New Jersey
NJ minimum wage crosses $15 threshold
As 2024 rings in, it also marks the crossing of a notable threshold here in the Garden State when the minimum wage increases Jan. 1 to $15.13 per hour.
That figure, affecting some 350,000 of New Jersey’s nearly 1.9 million hourly workers, surpasses the $15 per hour goal set into law in 2019 and makes the state one of just a handful to reach that mark.
“Raising the minimum wage has been a top priority of mine since day one,” said Gov. Phil Murphy. “There is no doubt that inflation has had an impact on every New Jerseyan. Now that we are close to surpassing the $15 per hour milestone, it’s important that we continue to ensure that everyone working in New Jersey has access to a livable wage.”
Industry specifics:
- Seasonal employers and businesses with six or fewer employees have until 2026 to pay workers at least $15 per hour – these employees’ minimum wage increases to $13.73 per hour on Jan. 1.
- Agricultural workers are guided by a separate timetable and were given until 2027 to reach the mark – they will see their hourly wages increase by 80 cents, to $12.81 per hour.
- Long-term care facility direct care staff will see their minimum wage increase by $1 to $18.13 per hour.
- Tipped workers’ cash wage remains at $5.26 per hour with employers able to claim a $9.87 tip credit – a $1 increase. If the minimum cash wage plus an employee’s tip do not equal at least the state’s minimum wage, the employer must pay the employee the difference.
The minimum wage is set by the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development (NJDOL) using either the rate specified in the law, or a calculation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) – whichever is higher. New Jersey’s constitution specifies that the minimum wage will continue to be adjusted annually based on CPI.
You can check out full details, along with more of the particulars on minimum wage changes on the NJDOL website here.
“Raising and aggressively enforcing the minimum wage signals to employers and workers alike that New Jersey values its workforce,” said Labor Commissioner Robert Asaro-Angelo. “While our Department’s Workforce efforts try to ensure workers receiving minimum wage are only doing so for a small part of their career, this is a proud moment for New Jersey as we become one of the few states with a minimum wage above $15 an hour that will continue to be adjusted each year for inflation.”
The NJDOL also announced changes in the maximum benefit rates and taxable wages for its Unemployment Insurance (UI), Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI), Family Leave Insurance (FLI) and Workers’ Compensation programs, which begin Jan. 1, 2024.
Business as usual
“The New Jersey business community expected the minimum wage to rise to around $15/hour on Jan. 1 so there’s no surprise with this increase. Employers had time to prepare so it’s business as usual in regard to that,” Tom Bracken, president and CEO, New Jersey Chamber of Commerce, told NJBIZ in a statement. “However, there is talk during the lame duck of expanding paid family leave which would be an additional financial burden on small businesses. This creates much unpredictability for them – and adds further financial constraints on their ability to operate.”
“We have always said businesses will pay what they can afford. According to our 2024 Business Outlook Survey, 34% of businesses increased pay for employees by 5% or more. Three years ago, during the height of the pandemic, that number was only 12%,” Michele Siekerka, president and CEO, New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA), told NJBIZ in a statement. “And despite uncertain economic outlooks nationally and in New Jersey, businesses expect that upward trend to continue in 2024, with 21% saying they’ll increase wages more than 5%.”
“However, we also saw less in the way of profits in 2023,” Siekerka continued. “Only 32% of respondents reported profits for the year. At the same time, 44% reported a loss. And in recent years, we have still seen a ton of small businesses shudder because, as we emphasize more than ever, every dollar counts. That’s not a tag line. That’s the truth.”
Regarding talk of potentially looking into raising the minimum wage further – as the governor has hinted at – Siekerka believes that the market is always the best natural determinant, as opposed to another mandate.
“The truth of the matter is that more entry-level positions exceeded the $1 increase per year over the past five years, especially given the aftermath of COVID and workplace demands,” Siekerka explained. “It also should be said that the state constitution specifies that minimum wage be determined by the CPI. We shouldn’t be dismissing that. It might be better to take a pause to analyze inflation and the free market rather than just setting a number.”
