The days of enjoying sunlight for a post-work run or playing sports outside in the late afternoon may be gone for now, but it doesn’t mean there aren’t other options to keep moving. Finding a gym that captures specific fitness goals can seem like a challenge, however, this list of locally-owned gyms should help. Read on for more information about local gyms to stay in shape in the colder months to come.
BYOB Fitness Agency | 570 South Avenue East, Cranford
Bring Your Own Boss Fitness does things a little differently. This space is “the solution for independent trainers.” It is a space where personal trainers can be self-employed. Established fitness studios can bring their own teams of trainers. Seasoned and new trainers are also welcome. BYOB prides itself in allowing personal trainers to focus on what’s most important — the client. The gym has a variety of cardio and weight equipment available as well as a juice bar.
The DRIP Fitness | 44 Hudson Place, Hoboken
Located in downtown Hoboken, this space has three floors of fitness fun. The second floor is where the reformer studio is located, the third floor holds the cycle studio, and the fourth floor holds the mat studio. To check out classes and Drip’s schedule, customers can download the app. There is also a location coming soon to Caldwell on Bloomfield Avenue.
Read More: Thought in Motion Waterbar: A Coffee Shop + Wellness Space in Montclair
Fit Foundry | 1416 Willow Avenue, Hoboken
Sometimes training alone can be a struggle. Fit Foundry holds both large group and semi-private group training sessions in the facility. Classes like Inferno feature a combination of cardio and strength. Titanium challenges the body to perform at its highest level. There are also yoga classes and more available on the schedule.
Fit Like Krys (FLK Method) | Remote
Krystal Weisberg or, Krys for short, prides herself on making fitness accessible for everyone. Her program Fit Like Krys (FLK), was established in North Jersey. She teaches “klasses” across North Jersey and her FLK program is also available virtually. “Krew” members of the FLK community join online workouts that range from 15 to 45 minutes covering cardio, lifting, HIIT, and body-part-specific workouts. Other than working out, Krys’s “krew” comes together for events like 5K races, some face-to-face workouts, retreats, challenges posted on Instagram, and more. Krys also has an intensive 6-week program called Bikini BoootKamp. Regardless of where her “krew” members are, Krys instills the idea that “fit is a mindset.” All new members can start at $30 for the first month.
Flex N’ Relax LLC | 890 River Road Unit 4, Edgewater
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If exercisers are looking for something that is a little more private, Flex N’ Relax studio has semi-private classes for up to six people or individual training options. Flex N’ Relax pushes for healthy lifestyles through balance. Patrons can work hard through fitness classes and relax at the Relax Bar where patrons can grab an organic protein shake or smoothie.
The Garage Gym | 613 Central Avenue, Westfield + 7 Conover Place, Little Silver
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Balancing a fitness schedule with a life schedule can sometimes feel as if there just aren’t enough hours in a day. If searching for 24/7 fitness possibilities, look no further than The Garage Gym. The program includes access to four workouts a week including an upper body, a lower body, and two “HYROX style conditioning workouts.” The community has “limited membership and has private access, so customers should inquire more information through the website.
GRIT Sports Training | 201 Marin Boulevard, Jersey City
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GRIT’s motto lies in “Never, never, never give up.” GRIT works on developing strength, agility, balance, and coordination. Training is available for children and young adults. Classes include basketball and skateboarding for kids. 5K runs and obstacle courses are available for adults.
Jane DO | 720 Monroe Street, Hoboken + 160 Newark Avenue 6th Floor, Jersey City
Jane DO’s philosophy is simple and classic: Stop Wishing Start Doing. This fitness studio specializes in five signature classes — HIIT, Dance, Skulpt, Tramp, and Step. Jane DO prides itself in being the largest community of the most confident women. It was created by Radio City Rockettes Jancey Lambros and Danielle DeAngelo.
Power-House Pilates | 189 Brunswick Street, Jersey City
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This boutique studio has pilates classes available in small groups or for personal training. Classes range in size and can be as small as two, so there’s no need to worry about getting lost in the crowd. Founder Morwen Banq has a background in dance and discovered Pilates to assist with lower back issues. She has experience teaching, training teachers, and working with seniors.
