Photo by Neidy Gutierrez / SOC Images.
In the busy, fast-paced streets of New Jersey, it’s common to catch people power walking with a to-go cup—whether it be coffee, matcha or even hot chocolate—that’s likely going to fuel them for the day.
But for Argentinians, they embrace the sacredness of merienda, a break for an afternoon snack. Café Baires, an Argentinian-inspired café and bakery, aims to carry that cozy culture over 5,000 miles from home and into the main street of Hackensack, New Jersey.
Slow down. Stay awhile. You’ve stepped into the “living room” of Café Baires.
“We’re hoping to bring togetherness… there’s other cafés nearby that do a lot of events and they’re very community involved, which I love, it’s great,” co-owner Jeremias Vilches told Slice of Culture.
“I kind of want to do the same thing [and] be like a living room; when people step in and they feel at home and everybody’s welcome and [we] can work together with the library, with other schools, with the hospitals…everybody that’s nearby, whatever we can do to help.”
Argentina Meets Jersey
Vilches was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
He came to the United States when he was 11 years old, with his first home being in North Bergen. Then, in 2018, he moved to Hackensack.
Over the years, Hackensack, which has a diverse-growing population, has undergone some significant redevelopment projects including restorations, implementations of new residential units, retail spaces, parks and performing art spaces. Seeing the change, plus with 15 years of experience in the cafe industry, Vilches felt like he saw a good opportunity.
“I’ve always lived in Jersey, so I felt like it was time for me to do my own thing here, closer to home with the kids and my wife,” he added.
After three years of planning with business partners and eight months of construction, Café Baires officially opened in January 2025, allowing a piece of Argentina to now live in New Jersey.
Their website reads a tagline of “Discover the Heart of Buenos Aires at Cafe Baires Bakery,” and stepping into the 210 Main Street location, you’re able to get a whiff of that.
From medialunas (croissant meets brioche) to tostado (a crustless sandwich with ham and cheese), customers can enjoy food, pastries and drinks that are all made fresh daily.
“From the filling for the empanadas to the dough for all the pastries… it doesn’t seem like a complicated process, but it is,” Vilches laughed. “Everything is fresh every day. We’re here at 5:30 in the morning baking for everybody.”
The café, which has been one of the new spaces to take over an old bank building, has an extensive menu from sweet and savory bites to hot and cold drinks. But according to Vilches, some of the most popular grabs are the: beef empanadas, medialunas, matcha and their dulce de leche latte.
If you make Vilches choose, he’ll let you know what he’s craving.
Just Get Here, We’ll Take Care Of You
Vilches has always been surrounded by family, which is a piece of his Latin culture that he also wanted to bring into the business.
“We’re always welcoming. We’re always doing barbecues or parties. When you bring that into a business, I feel like it’s a plus. You can’t go wrong making people feel welcome and wanted and being genuine… We actually want you here. We want you to experience from the coffee to the food, to the vibes,” he smiled.
Entering the café you’re greeted with elements of soft, dark blues with a huge emphasis on greenery. There’s big plants in the corners, leaves strategically hung and wrapped around the walls and flora on the tables—all paying homage to the greenery of Argentina.
Making your way up the stairs, you see a map of the country, different art styles of Palermo—a barrio or neighborhood over there—and more to paint a glimpse into the life of the porteños, the locals of Argentina.
But Vilches emphasized that he wants to be more than a café.
Past the glimmering Café Baires sign, Vilches and his team envision a space that is multifunctional for community events, corporate events, pop-up shops, art galleries and “all that good stuff,” which has already been kicking off.
When asked what he hopes the café can accomplish next, he quickly answered, “sustainability” and laughed.
“I feel like we’re doing pretty good. We gotta keep growing… But yeah, like I said, sustainability continuing to make people happy when they come in here and to feel loved and to feel the vibes and have great coffee, meet other people, have great conversations,” he added.
Vilches admitted that the path to sustainability can be frustrating, but he advised “don’t be afraid.”
“Somebody told me if you’re gonna do something, do it with love. It doesn’t matter how long or how hard it is… I know it sounds so cheesy, but every cup of coffee I do it with love and like, you know, little things [like] opening the door for somebody… Plan and do it,” he smiled. “… It’s never too late for anything.”
And no matter how you get to 210 Main Street in Hackensack—hop, jump, skip, train or carpool—Vilches said they got you.
“Come to Café Baires. That’s it. Just come here bro,” Vilches laughed. “Just get here. We’ll take care of you.”
