In Montclair, there are several ways to help out the local community. Whether it is through volunteering, or donating, Toni’s Kitchen is one of those organizations that help out those in need. It happens to be a food ministry at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church right here in Montclair. Neighbors volunteer and give their time to help out residents in need of food items. Read on to learn more about the mission of Toni’s Kitchen and how you can help.
About Toni’s Kitchen
Toni’s Kitchen was founded in 1982 by a group of parishioners from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, whose simple mission was to “serve our neighbors in need.”
They borrowed an idea from a nearby soup kitchen in which all guests in search of a hot meal would be served restaurant-style in lieu of the more traditional buffet lines seen elsewhere. To head the kitchen, the group tapped Antoinette “Toni” Green, who was often described as a “spirit-filled and amazing” woman.
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As the organization’s footprint in Montclair continued to grow, so did the services Toni’s Kitchen offered. In addition to providing healthy meals to those in need, they adopted a community partner model to align with other organizations and provide access to resources that encourage and empower people to live with independence, respect, and dignity. This meant offering financial counseling, mental health support, access to medical professionals, and more.
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As a side project, Toni’s Kitchen launched Montclair Bounce. Backed by research that proves everyday creative, physical, and social interactions can build resilience, the group holds events for teens and adults that do just that. There is ‘Journaling for Middle Schoolers,’ conversations for adults about stress management and parenting tips, book reviews, and classes for meal prepping for your family. Montclair Bounce also held a festival in May 2019, which spanned over eight days and together with over 100 partners, sponsored over 75 events.
In 2020, the family grew even larger with the opening of Toni’s Community Closet in Bloomfield.
With donations of gently used clothing, toys, and home items, the homeless, near-homeless, and low-income communities are able to shop for the items needed to ensure they can be met without judgment.
How Operations Changed in the Face of COVID-19
Prior to COVID-19, there were many different programs and avenues through which Toni’s Kitchen would ensure access to a healthy meal for those who needed it. To adapt to all the quarantine guidelines while still reaching all those in need and keeping volunteers safe, they pivoted its hot meal service to takeout only, shopped for groceries available for pickup and limited delivery, and delivered a combination of frozen meals and small groceries to senior citizens unable to leave their residences.
Most recently, Toni’s Kitchen partnered with Montclair Community Farms and the YMCA of Montclair to teach families how to cook nutritious meals together. Montclair Community Farms will put together a basket of ingredients along with a recipe for families to “shop” from. The baskets are available to pick up for free from Toni’s Kitchen food truck and Montclair Community Farms Mobile Stand outside the YMCA.
See More: Jersey City Non-Profit Highlight: The York Street Project
How You Can Help
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Toni’s Kitchen is always looking for high school-aged kids and adults to volunteer whether it’s to cook and pack meals, pick up and deliver groceries, or work an event. Apply here to become a volunteer.
To support Toni’s Kitchen with a financial donation, you can do so online here or mail a check to:
Toni’s Kitchen, St. Luke’s Church — 73 S. Fullerton Avenue Montclair, NJ 07042
For all food donations, please visit the list of items needed here, and drop off the items at the church Monday through Friday from 9AM to 1PM, Saturday from 9:30AM to 12PM, or Sunday from 3PM to 5PM
Every few weeks, Toni’s Kitchen also hosts a town-wide food drive. Find out what items are in need here.
19 New Businesses in the Montclair Area This Spring 2025
As one business closes, another one opens, and this season is no different. Spring has arrived with sudden closures, exciting openings, and new spots to look out for, including restaurants, fitness studios, and boutiques. The Montclair Girl is here to keep you up to date with all the recent business buzz. Read on for a list of newly opened businesses and those coming soon to the Montclair and Essex County area.
Open
Corner Slice | 419 Boyden Avenue, Maplewood
After years of working in the restaurant industry, owners Mike Bergemann and David Poran opened Corner Slice in Maplewood this past February. Influenced by Mike's favorite pizza spots growing up, the menu boasts all types of New York-style square pies, including the East Coast classics like plain, pepperoni, vodka, Buffalo, and MG's favorite, the White Pie. Customers can also top their pies with options like house sausage, shaved red onion, garlic confit, fresh jalapeño, and Calabrian chili bomba (hot pepper sauce).