She stressed that we do not know which way the economy is going.
“And there are still businesses that are still very much vulnerable,” said Siekerka. “Most of our employers have a keen awareness to the economy and their own bottom lines. They know what they can afford and what they can’t. Let the free market do its work.”
Most of our employers have a keen awareness to the economy and their own bottom lines. They know what they can afford and what they can’t. Let the free market do its work.
— Michele Siekerka, president and CEO, NJBIA
In a press release, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage applauded the 22 states (including New Jersey) that are ringing in the new year with a minimum wage increase. According to the national network of business organizations, owners and executives that believe an increased minimum wage makes good business sense, another three states and the District of Columbia are scheduled for increaseses later in 2024.
“Minimum wage increases are a great way to start the new year,” said Holly Sklar, CEO, Business for a Fair Minimum Wage. “They help workers put food on the table and keep a roof overhead and they boost the consumer spending that businesses depend on. Fairer wages help businesses hire and retain employees and deliver the reliable customer service that leads to repeat customers instead of lost customers. While the federal minimum wage falls further and further behind the cost of living at just $7.25 an hour, state increases are vital for workers, businesses, and communities.”
New Jersey
Furious NJ customer accused of threatening to blow up Lowe’s store over a lawn mower he bought
🚨 NJ man is accused of threatening to blow up a Lowe’s and “shoot everyone” inside.
🚨 The East Amwell resident is accused of being angry over a lawnmower he bought.
🚨 Police say multiple firearms and a hoax explosive device were at the man’s home.
A 45-year-old Hunterdon County man faces criminal charges for violently threatening a home improvement store after becoming upset over a lawnmower he bought, according to prosecutors.
Peter W. Randolph, of East Amwell, is charged with second-degree false public alarms and third-degree terroristic threats, for vowing to blow up the Raritan Township Lowe’s store, as well as “shoot everyone” inside.
Hunterdon County man accused of threatening Lowe’s after lawn mower complaint
On Tuesday, Raritan Township Police were called about a menacing message to the Lowe’s corporate call center.
Investigators said Randolph was unhappy with the delivery service a lawn mower he bought at the Raritan Township store along Route 31 — and was also not satisfied with Lowe’s response to his issue.
He threatened to make a bomb using a 55-gallon drum of ammonia nitrate, according to an affidavit filed by investigators.
Lowe’s staff said that Randolph also threatened to “shoot everyone” inside, Hunterdon County Prosecutor Renée M. Robeson said.
Read More: FreshRealm layoffs NJ: More than 600 jobs at risk in Linden
NJ man charged for violent threats against Lowes store in Hunterdon County – Lowes in Raritan Township gets explosive threat from angry customer Google Maps
Police find firearms and ‘hoax explosive device’ at East Amwell home
State Police went to Randolph’s home in East Amwell and immediately took him into custody.
A search there turned up multiple firearms and a “hoax explosive device,” Robeson said.
At the same time, Raritan Township Police did a sweep of the Lowe’s building and the parking area. No explosives, hazardous materials, or other threats were found.
NJ man accused of Lowe’s threat held pending court hearing
Randolph remains held at the Warren County Jail, ahead of a detention hearing set for May 21.
If convicted of either of these criminal offenses, he might face several years in prison and a hefty fine.
Anyone with potential information is asked to contact the Raritan Township Police Department at 908-782-8889 or the Hunterdon County Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 1-800-321-0010.
New Jersey’s ‘Doughnut Holes’ Reveal Quirky Town Boundaries
There are many quirks when it comes to all 564 municipalities in New Jersey. Maybe the oddest quirk is when a borough is a doughnut hole.
No, it doesn’t have anything to do with the number of doughnut shops within a certain radius.
It’s when a borough is completely encircled by another township.
