Hoboken-based online retailer Jet.com takes off
A potentially massive new player has entered the world of e-commerce, and it’s coming straight out of the Mile Square City. Jet.com, which opened its headquarters in a brand new office tower on the South Waterfront earlier this year, aims to bring the price club model to online shopping.
Members of Jet pay $50 per year for access to discounts averaging 10 to 15 percent lower than any other shopping site on over 10 million items, according to the company. Shipping is free on orders over $35, and shoppers can unlock additional savings by bundling certain items together in one order.
After a long beta testing period, the site opened to the public Tuesday. For the time being, anyone can try a three-month membership on the site for free.
Jet is challenging online behemoth Amazon, where founder Marc Lore worked for over two years after Amazon bought his first big venture, Quidsi, which was behind such sites as Diapers.com.
The company has received $225 million in seed funding and does not expect to turn a profit for at least five years. It does not make money on transactions, allowing it to seek the maximum discount for customers, and must rely on growing its paying membership to succeed.
Meanwhile, Jet will continue to grow in Hoboken. The company has signed a lease for 40,000 square feet in Waterfront Corporate Center III last December and announced plans to double its workforce to 200 employees by the end of this year.
“I’m eager to partner with the local community to help make Hoboken into a standout hub for tech talent,” said Lore.
A&P files for bankruptcy; five HudCo markets could be sold to Acme
Five supermarkets in Hudson County are slated to be sold and two more could close after A&P filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection this past Sunday. The grocery retailer, which operates 296 stores in the Mid-Atlantic region under six banners, has struggled financially and was never able to rebound fully after an earlier bankruptcy filing in 2010.
Twenty-five stores are slated to close within the next 60 days “due to lack of interest and significant ongoing store operating losses,” according to an A&P press release. The company will operate the remainder as normal while it seeks to sell them to new operators.
On Monday, A&P announced that it had received bids totaling $600 million for around 120 stores.
In Hudson County, five stores were included in an asset purchase agreement with Acme Markets, Inc.: three A&P stores in Jersey City, Hoboken, and West New York and two Pathmark stores in Jersey City and Weehawken.
The Hoboken store slated to be sold to Acme is the A&P at 614 Clinton St.
An additional Pathmark in Jersey City and a Food Basics in North Bergen were not included in the agreements, but are not among those stores closing in the short-term.
The sales must be approved by the bankruptcy court, and higher bids are possible. A&P hopes to complete the process by October.
Based in Montvale, A&P is the oldest grocery chain in the United States. According to the Wall Street Journal, the company’s mid-tier grocery chains have struggled in recent decades to compete against big box hypermarket stores like WalMart, specialty grocers like Whole Foods, and discount chains like Aldi.
City encourages residents to file for insurance claims review
City Hall reminds Hoboken policyholders with the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) who filed a claim due to Hurricane Sandy that they have until Sept. 15, 2015 to register to have their claim files reviewed if they believe they were underpaid. In May of 2015, Mayor Zimmer joined U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez in Hoboken as the senators announced this review process to the public.
According to FEMA, it has committed to ensuring all NFIP policyholders who filed a claim as a result of Hurricane Sandy receive the proper compensation they are due under their policy. The NFIP established a process for those affected by Hurricane Sandy to have their claims reviewed. When warranted, additional payments will be made to those policyholders.
FEMA sent letters to approximately 142,000 NFIP policyholders, including those in Hoboken, who filed claims resulting from Hurricane Sandy, offering them an opportunity to have their files reviewed. Hoboken residents with basement (garden) apartments, along with condominium associations who filed claims are encouraged to file for a review.
To be eligible for the review, policyholders must have experienced flood damage between Oct. 27, 2012 and Nov. 6, 2012 as a result of Hurricane Sandy. Policyholders can call the NFIP’s Hurricane Sandy claims center at (866) 337-4262 to request a review.
Alternately, policyholders can go online to www.fema.gov/hurricane-sandy-nfip-claims to download a form requesting a review. The downloaded form may be filled out and emailed to FEMA-sandyclaimsreview@fema.dhs.gov to start the review process.
For individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech disability using 711 or VRS, please call (866) 337-4262. For individuals using a TTY, please call (800) 462-7585 to begin the review process. Before contacting the claim center, policyholders are asked to have their flood insurance carrier name and policy number at hand.
