We the people do not accept the forced closure of Northern Soul, located at 557 1st Street in Hoboken, NJ.
Northern Soul is the heart and soul (no pun intended) of the 4th Ward of Hoboken. This petition is to bring our soul back and to show the landlords, Liam & Margaret Benson, that the abrupt and forced closing of the establishment is terrible business decision. Northern Soul was a haven for local artists, musicians, community members and dogs. As a result, Northern Soul was always crowded with paying customers and was clearly performing well financially.
If our beloved Northern Soul, a stalwart of the 4th Ward community, found the new financial demands unreasonable, one can only assume that any future establishment to occupy 557 1st Street will meet the same fate. If the space sits vacant for more than six months, we, as concerned citizens, will seek laws that punish landlords who force out tenants due to greed. Empty commercial spaces are of no use to our community and we reject the notion that a popular, successful business had to give way to avarice. We the people will not frequent any new establishment at 557 1st Street.
Respectfully,
The "Soul" of Northern Soul
Updates
June 9, 2016
Seeing one thousand names on this list reminds me why Northern Soul was always more than just a business. It feels like the entire neighborhood is stepping up to show that our community spots are not disposable.
Reached 1,000 supporters
June 8, 2016
May 11, 2016
I have been walking past 557 1st Street every day and seeing those dark windows feels like a wound to our neighborhood. People have been reaching out to share their memories of the music and the community we built there. It is clear that the Bensons underestimated how much this place meant to us and we are not going to let them ignore that.
May 6, 2016
Seeing one hundred people stand up for Northern Soul proves how much this place means to our neighborhood. I never want to walk past those empty windows and ignore what we lost.
Reached 100 supporters
May 4, 2016
310 Comments
Nothing to say that hasn't been said. This place is great. This place helped my rescue dog become comfortable with people and had my first kiss with the girl I'm living with now. Best place for our friends to meet up for a drink.
Northern Souls hosts one of the last true authentic local and artistic communities left in the city. This is not your traditional Hoboken "Bro Bar" which its only ambition is to get inebriated. There is a lot of love in NS . My heart is truly broken to have these doors closed.
More than just a bar, this was a home for talented artists and musicians--something meaningful and substantial for the Hoboken community. Shame on you, landlords. I hope this does not go down without a fight. Long live Soul!
No chance any other business in that spot can survive. 4th ward resident since 2008 when it opened and I have seen the clientele grow year after year. It was different than anything else, there are enough "trendy" spots for the visitors. This was "the" local bar.
This is a special place that they've put a lot of care into. You've got to let them earn a living too and not crush them with a rent that's too high to work with. In protest, I won't go to any new place that may take this spot.
My favorite bar in Hoboken! Literally a stone's throw from my apartment.
I get sad every time I have to walk past this empty pub. Northern Soul has always been such a friendly place. Whether you were stopping in or just passing by you always felt welcomed. It brought such character to this side of town!
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We the people do not accept the forced closure of Northern Soul, located at 557 1st Street in Hoboken, NJ.
Northern Soul is the heart and soul (no pun intended) of the 4th Ward of Hoboken. This petition is to bring our soul back and to show the landlords, Liam & Margaret Benson, that the abrupt and forced closing of the establishment is terrible business decision. Northern Soul was a haven for local artists, musicians, community members and dogs. As a result, Northern Soul was always crowded with paying customers and was clearly performing well financially.
If our beloved Northern Soul, a stalwart of the 4th Ward community, found the new financial demands unreasonable, one can only assume that any future establishment to occupy 557 1st Street will meet the same fate. If the space sits vacant for more than six months, we, as concerned citizens, will seek laws that punish landlords who force out tenants due to greed. Empty commercial spaces are of no use to our community and we reject the notion that a popular, successful business had to give way to avarice. We the people will not frequent any new establishment at 557 1st Street.
Respectfully,
The "Soul" of Northern Soul
Updates
June 9, 2016
Seeing one thousand names on this list reminds me why Northern Soul was always more than just a business. It feels like the entire neighborhood is stepping up to show that our community spots are not disposable.
Reached 1,000 supporters
June 8, 2016
May 11, 2016
I have been walking past 557 1st Street every day and seeing those dark windows feels like a wound to our neighborhood. People have been reaching out to share their memories of the music and the community we built there. It is clear that the Bensons underestimated how much this place meant to us and we are not going to let them ignore that.
May 6, 2016
Seeing one hundred people stand up for Northern Soul proves how much this place means to our neighborhood. I never want to walk past those empty windows and ignore what we lost.
Reached 100 supporters
May 4, 2016
310 Comments
How can this spot be pushed out when it was always packed always lively and lovely to be a part of?!? I am heartbroken and shocked. How greedy can the landlords be. We need more local business not less. We need locals owning these businesses not more warehouses or parking garages!
Nothing to say that hasn't been said. This place is great. This place helped my rescue dog become comfortable with people and had my first kiss with the girl I'm living with now. Best place for our friends to meet up for a drink.
Northern Souls hosts one of the last true authentic local and artistic communities left in the city. This is not your traditional Hoboken "Bro Bar" which its only ambition is to get inebriated. There is a lot of love in NS . My heart is truly broken to have these doors closed.
More than just a bar, this was a home for talented artists and musicians--something meaningful and substantial for the Hoboken community. Shame on you, landlords. I hope this does not go down without a fight. Long live Soul!
No chance any other business in that spot can survive. 4th ward resident since 2008 when it opened and I have seen the clientele grow year after year. It was different than anything else, there are enough "trendy" spots for the visitors. This was "the" local bar.
This is a special place that they've put a lot of care into. You've got to let them earn a living too and not crush them with a rent that's too high to work with. In protest, I won't go to any new place that may take this spot.
My favorite bar in Hoboken! Literally a stone's throw from my apartment.
I get sad every time I have to walk past this empty pub. Northern Soul has always been such a friendly place. Whether you were stopping in or just passing by you always felt welcomed. It brought such character to this side of town!
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How can this spot be pushed out when it was always packed always lively and lovely to be a part of?!? I am heartbroken and shocked. How greedy can the landlords be. We need more local business not less. We need locals owning these businesses not more warehouses or parking garages!