Less than 4% of the state’s municipalities are doughnut hole boroughs, as we find 20 among 11 counties.
Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt
Report a correction 👈 | 👉 Contact our newsroom
Average New Jersey property taxes in 2025
Check to see whether your municipality’s average tax bill last year went up or down. Data is from the state Department of Community Affairs. Municipalities are listed by county and alphabetically.
Gallery Credit: New Jersey 101.5
LET’S GO Back to the ’80s: The Coolest Cars and the Ads That Sold Them
Whether you dreamed of cruising in a Porsche 944 like Jake Ryan, showing off in an IROC-Z, or riding shotgun with KITT from Knight Rider, the cars of the ’80s had something for everyone. Some were fast, some were flashy, and some just got you to tennis practice. Keep scrolling to see the most iconic cars of the decade — and the ads that convinced us we needed them.
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
New Jersey’s top spots for classic and inventive burgers
From classic burgers to trendy, cheesy smashburgers, these burger spots have something for everyone.
A burger is delicious any time of year, but especially now, as the weather warms and spring eases into summer.
You can grill one up yourself, of course: A backyard burger always hits the spot. But so many of New Jersey’s restaurants make a great burger, why bother?
Whether you prefer a thick, hearty patty, where the flavor of the meat is the star; a lacy-edged burger smashed to perfection; a burger piled with toppings or one with nothing at all, these spots deliver when it comes to this classic favorite.
22 West Tap & Grill, Bridgewater
Forget slapping a slice of American cheese that has spent its life in plastic on a patty at creative gastropub 22 West Tap & Grill in Bridgewater. Here, customers can customize their own burgers, choosing from a dozen types of cheese, including fried mozzarella and pimento.
Too overwhelmed with the list of build-your-own burger options? Choose from one of the restaurant’s signature burgers, like the 22 West Burger, which gives cheese a carb-y edge. This piled-high burger has two patties, two pieces of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, pork belly, lettuce, tomato, onions and an onion ring.
Plus, you can enjoy it with a view of athletes running off their calories, since every seat has a view of the restaurant’s 19 TVs, including a 110-inch model that fills an entire wall.
Go: 1601 Route 22, Bridgewater; 732-627-5012, 22westtapandgrill.com
Bun Buddies, Wood-Ridge
Smash burgers with crispy edges and well-seasoned patties await at Bun Buddies, Bergen County’s best-kept fast food secret. Run by a chef who once whipped up high-end fare in Manhattan’s finest kitchens (including the three Michelin-starred Jungsik), the tiny Wood-Ridge gem is home to irresistible comfort dishes prepared at an elite level.
Order the “Special Buddy,” for example, and be wowed by the way 100% chuck melts in your mouth like a pasture-raised steak. Note how its caramelized onions are rich with sweetness, and how the mixture of sauces have a subtle hint of mustard, providing the perfect balance to every bite.
From flawlessly grilled beef to the optional addition of housemade coleslaw, the burger is reflective of all others on the menu: intentionally designed, meticulously executed and served with pride by a dude who knows what he’s doing.
Go: 271 Valley Blvd., Wood-Ridge; 201-604-4813, bun-buddies.com
Burger 25, multiple locations
Ask anyone in Ocean County where to get a great burger, and chances are they’ll say Burger 25.
The trio of restaurants, run by Denise and Steve Vetter and their children, Alexis Wasilick and Aidan Vetter, has a burger for everyone. The menu includes everything from a classic cheeseburger, made with six ounces of Angus beef and served on a Martin’s Famous Potato Roll, to a French onion burger that’s seared in French onion soup and topped with Swiss and provolone cheeses, sautéed onions, crouton crisps and garlic aioli on an onion bun.
The 25th burger on the menu is a special that rotates monthly. Recent offerings include a burger seared in consommé and topped with Oaxaca cheese, beef birria, salsa and guacamole, and one with housemade chili, cheddar cheese, Fritos, sour cream and chipotle mayo.
