By Jaimie Julia Winters
Looking for a fresh way to celebrate Valentine’s Day with your sweetheart, Galentine, or little Valentines? Kearny is inviting residents to explore its downtown during the town’s first-ever Sweetheart Stroll.
Unlike the dance it’s named after, the Sweetheart Stroll is a curated trail of downtown businesses offering Valentine-themed specials, treats, and experiences. Twenty-five local businesses are participating from Feb. 8 – 15.
Linda Kraus D’Isa, Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone (KUEZ) coordinator, said the event was created to spotlight Kearny’s diverse small businesses during one of the biggest gift-giving seasons of the year.
“With Valentine’s Day being such a top-tier gift-giving time—really only behind major seasons like the holidays—why not highlight what you can buy when you shop local here in Kearny?” D’Isa said.
The KUEZ has created an interactive map for strollers to use. It also lists the sweetheart deals that each business is highlighting.
Local restaurants are embracing the occasion. Nana’s Noodle House is offering a Sweetheart Combo, featuring dinner for two with an appetizer, entrée, dessert, and drink for $48. Brazilian Spices is serving a Sweetheart Special—an all-you-can-eat barbecue for two, including appetizers, drinks, and dessert, for $99.
Those with a sweet tooth can stop by The Crepe Escape for a Sweetheart Special of crepes filled with strawberries, Nutella, white chocolate, and whipped cream for $20, or visit Barbara’s Café for a Valentine’s Day sweet drink and heart-shaped cake.
Shoppers looking for last-minute gifts will find a range of options, from flowers and self-care kits to wellness boxes and pet treats. R&I Flower Shop is giving 10% off flowers to the first 20 customers; Brujita’s Healing Pantry Apothecary & Botanica has an attraction/self love kit (rose water infused love spray, 7-chakra alignment sugar scrub, auto/energy cleansing bath salt) for $40; Kearny Wellness has a $30 Sweetheart Box to gift that Includes sweets and a 30-minute massage gift card; and Bone Appetit Barkery has specials for that canine Valentine on your list.
Beauty businesses are also participating, with Cay’s Hair Studio, Mane.FX Hair Gallery, Genesis Hair Studio & Day Spa, and Heavenly Beauty Designs offering special packages throughout the week.
Families can take part as well. Growing Seeds Learning Academy is hosting a free “little artist” event for children. Families can make a night of it with a heart-shaped pizza at Mr. Nino’s III Brick Oven Trattoria and heart-shaped brownies from Arcos Pastry.
Many more businesses are participating. Look for Sweetheart Stroll flyers outside shops and stop in to inquire about their sweetheart deal.
“We have more than two dozen incredibly diverse businesses participating in the Sweetheart Stroll,” D’Isa said. “Valentine’s Day gift-giving doesn’t have to look just one way.”
