Meet the Men Behind the Prettiest Shop on Newark Ave.
Casa Mona is the lovely flower/home decor/gift/coffee shop that opened its door on Newark 7 months ago. Co- owners Carlos Rivas and Antonio Vieria are also using the space to replicate their highly successful NYC-based event planning business here in JC.
Partners in life and business, Carlos and Antonio arrived in New York City from their native Venezuela fifteen years ago. After setting up shop in New York’s flower district, they spent the next decade creating countless celebrity parties, weddings and events at the Guggenheim, the Museum of Metropolitan Art, the Museum of Modern Art, and The New York Public Library, among other places.
Carlos, when did you arrive in Jersey City?
Antonio and I moved here 12 years ago.
What prompted you to open a business here?
We have been watching and noticing how the City has been changing over the years. We are noticing so many new people coming here but also so many people staying here to go out, including us. I remember when we first moved here, we would still go to New York City much of the time. But now there is so much to do, and we noticed many people here are the same. So we thought it was a good time to open.
How has your experience running Casa Mona been over the last 7 months?
You know, we were just talking about this. We get to know so many people and are really surprised and so happy about how nice people are here. It has been wonderful.
Can you tell us about you select the items you sell in your shop?
Of course. We travel as much as we can, and we always try to bring back beautiful things from abroad. We have collected brass metal objects, carpets and pillows from Morocco, beautiful blankets from Portugal, and we also carry jewelry from Argentina, Peru and Indonesia.
Where is your coffee from?
We offer coffee, espresso and teas from Kirby Farms, a historic farm in Suffolk County [in New York].
What made you decide to start doing event planning here along the lines of your business in New York?
That is actually the main reason we decided to open our business here. We noticed many new families, and then we started noticing how many people are getting married here. It makes sense, it is a beautiful City, and there are venues here with the best views of the Manhattan skyline. Now we have clients coming from other places in New Jersey to get married here as well.
Finally, can you tell us the meaning behind naming your store Casa Mona? Yes my pleasure. We bought a house in the Dominican Republic a year ago, as we are planning to build a hotel there. We found a sweet little dog in the street. We named her Mona and brought her home with us.
Casa Mona is open Tuesday - Sunday from 10:30 am to 7:00 pm, and Sunday from 11am to 6pm.
You can reach them at 201-984-2468