the menu, try Amanda’s Pumpkin Potion, a PSL blended with chai and topped with pumpkin cold foam and cinnamon.
Mattarello Bakery + Cafe | 254 Bellevue Avenue
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Mattarello Bakery + Cafe serves everything from brunch to whipped coffee. This season, the cafe is bringing back its seasonal drinks, including its pumpkin spice latte. If you’re in the mood for a fall drink that isn’t a PSL, the cafe also serves a maple spice latte.
Red Eye Coffee | 94 Walnut Street
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Since 2012, Red Eye has been serving up breakfast and lunch items alongside delicious coffee beverages. A wide array of flavors, including pumpkin spice, are available on the menu, and the cafe is open every day from 8AM to 3PM. Each beverage is available in 12 or 16-ounce servings.
Sweet Kitchen | 533 Bloomfield Avenue
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Sweet Kitchen is not your traditional bakery. This spot serves breakfast, lunch, smoothies and, of course, coffee. For this fall season, Sweet Kitchen is serving a classic PSL and a pumpkin pie latte that will put you in the Thanksgiving mood.
Toast | 700 Bloomfield Avenue
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Breakfast, lunch, and brunch take shape in classic American dishes at this diner, which serves seasonal favorites like pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin pie pancakes. The locally-owned business has grown into a small chain that serves up comfort foods and staples alike.
See More: 50+ New Jersey Festivals For Your Fall 2024 Bucket List
Trend Coffee + Tea House | 411 Bloomfield Avenue
Located in the oldest house in Montclair, built in 1860, this downtown coffee shop offers classic, passed-down recipes and a ton of events, including open mic night and live music. Sip on a pumpkin spice chai a la mode or a pumpkin spice tea, and enjoy a savory crepe or a homemade Italian dessert.
Updates on the Montclair Township Animal Shelter
Montclair Township Animal Shelter, located at 77 North Willow Street, plays a vital role in the community. The shelter cares for neglected pets and finds them forever homes, as well as provides animal control and welfare services. During the weekend of December 14th, 2024 rumors on Facebook about the shelter potentially closing raised concerns amongst Montclair residents. A few months later, the shelter has released a statement, saying there are no plans to close the shelter. The Montclair Girl has gathered all the facts surrounding the situation. Read on for the latest updates on the Montclair Township Animal Shelter.
Updates as of 2/25
Montclair Township Animal Shelter posted the following announcement on its website on Monday, February 24th, assuring locals that the shelter will not be closing:
"We understand that residents may have heard rumors about potential plans to close the Animal Shelter. The Township and Council want to remind and reassure the community that there are absolutely no plans to close the Animal Shelter. There have been no discussions or plans of any kind to sell or develop the property.
The Township is also working closely with the shelter to evaluate the transfer program and how it can be efficiently reinstated. The Animal Shelter plays a vital role in our community and offers invaluable services to our town.
Finally, we want to remind residents that if they hear rumors or claims about the Township on social media, we encourage them to contact their respective Ward Councilor or the Mayor directly for accurate information."
This post will be updated with any further information.
Read More: A List of Local Vets in the Montclair Area
Updates as of 12/23
Concerns from residents regarding Montclair Township's decision to no longer allow MTAS to take in animals from other shelters arose at the Council Meeting on December 17th. Township Manager Michael Lapolla claimed that the reason behind this ordinance was because of budgetary reasons. Per Montclair Local, Michael Lapolla further claimed that employees of the shelter do not want to take in dogs from Newark and East Orange because "they’re all pit bulls and nobody adopts pit bulls."
Karen Sacks, President of Friends of Montclair Township Animal Shelter told Montclair Local that she disagrees with Michael Lapolla's statements. "The shelter has always transferred animals from high kill shelters when there are empty kennels,” she said. “It is a shelter best practice that saves lives and provides animals to residents for adoption."
Brian R. Hackett, who serves as the director of government and community relations for the Associated Humane Societies, the organization that operates the animal shelter in Newark, also weighed in on the issue. “When towns, counties, and nonprofits run animal shelter facilities around our state, it is commonly recognized and expected ‘best practices’ in the industry that shelters assist other shelters if and when they have the capacity to do so,” Brian R. Hackett shared with Montclair Local. “Numerous examples abound of shelters helping others during times of natural disasters, hoarding and cruelty situations, or emergencies, such as when Montclair’s shelter itself suffered a tragic fire back in 2016.”
Updates as of 12/13
Despite rumors about the Montclair Township Animal Shelter closing have circulated online, according to a statement released by Montclair's Township Manager Michael Lapolla on December 13th "There is no plan to close the shelter."
In addition, Lapolla stated that no plans have been formed to sell the building where the shelter operates. "There have been no meetings, discussions, or any other type of communication with any developers regarding the property."
The Montclair Girl team has reached out to Montclair Township Animal Shelter and this piece will be updated with any further comments.
How Did the Rumors Start?
In December 2024, discourse regarding the Montclair Township Animal Shelter potentially closing spread throughout the Facebook groups, Montclair Dog, and Montclair Politics, causing concerns from residents who support the shelter. The central theme circulating around these posts was that Township Manager Michael Lapolla was planning to close the shelter and sell the building to developers.
As a result of such chatter, Montclair resident Carolyn Everson launched a petition on December 12th to "Protect the Montclair Township Animal Shelter and the Animals Within It." The petition states, "Closing our beloved shelter would be a blow not only to the homeless animals within its walls but also to thousands of proud pet parents and donors who believe in its mission."
"Isn't just an issue," Carolyn states in the petition, "it's a deeply personal fight for doing what's right." As of this writing, the petition has garnered over 1300 signatures.
Michael Lapolla "[encourages] residents to directly contact their Councilperson or the Mayor" if there are "rumors or other claims on social media about the township," as per the released statement.
About Montclair Township Animal Shelter
The Montclair Township Animal Shelter, which operates separately from Montclair Humane, an organization that advocates for animal rights, climate change, social justice, and more, is municipally run by the Township of Montclair. The MTAS provides Montclair, Verona, and Nutley with animal care and control services.
According to the shelter's website, its missions are to care for and protect unwanted animals, promote animal welfare, place adoptable animals in permanent homes, and provide services like behavior modification, training, socialization, and environmental enrichment to increase the chances of the animal getting adopted.
To view animals ready for adoption, visit Petfinder.com or check out the shelter's official Facebook page.
See More: On This Day in 2023: Ricardo the Bull Wandered Onto NJ Transit Tracks
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