No Joe’s Coffee House Plans Expansion
RED BANK – No Joe’s Coffee House is renovating its space this summer and getting a new look and expanded menu.
“We’re renovating and looking for a more updated modern look,” says Mike Tierney, who founded the restaurant in 1993.
The 20-year old establishment has long been a Broad Street staple, offering fresh-roasted, whole bean coffee, as well as breakfast and lunch dishes. Last year the cafe shared part of its space with Beasty Burgers, which had a one-year lease. Now No Joe’s is reconfiguring the restaurant’s space, updating its look and adding to the menu.
“Now that I took back the kitchen, I thought, why not take one more stab at something new,” says Tierney, who, along with business partner Richard Ciarelli, will be closing the restaurant for a couple of weeks to allow for the changes. “We’re renovating the place from front door to back door.” When it’s done, he says, “It’ll be similar but completely different. Updated and a lot more modern.”
Among the changes planned will be an expanded café area and a newly renovated kitchen with a convection oven that will allow No Joe’s to bake all pastries on site. Gelato will be made on site.
Although No Joe’s has always been a popular breakfast destination – featuring a lengthy breakfast menu and freshly baked muffins and cookies – and offered lunch, the expanded dessert menu is expected to attract a more late-night crowd. While concentrating on espresso-based coffee drinks, such as lattes, cappuccinos and mochas, the owners plan to add tarts, cheesecakes, bread and rice puddings and other sweet items to the menu. Many of No Joe’s regular customers were asking for more desserts and more classic café fare.
“It’s going to be a bakery and dessert lounge,” says Tierney. “I want to get back that night-time crowd.” Tierney hopes to lure customers who will come for “French-press table service and amazing crème brulee or cheesecake.”
Tierney assures customers No Joe’s will still have a complete breakfast and lunch menu while he expands into a bakery and dessert lounge. “I’ve hired some really good people,” he says. “I want people to wait on line for our pastries.
“No Joe’s is a staple,” he said. “It’s been around a long time and we got a pretty good record and we have the best loyalty program with Spot On,” a loyalty rewards program for businesses and their customers. “It’s going to be great!”
