Health-conscious foodies living in the Heights are in for a delicious treat. Busy Bee Organics just opened along Palisade Avenue bringing healthy grab-and-go meals to the neighborhood. This is Busy Bee Organics’ first brick-and-mortar cafe.
“We founded our company under the principle that everyone is eating the wrong thing because we’re always in a rush, so we’re providing healthy meal options,” said owner Michelle Berckes.
Berckes first launched Busy Bee Organics in 2014 offering plant- and protein-based, organic meals to the Jersey City community. Created by nutritionists and natural food chefs, their weekly meals can vary from quick treats like quinoa carrot cake bars to dense salads packed with seasonal veggies. Our food is all anti-inflammatory and gluten-free, said Berckes.
Country-Inspired Cafe
Located at 451 Palisade Avenue, the Busy Bee Organics cafe is nothing like your typical Jersey City cafe. It has a rustic, country feel decorated with sunflowers, lush plants, and even a small haystack. “I’m from the country, so it was really important for me to bring that coziness to Jersey City,” said Berckes, who designed the space herself.
Inside you’ll find a small sit-down counter, refrigerated grab-and-go food section, and plenty of ready-to-eat treats. There’s also a shelf with jars of local honey and house-made nut butters. And yes, coffee lovers, there are fair trade, organic coffee and tea options from Equal Exchange.
Down the line, Berckes plans to host events at the cafe, including meet-ups for members of Busy Bee Organics’ Bee-Tox program. The program is designed to ease people into eating healthier, more nutritional meals. Berckes welcomes everyone from current fans to new customers in search of healthy food options.
“I want people to feel like they’re getting a warm hug when they walk in.”
