New Jersey Café Closes After 27 Years
A New Jersey café is shutting its doors for good after 27 years of serving its community. Blue Moon Mexican Café in Englewood has closed permanently, according to NorthNewJersey.com
According to owner Howard Felixbrod, he sold the business to Akai. Akai is a Japanese restaurant on Dean Street in Englewood with another in Westfield. Blue Moon has been running under new management but with the same staff and menu for the past three months. According to Felixxbrod, the new restaurant will be called Blue Akai and it will serve Mexican and Japanese dishes.
“It’s a good thing,” said Felixbrod about closing his Englewood site. “We’ve been there for a long time.” Blue Moon Mexican Café was his first New Jersey branch. He opened Blue Moon Mexican Café nearly 30 years ago after having a few locations in Manhattan. He later moved his family to Wyckoff and opened more locations in New Jersey and Westchester, New York.
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“We don’t plan on selling that one,” Felixbrod said about his takeout and catering operation in Denville called Blue-Moon Mex Express.
The reasoning behind closing the Englewood is simple, Felixbrod just wants a break. “I want to get closer to retiring” and because “Englewood is not what it was,” he said. “The area has changed a lot. It was time to get out.”
Felixbrod announced the closing of Blue Moon Mexican Café on Facebook.
“After 27 years on East Palisade Avenue, it is time to say Good-Bye to Englewood and all our wonderful customers who have supported us over the years,” he wrote. “It has truly been a pleasure to serve you and we will miss being in Englewood. Over the past few years, I have sold a few locations and after 40+ years in the business, I am looking forward to enjoying more free time!”
He assured customers that they will still be able to enjoy their food but just at a different location.
“Blue Moon Mexican Cafe will still have a full-service location in Wyckoff, NJ as well as the Blue Moon Mex-Express in Denville, NJ,” Felixbrod continued. “Our new company, Blue Moon Catering Marketplace will continue to cater to pharma reps, businesses, and private homes throughout NJ and NY.”
“I want to wish the new owners of 23 E. Palisade Ave., the best of luck. James and Lillian from Akai Lounge ( on Dean St.) are wonderful people and will be changing the name to Blue Akai after redesigning the space,” he added. Blue Akai will be serving up both Mexican and Japanese cuisines, so please go check them out! Once again……THANK YOU!”