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El Gordo Peruvian Eatery | 324B Orange Road, Montclair
Photo Credit: El Gordo Peruvian Eatery
Monica Velis immigrated from Peru in 1996 with the goal of opening her own restaurant, and in late March, she and her family opened their third Garden State locale in the MTC. El Gordo Peruvian Eatery is best known for its bold eats and authentic Peruvian menu, which features dishes like Pollo a la Brasa (rotisserie chicken), Chaufa (Peruvian fried rice), Lomo Saltado (marinated steak, veggies, fries + rice), Arroz con Pollo (chicken + rice), and fresh Ceviche, to name a few.
The Greens Golf Lounge | 459 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
Photo Credit: The Greens Golf Lounge
This state-of-the-art indoor golf lounge was founded by avid golf enthusiasts and couple Sabrina Pusatera and Riki Shah. The Greens Golf Lounge, a space boasting four golf bays, opened its doors in February. The spot features Golfzon TwoVision simulators, set up for both righties and lefties. This is a moving swing plate that allows for 6,800 possible lies on a multi-surface hitting mat.
Greymade | 16 Church Street, Montclair
Photo Credit: Greymade
After seeing a gap in the market for inclusive lingerie, local designer and Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute, Kelly Grey, opened her own bespoke lingerie design studio in Montclair this past January. With a mission rooted in inclusivity, Greymade sells custom-made bras and lingerie pieces, "each handcrafted to the precise measurements and needs of the individual client," according to its website.
Lifetown Bowling | 10 Microlab Road, Livingston
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LifeTown, a 53,000-square-foot all-inclusive center providing a simulated town square, indoor playground, sensory room, aquatic center, and more, opened a bowling alley intentionally designed for people with disabilities in January. Lifetown Bowling has low-stimulation features, customizable aids, like wheelchair ramps and bumpers, and acoustical engineering.
Mashed Burgers | 360 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
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On March 28th, the New Jersey-based burger joint opened in the former Poke 360 location in Montclair. The franchise specializes in 100% Halal-certified smashed burgers, fries, and desserts like Häagen-Dazs milkshakes and pudding cups. Mashed Burgers has other New Jersey locales in Cliffside Park at 652 Anderson Avenue and Hoboken at 515 Washington Street. Along with its Montclair debut, the spot opened another site recently in White Plains, New York.
Minoru | 608 Valley Road, Montclair
After 35 years in Montclair, the sushi spot Daikichi closed its doors in September 2023. In February 2024, the chef behind SLA Thai announced it would move into the space, which had been left unclaimed for five months. The new spot set out to house two food concepts under one roof: a ramen restaurant (Minoru) and an omakase sushi experience (Jonestu Omakase). On March 5th, Minoru opened to the public.
Nómada | 700 Bloomfield Avenue, Verona
Nómada, the newest venture from the Skopos Hospitality Group, the team also behind other Northern New Jersey staples including Cowan’s Public in Nutley, The Barrow House in Clifton, Franklin Social in Jersey City, and The Parkside Social in Verona, officially opened in February. The restaurant, inspired by the beaches of Mexico and the creative culinary scene of Tulum, serves a menu of innovative eats like Chicharrón, Ceviche De Camarones, and Mojarra Frita, as well as drinks like spirit-free cocktails and an extensive wine list, featuring regional wines from Mexico. Nómada also serves a wide variety of desserts, including fresh mango, mango sorbet, and Tres Leches cake.
Paper Lantern | 379 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Paper Lantern, a restaurant specializing in Sichuan and Chinese fusion eats, opened this past February, celebrating its official grand opening on Monday, February 17th. The spot serves an elevated menu of dim sum, cold dishes, and traditional Sichuan meals like the chef-recommended spicy boiled beef, which comes with boiled sliced beef, vegetable medley, and Sichuan chili broth, and the Sichuan spicy offal stew, made with tender offal and crisp vegetables in a numbing chili broth.
Puppies + Tattoos | 116 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
Photo Credit: Puppies + Tattoos
Puppies + Tattoos is a New Jersey-based dog grooming company with locations in North Arlington and Fair Lawn. The pup-focused business opened its doors in Montclair this past March. During that month, the spot also donated 10% of grooming fees to the Montclair Animal Shelter. Puppies + Tattoos has baths, haircuts, nail trimmings, and ear cleaning services to all furry customers.
Qahwah House | 493 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
In December 2024, Qahwah House, a Yemeni-style coffee spot with locations around the country, put up signage in Montclair. This past February, the shop officially opened on Bloomfield Avenue. The shop's menu consists of signature coffee creations like Sana’ani Coffee, a medium roast coffee made with cardamom, a Middle Eastern spice, and Adeni Chai, a Yemeni black tea mixed with cardamom, nutmeg, and milk. To pair with a beverage, Montclair locals can order authentic Yemeni baked goods, like the Khaliat Alnahl, a butter and cheese-filled roll topped with drizzled honey.