RISE FITNESS | 53 Farrand Street, Bloomfield
This studio will grab your attention from its vibrant mural on the front of the building. RISE focuses on the lifelong athlete. Classes fall into Strong or Endure categories, Strong classes include lifting, resistance bands, and body weight. Endure classes focus on high-intensity cardio and lighter weights. The schedule is organized on the website by S (Strong) or E (Endure) so clients can clearly see which day they are entering their program. RISE also has open gym hours available six days a week.
NJ HIIT Fitness + Performance | 576 Ridge Road, North Arlington
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This veteran-owned and operated facility opened its doors in 2013. Since then the team trained over 3,000 people and over 1,000 NJ firefighter candidates. Originally a warehouse in Elmwood Park, the newest space in North Arlington opened in 2016 containing 7,700 square feet of training space. In addition to open gym hours, it also has classes like Battle of the Ropes, HIRT (high-intensity resistance training), Strength and Conditioning, and more. NJ HIIT also uses its community to give back to other communities in New Jersey. The facility also has police and fire academy prep courses, as well as firefighter PPT training.
See More: A Guide to Hoboken Yoga Studios
Studio 509 | 509 Valley Street, Maplewood
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Studio 509 is located at the corner of Valley Street and Jefferson Avenue. This space has a variety of fun group classes and private training. Group classes include Pilates, Dance Fusion, GroveFit (a cardio dance movement class), Ballet, and Thrive (a gentle movement class). Private instruction packages include dance lessons, GYROTONIC (yoga, tai chi, and dance), and wedding packages. Little ones can join in on the fun with kid/teen classes from 4 through 18.
Train on Purpose | 137 Stuyvesant Avenue, Lyndhurst
Train on Purpose has a form of hybrid fitness for those who may also want to work out at home. Three packages are available for virtual coaching: Platinum, Gold, and Silver. Classes include upper and lower body circuits, HIIT, Burnout Banditz (total body toning), and more.
22 News Stories You Missed This Week in Montclair + Beyond
The new year has also brought some strong winds into New Jersey after a busy holiday season. It’s been another busy week in Essex County and we’ve got all the news to keep you up to date. Among the highlights: Target is coming to West Orange; Montclair Public Schools hires a new athletic director; and we've compiled a list on how to help the victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. Read on for all the news in Essex County for the week ending January 12th, 2024.
Have a news story or press release? Email it to [email protected].
Among the Headlines (read on for full stories):
- West Orange Classic Film Festival Returns With Vintage Movie Mysteries
- Ironbound Farm Market Opening in Lackawanna Plaza
- Target is Coming to West Orange
- Meal Delivery Service, Feast & Fettle, Launches in Essex County
- Owner of No. 165 in Maplewood Village Announces Plan to Permanently Close
- West Essex YMCA Facility in Livingston to Open in 2026
- Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence Awards $60K in Grants to Montclair Public Schools
- Freespace Dance Sets Date for Montclair Dance Festival Inaugural GALA
- Tous les Jours Opens in Former Lululemon Space in Montclair
- Moss + More Boutique in Montclair Announces Closing
West Orange Classic Film Festival Returns With Vintage Movie Mysteries
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The West Orange Classic Film Festival will celebrate its 19th season with the theme of "mysteries" from Sunday, January 12th through Sunday, March 2nd. Screenings will take place every Sunday at 2PM (besides Super Bowl Sunday on February 9th) at the AMC DINE-IN Theater, located at 495 Prospect Avenue in the Essex Green Town Center. According to a press release from the West Orange Arts Council, each screening will feature an introduction and a Q&A session by distinguished guest speakers. Tickets for $15 per movie is required in advance and can be purchased via Eventbrite.
Inner City Cafe in Orange Gaining Attention on Social Media
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Inner City Cafe, located at 15 South Essex Avenue in the City of Orange, has gone viral on Instagram for its colorful interior. Visitors can stop into this cozy spot and find paint-splattered walls, interesting art, and florals galore. Inner City Cafe also serves a menu of coffee, sandwiches, pastries, and more, as well as books, mugs, hoodies, and other merchandise. Keep an eye on MG for more on this spot in the coming weeks.