Go: 2045 Route 88, Brick, 732-451-4747; 199 Route 37, Toms River, 732-270-0025; 1915 Long Beach Blvd., Ship Bottom, 609-879-2525; burger25.com
The Committed Pig, multiple locations
You’ve likely heard of the supreme burgers at The Committed Pig, which has locations in Morristown, Summit and Manasquan. They’re fixtures on lists of the state’s best burgers from a variety of media, and word-of-mouth darlings for hungry New Jerseyans.
The burger is built from a blend of Pat LaFrieda steak cuts, and you can enjoy that in a plain, scrumptious cheeseburger or take advantage of the Pig’s culinary creativity. We’re talking a baked Brie burger with creamy Brie, bacon and fig preserves; a chipotle bacon burger with Muenster, chipotle mayo, bacon and an onion ring; and the triple-decker “Pig Mac” with American cheese, pickles and special sauce. There also are turkey and veggie burger options.
Go: 28 W. Park Place, Morristown; 862-260-9292; 165 Main St., Manasquan, 732-837-9800; 339 Springfield Ave., Summit, 908-219-4543; thecommittedpig.com
Harpoon Willy’s, Manasquan
Asbury Park Press readers recently named the burgers at Harpoon Willy’s the best at the Shore, and with good reason.
The restaurant serves nearly half a dozen varieties made from 10-ounce patties of 80/20 Angus ground chuck blended especially for them. The most popular of the burgers, which are cooked to order and served on kaiser rolls with pickles and salted steak fries, is the “River Road,” a traditional burger topped with a diner’s choice of cheese, plus lettuce and tomato if they like.
Or try the “Dockside,” topped with bacon, mushrooms, sautéed onions and Swiss, cheddar and American cheeses, or the “So Cal,” with avocado, frizzled onions, spicy mayo and roasted tomatoes.
A bonus: If you order a burger at the bar, you can watch it sizzle on a grill behind the bartop.
Go: 2655 River Road, Manasquan; 732-223-8880, harpoonwillys.com
Hey Burger, Hazlet
This is a burger you won’t be able to stop thinking about, from a place you might not expect.
Inside Nic’s Hometown Tavern, a classic neighborhood bar with trivia nights, packaged goods and sports on TV, is Hey Burger, a restaurant concept serving smash burgers, wings, cheesesteaks and more. The menu includes nine versions of the thin, crispy-edged burger, including the “No. 1” with burger sauce, cheese, lettuce, pickles and onions; the “Black & Blue” with blue cheese crumbles, crispy onions and Cajun seasoning; and the “Cherry Bomb” with cherry peppers, American cheese, bacon and chipotle sauce.
Order your favorite with “Tornado Potatoes,” which are thinly sliced potatoes on a stick that come in flavors like sour cream and onion, cheddar and Old Bay; onion petals or salt and vinegar french fries.
Go: 180 Roue 36, Hazlet; 732-769-2200, instagram.com/heyburgernj
Krug’s Tavern, Newark
Simply put, this may be the most famous burger in North Jersey, if not the whole state. That’s for good reason: It’s simple, massive and delicious.
A three-quarter pound beef patty is charred on the outside on Krug’s flat-top griddle, giving it a delightful, roasty bark. The meat is unseasoned, but you won’t care — a plain burger or cheeseburger has more than enough flavor, and each bite oozes with fatty goodness. You can always order the bacon bleu or pizza burger if you need further adornment.
There’s also few better environs to chow down on a burger than the scene at Krug’s. This nearly century-old pub is a good time with cold beer, good cheer and a terrific pub menu (get the bar pie and shrimp parm).
Go: 118 Wilson Ave., Newark; 973-465-9795, krugstavernnj.com
Outlaw’s Burger Barn & Creamery, Vineland
A top location for gourmet smash burgers, the family-owned Outlaw’s Burger Barn & Creamery also offers cheesesteaks, fried chicken sandwiches, housemade ice cream and milkshakes.