FEMA will request the policyholder’s claim file from their insurance company and forward it to the NFIP review office within two business days. Files will be assigned to a highly skilled, NFIP-certified adjuster who will serve as a caseworker for the insured. The entire process should take less than 90 days. Caseworkers will contact policyholders to guide them through the review process. Policyholders who have already registered for the Hurricane Sandy claims review do not need to take any additional action and can expect to be contacted by their caseworker.
Community invited to police awards and fire promotions July 27
All members of the community are invited to an awards ceremony for the Hoboken Police Department and a promotions ceremony for the Hoboken Fire Department, both on Monday, July 27. The awards ceremony for the police department will take place at 1 p.m. at the Stevens Institute of Technology in the Howe Center (Bissinger Room, 4th floor), while the fire promotions will begin at 3:30 p.m. in the Court Room at City Hall, 94 Washington St.
At the awards ceremony, the hard work and dedication of our police officers will be recognized by Mayor Dawn Zimmer, Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante and Public Safety Director Jon Tooke. Awards and special recognition will be given to outstanding members of the police department and additional public safety officials.
At the fire promotions ceremony, Captain Brian Crimmins will be promoted to the rank of battalion chief, and Firefighter Sam Torres will be promoted to the rank of captain. Mayor Zimmer and Provisional Fire Chief Anton Peskens will give brief remarks, while Public Safety Director Tooke will serve as the master of ceremonies.
Limited transportation will be provided from the Stevens Institute of Technology to City Hall for those needing assistance.
Public Library to hold Family-Friendly Comedy Night
Come down to the Hoboken Public Library for a Family Friendly Comedy Program on Thursday, July 30 at 7 p.m. Comedian Kevin Dombrowski will be hosting a night of comedy featuring such stand-ups as Karen Bergreen, Joe Larson, Katherine Williams, and Steve Leventhal. All ages are welcome to attend!
Please RSVP at (201) 420-2347 or online at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/comedy-night-at-hoboken-public-library-with-rich-kiamco-tickets-17506242643. For more information, visit hobokenlibrary.org.
Hoboken National Night Out returns Aug. 4
On Tuesday, Aug. 4, Police Chief Kenneth Ferrante along with the Hoboken Police Department will be hosting Hoboken’s annual National Night Out at Church Square Park from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. This year’s night will be dedicated in memory of Jayden Thomas O’Connor, grandson of retired PO Thomas O’Connor.
National Night Out is a nationwide event that allows community workers to give back to their community. The goals of National Night Out are to 1) heighten crime and drug awareness; 2) generate support for, and participation in, local anti-crime programs; 3) strengthen neighborhood spirit and police community partnership; 4) send a message to criminals that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.
If you are a local business or organization who wishes to participate in the parade, or the festivities, please contact Sergeant Melissa Gigante at (201) 420-2100 or at gigantem@hobokenpd.org.
CarePoint Health partners with Reliance Medical Group
CarePoint Health has announced that it has entered into a partnership with South Jersey healthcare leader Reliance Medical Group, effectively strengthening and expanding healthcare options for New Jersey residents. Specifically, the collaboration will directly impact Atlantic City and the South Jersey region by raising the quality of affordable, patient-centered healthcare while stimulating employment and economic development, further enhancing CarePoint Health’s projected contribution of $750 million annually to the New Jersey economy between 2014 and 2017.
“This groundbreaking partnership will bring together two like-minded healthcare providers that are each committed to providing the people they serve with high quality, individualized, and affordable care,” said Dennis Kelly, chief executive officer of CarePoint Health. “CarePoint Health has been wanting to expand its leading brand of healthcare into the South Jersey market. In Reliance Medical Group, we have found a partner that would allow us to instantly do so, while maintaining all of our quality and affordability standards.”
“This alliance is not only great for our organizations, but for the people and communities we serve throughout South Jersey,” said Dr. Jon Regis, president and chief executive officer of Reliance Medical Group. “By partnering with CarePoint Health, we will provide our patients with instant access to a variety of specialists and leading centers for medicine right here in New Jersey. This collaboration will also give us access to medical and business technology that will ensure Reliance Medical Group is providing its patients with the highest quality care.”
Based in Pleasantville, Reliance Medical Group has more than 30 office locations throughout Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Mercer and Ocean Counties, and specializes in OB/GYN Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Family/Internal Medicine, Podiatry, Chiropractic and Geriatric Medicine. Reliance’s 25 physicians, 13 nurse practitioners, five physicians assistants and 150 staff members care for more than 50,000 patients annually.