The Montclair Girl Team 
After months of anticipation, the first World Cup game was played in New Jersey on Saturday, June 13th. Amongst all the excitement with the Knicks, the World Cup, and the heat wave, we’ve got all the Montclair + Essex County headlines to get you up to speed. Among the highlights: a new sushi restaurant has opened in Montclair; the Montclair School Board is trying to find a financial auditor; and all eyes are on NJ Transit as crowds travel to and from World Cup games.
You can read more at the links below, and always feel free to submit any news tips to [email protected]. Our twice-weekly newsletter shares more as well, which you can sign up for here (it’s so great, promise)!
– Toastique, a fast-casual cafe known for gourmet toasts, smoothie bowls, cold-pressed juices, and health-forward bites, is opening on Church Street in Montclair on June 20th (The Montclair Girl).
– The Bruce Springsteen Archives + Center for American Music at Monmouth University officially opened (The Jersey Shore Girl).
– Ju-Ichi, a family-owned Japanese restaurant serving ramen, sushi, donburi, udon, and other classic dishes, has opened at 512 Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair (The Montclair Girl).
– Montclair apartments and a clothing shop were evacuated as crews responded to a local fire (Montclair Local).
– Montclair’s school superintendent called out a racist stereotype on a Juneteenth menu, prompting renewed attention to cultural sensitivity in the district (Montclair Local).
– A rejected Montclair apartment proposal gained new life after a zoning decision reopened the path for the project (Montclair Local).
– Montclair’s senior coordinator’s abrupt departure sparked outcry from residents and community members concerned about services for older adults (Montclair Local).
– The Belleville school district cut 28 jobs and reduced support for immigrant students as officials worked through budget and staffing changes (NJ.com).
– NJ Transit, long a source of commuter frustration, is preparing for a major rider surge tied to the 2026 World Cup (Bloomberg).
– The Garden State Plaza is adding new stores, restaurants, and attractions as part of its latest expansion plans (Yahoo News).
– New Jersey officials are facing renewed pressure over Amtrak and NJ Transit reliability as the region prepares for World Cup crowds and potential transportation disruptions (Politico).
– New Jersey hospitals are preparing for the 2026 World Cup by planning for increased patient demand, emergency response needs, and large crowds of visiting fans (NorthJersey.com).
– The Montclair School Board is working through the challenge of finding a firm to conduct a forensic audit of the district’s finances (Montclair Local).
– A proposed 500-unit apartment project tied to an NFL owner on the West Essex Highlands site was officially rejected (Montclair Local).
– Montclair preservation awards honored a church restoration, a student archivist, and local history efforts across the community (Montclair Local).
– Burlington, ShopRite, Five Below, Rainbow, Verizon, Newark Community Health Center, and Angel Nails are among the tenants coming to The Crossings at Brick Church Station, a mixed-use East Orange development with 420 residential units (Jersey Digs).
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