Some of the burger options, of which there are nearly a dozen, are “Shroomin,” with caramelized mushrooms, charred balsamic red onion, fontina cheese and steakhouse mayo; “The Works,” with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, pickled jalapeño and special sauce; and the “Smokehouse,” with bacon, pickled jalapeño, white cheddar cheese, onion rings and housemade barbecue sauce.
The restaurant was opened in 2016 by owner Ryan Briggs, who wanted to create a place for families to gather “over fresh, local food and leave feeling part of the Outlaw’s family.” It started as a small mom-and-pop shop, the website says, but grew into a hometown favorite.
Go: 1370 S. Main Road, Vineland; 856-691-5438, outlawsburgerbarn.com
The Raging Bull, Pennsauken
This smash burger and cheesesteak spot, also known for its hand-spun milkshakes, cooks up burgers that are made from ground chuck and served on Martins & Sons Potato Buns.
There’s “The Oklahoma,” with thin-sliced Vidalia onions, Bully burger sauce and yellow Cooper Sharp American cheese; “The Classic,” which has yellow Cooper Sharp, mustard, diced onions and dill pickles; and “The Deluxe,” with Bibb lettuce, tomato, bacon, Bully burger sauce, dill pickles and Cooper Sharp.
Not a burger fan? Try a Buffalo cheesesteak with brined and shaved chicken, or “The Raging Bull” cheesesteak with Cooper Sharp Whiz, chipotle mayo and roasted long hots.
“Our goal is simple: Use the highest quality ingredients, prepare everything fresh, and never cut corners,” owner Eric Adili said.
Go: 6007 Mansion Blvd., Pennsauken; 856-324-0725, theragingbullnj.com
Rocky Hill Inn, Rocky Hill
The only reason many New Jerseyans have ever heard of sleepy Somerset County enclave Rocky Hill is because they’ve made the drive to Rocky Hill Inn for the gastropub’s famous burgers and pub fare.
“Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” host Guy Fieri helped put the tavern’s inventive burgers on the map when he visited in 2017, taking more than a few bites of the fried green tomato burger with goat cheese, bacon jam and mixed greens.
You’ll find yourself coming to the Rocky Hill Inn over and over again to check off all of the colossal burgers on the menu, which feature patties made with pancetta, short rib and strip steak. Favorites include “The Royale,” a nod to “Pulp Fiction,” with two smashed four-ounce patties, American cheese, melted onions, shredded iceberg, tomato and Thousand Island dressing, and the “Fat Daddy” burger with braised short rib, provolone, red onion jam, arugula and horseradish crème fraiche.
Go: 137 Washington St, Rocky Hill; 609-683-8930, rockyhilltavern.com
The Shore Spot, Manasquan
One doesn’t usually equate food eaten at the beach with top-notch cuisine. But at The Shore Spot at Manasquan’s oceanfront Sea Watch Pavilion, owner and chef Frank Valgenti finds ways to elevate everything — including burgers.
He grills a top-notch smashburger, which is made with two perfectly salted, American cheese-topped beef patties, sautéed onions, lettuce and a thick slice of tomato, all cradled by a sturdy-yet-tender roll.
The seasonal restaurant, which has a second-floor dining room overlooking the beach, also serves rotating burger specials, like one with Gruyére cheese and jam made from figs owner Frank Valgenti grows himself, and another topped with macaroni and cheese.
Go: 95 Beachfront, Manasquan; 732-400-1985, theshorespot.com
Steve’s Burgers, Garfield
It’s been a year since Steve’s Burgers made history in North Jersey, becoming the first fast-casual restaurant in the area to make USA TODAY’S Restaurants of the Year list. A seemingly out-of-place addition, the humble roadside joint was sandwiched between fine-dining destinations, contemporary gastropubs and upscale special occasion spots with wine lists.