Target is Coming to West Orange
This coming fall, Essex County locals will have a new go-to shopping center. According to Patch West Orange, Target is coming to West Orange at 235 Prospect Avenue. An official opening date has yet to be announced, but it is known that the developers have already started the renovations on the 23-acre property.
New Coffee Shop, Qahwah House, Coming to Montclair
A Yemeni-style coffee spot, Qahwah House, has plans to open on the first floor of 493 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair sometime this year. This spot will be the business’s second New Jersey location as it already has one in Clifton. While an official opening date is still unknown, locals can expect a menu of Middle Eastern coffee, tea, and pastries, including Qahwah House’s signature Sana’ani Coffee (a medium roast coffee made with cardamom) and Khaliat Alnahl (a roll filled with butter and cheese and topped with drizzled honey).
Montclair Public Schools Announce Expansion of Pre-K Program
Montclair Public Schools is partnering with five community providers — Montclair Child Development Center, Montclair Community Pre-K, Montclair State University, Neighborhood Child and Infant Care Center (NCIC) and YMCA — for the 2025-2026 school year. It is also going to work with four district locations, including the Development Learning Center, Nishuane, Charles H. Bullock School and Hillside Elementary School. According to Montclair Local, this expansion makes 29 classrooms total for the program. The Mini-Mounties Pre-K program is guided by a state-approved curriculum that focuses on learning through play, aiming to cultivate social, emotional, and cognitive growth.
Meal Delivery Service, Feast & Fettle, Launches in Essex County
Feast & Fettle, a meal prep delivery service, has officially landed in Montclair and the Essex County area — delivering fresh, chef-prepared meals throughout the community. Using locally sourced ingredients for its rotating menu, the Feast & Fettle team does all the heavy lifting to create good and good-for-you dinners. All you have to do is decide which meals you want and how much you need. Click here for more.
Montclair Searching for 5th Town Manager in 2 Years
Montclair’s town council started interviews for a Township Manager on Thursday, January 2nd. The final candidate would be the fifth person to serve in the role in just over two years, per Montclair Local. Council members and the firm they hired to conduct the search interviewed three candidates so far and interviewed another four during the closed session of a special meeting held on Friday, January 10th. Interim employee Michael Lapolla plans to stay on until the new manager is hired.
Montclair Author Debuts First Novel at Watchung Booksellers
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Watchung Booksellers, located in Montclair, hosted debut author Lily Braun-Arnold for the release of The Last Bookstore on Earth. On Wednesday, January 8th, she was in conversation with author Laura Marx-Fitzgerald in The Kids' Room at 44 Fairfield Street. Lily is currently a student at Smith College, an alumna of Montclair High School, and was previously a junior bookseller at Watchung Booksellers.
West Essex YMCA Facility in Livingston to Open in 2026
The West Essex YMCA, a branch of the Metropolitan YMCA of the Oranges, has unveiled plans for its new, state-of-the-art facility to be built at 304 S. Livingston Avenue in Livingston. According to TAPinto Livingston, the anticipated opening of the facility would be in late 2026. The West Essex YMCA is planning a groundbreaking ceremony early this year but no official date has been announced yet.
Owner of No. 165 in Maplewood Village Announces Plan to Permanently Close
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No. 165 — the lifestyle and candy store in Maplewood Village that opened in 2007 — is now closing for good. Owner Mary Vayas previously announced the closing of No. 165 in December 2021, but reconsidered after an outpouring of pleas from customers. She plans to close the store “possibly end of the month."
Montclair Public Schools Hires New Athletic Director
The Montclair Public Schools (MPS) has recently announced the hiring of Matthew Belford as the new Athletic Director for Montclair Public Schools/Montclair High School, effective February 2025. Matthew assumes the role with 23 years of experience in athletics, six of those years being in administration. As Athletic Director, he will oversee all sports programs, coordinate events, and work to ensure that the district’s athletic programs remain in compliance, per a statement from MPS.
Montclair Named One of 'Hottest Towns' in NJ for Homebuying
Montclair was named one of the "hottest towns" in New Jersey for homebuying, per The Bergen Record. These rankings were based on the number of unique views of property listings and the number of days listings remained active from January to November 2024. In 2024, the township of Montclair had a reported median listing price of $899,000.