Skip to My Brew | 145 Valley Road, Montclair
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Skip to My Brew soft-opened to the Montclair public on March 9th and held its official opening on March 18th. This cozy spot serves a menu of seven different espressos, various hot teas, like the Rose Petal Romance, Black Mist, Sunday Hangover, and Sumertime Shine, and sweet foam lattes, which come in three flavors: ube, caramel, and strawberry. Like any cafe, a drink order is never complete without a sweet (or savory) treat. At Skip to My Brew, customers can choose from a menu of pastries featuring croissants, black + white cookies, chocolate chip cookies, macarons, and cupcakes.
The Strength Club | 351 Bloomfield Avenue, Caldwell
Photo Credit: Courtesy of Strong New York
After months of waiting, the NYC-based fitness studio, specializing in strength-building classes and private training, has opened its second New Jersey locale at the former CrossFit Caldwell on Bloomfield Avenue. While The Strength Club initially had plans to open in September 2024, the spot opened its doors in February 2025.
Coming Soon
Chef Chen’s Sushi | 97 Walnut Street, Montclair
Taking the spot of the former Le Salbuen, the soon-to-be sushi restaurant has plans to open on Walnut Street in Montclair, according to signage spotted by the MG team back in March. Chef Chen's Sushi, which has other outposts in Brooklyn, California, and here in the Garden State, has yet to set an opening date. As per its website, the spot will serve maki rolls, fresh sashimi, tempura, teriyaki salmon, and much more.
O'Bagel | 560 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair
O’Bagel, a New Jersey-based, family-owned and operated bagel shop embodying the motto "carbs and coffee," plans to open its sixth location on Bloomfield Avenue, next to Club Pilates. Winning multiple titles in The Hoboken Girl’s best of awards for many years, the spot will serve the Montclair public the same dishes Hoboken locals know and love, including hand-rolled bagels, house-made cream cheese, chicken cutlet sandwiches, and more. An official opening date has yet to be announced.
Raising Cane's | 645 US-46, Fairfield
The Southern fast food chain, Raising Cane's, has plans to open on Route 46 in Fairfield, in the former Houlihan’s location, sometime during the fall or winter season. Essex County chicken finger enthusiasts can look forward to a menu of just that. Along with classic chicken dinger combo meals, the franchise will also serve Texas toast, crinkle-cut fries, chicken sandwiches, coleslaw, and its signature Cane Sauce.
Somedays Bakery | 260 Bellevue Avenue, Montclair
Chip City's sister brand, Somedays Bakery, first opened to the public in Astoria, New York, in 2024. As of March 2025, the business is bringing its sweet and savory treats to the Montclair community. The spot put up signage on Bellevue Avenue next to the Bellevue Theatre. An official opening date has yet to be revealed, but upon opening, Somedays Bakery will serve a menu of innovative croissant creations, such as the Pistachio Lattice, featuring pistachio frangipane, raspberry jam, white chocolate, and an intricate lattice design; the Loukaniko Suisse, made with Greek sausage and dodonis feta and topped with garlic oil, hot honey, and pecorino; and more.
The Saint Clair | 32 Church Street, Montclair
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After 11 years of serving the Montclair community with classic Italian eats, Scala del Nonna closed its doors on Church Street in mid-February. In early April, The Montclair Girl broke the news that Top Chef Season 19 contestant Chef Leia Gaccione would be opening an American restaurant in the former Scala del Nonna space. The restaurant, which plans to open in the summer, will be called The Saint Clair and serve as a locally sourced eatery providing brunch, lunch, and dinner all week long. To introduce its culinary creations to the MTC, The Saint Clair's will host a pop-up event on May 13th at Walnut Street Kitchen, featuring a four-course hearty meal for $75 per person. See here for more.
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Van Leeuwen | 35 Main Street, Millburn
Van Leeuwen Ice Cream has plans to open another New Jersey locale in Downtown Millburn, in the same building as Willow + Whisk. The franchise is known for its artisanal ice cream creations in one-of-a-kind flavors like honeycomb, Earl Grey tea, buttermilk berry cornbread, and praline butter cake, as well as its expansive list of vegan options. The Millburn site will mark the business's fourth Garden State location, with the first being in the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, the second on Grove Street in Jersey City, and the third coming soon to Washington Street in Hoboken.