Nonetheless, it held its own.
Critics praise Steve’s Burgers for its blend of nostalgia with innovation, from the combination of retro digs with uniquely topped burgers to the hometown hangout atmosphere with Instagram-able eats. Most recommended for devouring was the signature “Steve’s Burger,” which comes topped with American cheese, tangy Steve’s Sauce, crisp bacon and a battered onion ring.
Go: 506 Route 46, Garfield; 973-772-1770, stevesburgersgarfield.com
Tierney’s Tavern, Montclair
Tierney’s in Montclair is one of the best bars in America, but it also slings some of the best burgers in the area, too (if you know how to order them).
You can go here and get a killer cheeseburger, or you can order slightly off the menu and get the not-so-secret-anymore “Buddy burger,” a cheeseburger topped with Worcestershire-laden grilled onions. It’s pure comfort and enough to sate any size of appetite.
Tierney’s is also an ideal spot for casual eats. Order a burger and a pint, maybe throw in some wings, laugh it up with friends and you’ll leave without having broken the bank.
Go: 138 Valley Road, Montclair; tierneystavern.com
White Rose Hamburgers, Highland Park
It doesn’t get much simpler — or more soul-satisfying — than White Rose Hamburgers.
Other places may be artificially retro, but White Rose is the real thing. Like “Happy Days,” the restaurant has a classic counter with barstool seats. The burgers are served on paper plates, just like at a picnic or when Mom doesn’t feel like doing the dishes.
Go for the time-honored fundamentals that offer simple pleasure in a complex world: a cheeseburger, bacon burger or hamburger. And if you really need to smother your sorrows, make it a double.
True to its 1950s roots in the previous golden age of hamburgers, the hefty slider patties wait for you on soft Kaiser rolls with onions, regardless of what add-ons you choose for your burger.
Go: 154 Woodbridge Avenue, Highland Park; 732-777-1881, whiteroseburgersnj.com
Woosmash, Verona
Cheeseburgers may be the (unofficial) national dish of America, but that’s not stopping Korean-born culinary wizard Woosung Cho from redesigning them with delicious Asian twists. In downtown Verona, he’s “woo”-ing locals with everything from standard smash burgers to Korean barbecue-flavored ribeye burgers drowning in garlic mayo and topped with kimchi relish.
As for the onions? Caramelized with miso.
When Woosmash first opened, we delighted in the fact that we were the only ones who knew about it. Infatuated with Cho’s gochujang-glazed chicken sandwiches (when not in the burger mood) and spicy “Woo-Ha Smash” with Firestorm sauce, we gave it a few weeks before blowing the spot up on Instagram.
Today, though, everyone knows about the place, as word spread about Cho’s “thoughtful flavors” and “unbeatable prices” faster than the cars rip down Bloomfield Avenue outside its windows.
Go: 648 Bloomfield Ave., Verona; 973-433-7256, woosmash.com
New Jersey
New Jersey swim team left without pool after Wayne Community Center abruptly ends agreement
WAYNE, New Jersey (WABC) — A swim team in New Jersey says it’s getting kicked out of its pool.
The Rebels Aquatic Team says the Wayne Community Center told them the team can no longer use the facility, leaving more than 100 youth swimmers without a pool in the middle of the season.
The team has been using the pool for practices and meets.
The organizers thought they had a five-year commitment based on the contract but found out this week it was not enough to save them a space to use the pool.
The swim club was told this week that they have to shut down on June 24, but their swim season does not conclude until August 5.
The organizers began this effort to get kids into swimming at the height of the COVID lockdowns, and it has grown ever since.
Parents went online after getting word about being booted from the community pool and expressed a lot of frustration.
They have a practice Thursday afternoon and feel their kids are not getting a fair shake from the town.
Eyewitness News reached out to the mayor’s office and the Wayne Department of Recreation, who said they had no comment about this pool controversy.
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