Icon #9: Maxwell House Coffee Plant, Hudson and 12th Streets, Hoboken

The Maxwell House Coffee Plant remains good to the last drop, and beyond.

Although the factory itself closed on March 19, 1992, the building has since been turned into a community of high-end condos – now called Maxwell Place on the Hudson – that line the Hudson River between 10^th and 12^th Streets in Hoboken.

But prior to its closing, the Maxwell House plant operated for 53 years, first opening in 1939, and was the largest employer in the city of Hoboken. Eventually, however, General Foods Corporation – which owned Maxwell House and the building – relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, and suddenly the coffee aroma that once wafted through the streets of Hoboken 24 hours a day was no more.

The good news, though, is that the city of Hoboken recognized the significance of the Maxwell House property and its vast history and quickly cited it as a notable landmark. Then in 2008, following several years of vacancy, the building was purchased and repurposed into Maxwell Place, ensuring that the valuable real estate within Hoboken’s one square mile continued to be put to good use. In addition to the luxury condos within its walls, Maxwell Place is also home to a private community pool, outdoor rooftop space, residents’ lounge, and several dining and shopping options on the ground floor. With unparalleled views of the Hudson River and the New York City skyline, the condo units became instantly popular and remain highly sought-after today.

Even with all the hustle and bustle that comes along with the building’s new, modern-day usage, the history of the land has certainly not been lost. Displayed prominently along the side of the building is a sign that proudly boasts the story of the property.

You see, even before the property was home to Maxwell House, it served as the site of the first New York Yacht Club clubhouse and, perhaps even more impressive, as the entrance to Elysian Fields, a vast park and popular attraction that is widely regarded as the birthplace of modern baseball.

This idea of giving new life to a historically significant site is not new to New Jersey. Our state is home to countless historical properties that have been either restored to maintain their history – like the Edison Building I highlighted last month, which now serves as a museum and educational center – or have been repurposed into modernized structures – like the Leo Building in Bloomfield, The Vail Mansion in Morristown and the Maidenform Factory in Bayonne – that all serve the modern public daily.

The Maxwell House property, though, may be the only one that has served at least four uniquely significant purposes in its lifetime. And that’s certainly a pretty cool fact worth clinking our coffee mugs over. The current stucture of Maxwell and the NYC view of the building can be seen here.

 

Best Wishes,

Karen