Dates Announced for Essex County Deer Cull 2025
Essex County announced the return of its annual deer cull for 2025. This year's cull will take place at South Mountain Reservation (in Maplewood, Millburn and West Orange) every Tuesday from January 14th through February 4th, per Patch West Orange. The program will be held at Hilltop Reservation (in Cedar Grove, North Caldwell and Verona) every Thursday through February 27th.
Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence Awards $60K in Grants to Montclair Public Schools
The Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence (MFEE) recently announced that it has awarded more than 70 grants — totaling $60,000 — to educators across the Montclair Public School District for the 2024-2025 school year. The grants cover classroom innovation, social-emotional learning, and professional development. The MFEE received 113 applications, and awards were chosen by the nonprofit’s staff, board members, and volunteer grant liaisons at each school.
Ironbound Farm Market Opening in Lackawanna Plaza
Montclair will welcome a new farmer’s market to Lackawanna Plaza this spring: Ironbound Farm Market. According to a video released by NorthJersey.com, the market will operate 365 days a year and bring “regionally grown food directly to the residents of Montclair.” This includes produce, meats, and pre-made meals. Click here for more.
Montclair Film Selected to Join Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator Program
On Monday, January 6th, Montclair Film announced that it has been selected to join the Bloomberg Philanthropies’ Digital Accelerator Program. Montclair Film is one of 200 nonprofit cultural organizations accepted into this cohort, spanning artistic disciplines and organization size in 52 American cities and 28 cities in the United Kingdom. This initiative helps cultural organizations strengthen technology and management practices to improve operations, drive revenue, increase fundraising, engage broader audiences, and deliver dynamic programming.
Montclair’s 'Skip the Stuff' Ordinance to Take Effect in March
Montclair is going green with the approval of “Skip the Stuff." This ordinance prohibits the administration of single-use products like plastic utensils, napkins, straws, and mini sauce packets from restaurant take-out and delivery orders unless specifically requested. "Skip the Stuff," which has been adopted by towns and cities across the country, was unanimously voted in favor by the Montclair Township Council on December 17th, 2024, and will be in full effect on Saturday, March 1st. Click here for more.
Freespace Dance Sets Date for Montclair Dance Festival Inaugural GALA
New Jersey-based non-profit Freespace Dance will host its inaugural GALA fundraising event for the Montclair Dance Festival on Friday, January 31st, at the Conference Center at Montclair State University. The evening will feature a variety of dance performances by participating companies and studios, including Freespace Dance, Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company, New Jersey Ballet, DanceWorks Studios, and Rock Dance Collective. Tickets are available online and include parking and a shuttle to the Conference Center.
How to Help the Victims of the Los Angeles Wildfires
On Tuesday, January 7th, a wildfire broke out in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Since then, six more fires have spread across the area, leading to mass destruction in residential areas and five deaths as of this writing. There are multiple organizations in need of donations to aid in this situation, and while New Jersey is not affected by this natural disaster, it’s important to help where we can. Click here for how to help.
Bloomfield ShopRite Gets New Ownership
It was announced on Wednesday, January 8th, that the Brookdale ShopRite in Bloomfield was sold to the Glass family for an undisclosed amount. The Glass family — who owns and operates the buyer, Glass Gardens — also owns a ShopRite in Newark along with 13 other stores in New Jersey and New York. The Bloomfield ShopRite was valued at nearly $13.1 million as of December 2020, according to public records, per NorthJersey.com.
Tous les Jours Opens in Former Lululemon Space in Montclair
Tous les Jours, a French-Asian bakery originating in South Korea, has officially made its debut in Montclair as of December 27th, 2024. The bakery specializes in sandwiches, coffee, tea, and blended frozen drinks, like smoothies, in mango or strawberry, and frappes in the flavors matcha, mocha, and caramel. Click here for more.
Moss + More Boutique in Montclair Announces Closing
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Botanical gift boutique, Moss + More (located at 42 Upper Montclair Plaza in Montclair), announced that it is closing its doors in 2025. While an official closing date hasn't been set yet, the shop encourages customers to visit as significant discounts will be placed on goods in the coming months. Moss + More has been involved in the Montclair community for over six years.
