Restaurant closures have continued to hit local dining scenes across the country in 2026, with lease issues, retirements, and real estate changes reshaping familiar spots. In New Jersey, that trend is showing up this month with three well-known restaurants in Ridgewood, Middletown, and Hoboken closing their doors or ending a flagship run.
Three New Jersey restaurants are ending service in June
Village Green Restaurant in Ridgewood served its final meals on June 6, 2026, after 37 years at 36 Prospect Street, according to a closure message signed by chef-owner Kevin Portscher and staff. The restaurant said the building had been sold and a new lease agreement could not be reached. Portscher said the team had only about three weeks to prepare after announcing the news on May 13.
Lubrano’s 36 in Middletown closed on June 7, 2026, after 10 years at 26 Highway 36, according to the owners’ public statement. Paul and Traci Lubrano said the closure was tied to retirement, not a business collapse. The family’s restaurant history in the Bayshore area dates back to 1979, when the original Lubrano’s opened in Navesink.
Shaka Kitchen also closed its original Washington Street location in Hoboken in early June 2026 after nine years, the company confirmed in a letter to customers. The restaurant at 110 Washington Street was the brand’s first location when it opened in 2016. Two other locations, at 720 Monroe Street in Hoboken and 62 South Street in Morristown, remain open.
What the June closures mean in Ridgewood, Middletown, and Hoboken
The confirmed impact is spread across three separate New Jersey communities, and each closure looks different on the ground. Ridgewood is losing a 37-year BYO known for refined New American dishes, including miso garlic rubbed grouper, Arctic char, and short rib and rigatoni ragu. No replacement restaurant for Village Green has been announced…