Does anybody have any intelligence as to a reopening date for White Star at Harbor? Facebook page looks like renovations are nearing completion.

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I found my answer, renovations.
https://www.facebook.com/WhiteStarAtHarbor

What's going on at White Star (formerly Harbor Casino). I walked by today and the windows are covered with brown paper. Renovations? Something new moving in?

The "old" Harbor Casino was the last hold out on Warren between Essex and Dudley before they built 126 Dudley. It was a true dive bar and the building itself was barely inhabitable. Rumor had it they served the crabs they caught in the Morris Canal down the block. The owner (who will go nameless) held out and worked a deal with the builder of 126 Dudley. As a result, he had them build him the bar on the corner and the apartments above it. It looks like it is a part of 126 Dudley, but it is a separate legal entity with its own apartment entrances, etc. I think he also got them to "throw in" a condo in 126 as part of the deal. The builder of 126 had to pay him a salary for the time the "old" Harbor Casino was closed during construction. Long story short, it took a loooonnnggggg time before Harbor Casino re-opened... 126 was built and up and running, yet Harbor Casino remained in construction phase. The rumor in the neighborhood was that the original politically connected owner of Harbor Casino used his buddies in city hall to issue multiple "stop work" orders to delay the inevitable opening.

Eventually, the bar opened and the owner leased operations out to some guy... it really struggled to figure out what it wanted to be... a dive or a yuppy bar. I guess business wasn't going so well and the bar was eventually leased about 2 years ago to the guy who also runs the White Star. He made some noticeable improvements to the bar and the quality of the food really improved. He was also more cognizant and respectful of the neighbors nearby and there were less shenanigans out there late night.

Recently, in the last 6 months or so, the owner of the Harbor Casino sold the bar and the apartments above it to the gentleman who owns the White Star. At that point, the name changed and it became the White Star at the Harbor or something like that.

Long post... but that.s the story!

I went to the old place a couple of times. I recall that it was wrecked by a storm and it took them a long time to reopen as the new place.

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Really? You think the Paulus Hook crowd would prefer the old, rugged, hole-in-the-wall Harbor Casino over the new remodeled place? I'm not sure which Jersey City you live in, because that is one of the most absurd things I've ever heard.

Yeah, I really wish I had gone to the old Harbor Casino. What year did they remodel it?

I really think the types of people who are moving to DTJC would have favored the old Harbor Casino over the new one.

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I used to go to the original HC before it was razed and man, it was anything but sterile. I was sad to see it go, especially since the new place had zero character and a totally different clientele. It was due for a change.

Just lightrailed past Harbor Casino and noticed that its now renamed White Star. I had heard that the owners of White Star had purchased Harbor Casino, but why would they name a second bar White Star?

I wonder if any changes are in store at the paulus hook spot. Always felt kind of sterile to me.. maybe they will give the place some of the character that White Star has...love the vibe there!