Jives Cafe, 2212 A Route 9 South, Howell, NJ (2026)

04/26/2025

To Our Jives Café Family,

This is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to write.

After so much thought, tears, conversations, and soul searching, I’ve decided to temporarily close the doors to Jives Café — but this is not the end of our story.

For a long time, we’ve been actively searching for a second location to expand our brand. After a lot of consideration, we realized that instead of opening a second café, the best decision is to move our first and only Jives Café to a brand new home in Marlboro, NJ.

While the new space undergoes renovations and we prepare for this next chapter, I’m also taking this opportunity to give my heart back to where it’s needed most — my family.
This café started as a dream — a vision to create a space where people could feel something… warmth, community, connection, love. And I did that. I built something beautiful, and I’m so proud of what we created together. The laughs, the events, the friendships — they were real. The magic was real.

This isn’t goodbye. It’s just a new beginning.
To Howell ❤️
Thank you for the support. Thank you for loving Jives the way I did. I’ll never forget what we built here together. ✌️
See you soon Marlboro 🖤🖤
With all my love,
Oriana

04/20/2025

Jives Cafe will be closed this Easter Sunday so our team can honor the true meaning of the day and spend it with their families.

“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.”
— Matthew 28:6

Easter reminds us of the incredible sacrifice and promise of new life through Christ. It’s a time to reflect, to give thanks, and most importantly, to be with the ones we love. Family should always come first—through every season, every struggle, and every celebration.

Thank you for being part of our extended Jives family. We’ll see you after the holiday.

Wishing you all a joyful and blessed Easter.
With love,
The Jives Crew

03/19/2025

Meet the Staff: Brody!

Next up in our Meet the Staff series is Brody—the big brother of Jives Café, always keeping things interesting!

💙💛 Favorite colors? Blue and yellow—because why pick just one?
🚑 Hobby? Volunteering at Freehold First Aid (our very own hero-in-training).
🧠 Fun fact? He’s committed to the University of New Haven for Forensic Psychology and is heading to EMT school in a few months—basically, he’s out here preparing to save lives and analyze us all at the same time.

From me: Brody was so late sending us this info because he swore he didn’t have a picture—so naturally, the staff took matters into their own hands and snapped away. 📸

Brody is like everyone’s big brother around here. He’s either cracking jokes, driving us all just a little crazy, or stepping up whenever we need him. Whether he’s keeping things light or making sure we’re all good, we’re lucky to have him as part of the Jives family!

Drop a 🚑 in the comments to show Brody some love!

03/14/2025

Meet the Staff: Oriana (aka Staff Coordinator 😂)!

You’ve met the team—now it’s time to introduce the woman behind it all! Meet Oriana, the owner, mastermind, and chaos coordinator of Jives Café.

🖤 Favorite color? Depends on the mood… but mostly black (because it goes with everything).
🎂 Favorite hobby? Baking—because while coffee fuels us, her treats keep us coming back.
😂 Something funny? People assume I love people and that I’m the nicest person in the world. The truth? I actually like to keep to myself, and there aren’t many people I genuinely enjoy being around. But if I do like you? You’ll get to know the real me—and you’re stuck with me for life.

From me (aka… me 😆): I used to be a people pleaser, always worried about upsetting anyone. But running Jives, meeting so many different people, and navigating this crazy journey has taught me something important: you can’t please everyone, but you can protect your peace.

I’ve met some incredible customers who have become real friends, and I’ve also had some customers that—if I close my eyes—I can clearly picture myself karate chopping in the throat. 😂 But through every high and low, every unexpected twist, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I didn’t have a perfect plan, but I had a goal—and I proved to myself that I can and I will. Owning a business is amazing, but at the end of the day, I’m a mom and a wife first. Those roles will always come before anything else, and no amount of success will ever change that.

Drop a 🖤 in the comments if you’ve been part of this wild ride with me!

03/13/2025

Meet the Staff: Jake!

Next up in our Meet the Staff series is Jake—the heart of Jives Café and one of the most helpful, hardworking, and fun people you’ll ever meet!

❤️ Favorite color? Red—because just like him, it’s bold and full of energy.
🏃‍♂️ Favorite hobby? Being athletic—whether he’s on the move or helping out, Jake brings the action!

From me: Jake joined us through a school work program, and from day one, he’s been an absolute joy to have on our team. He always makes us laugh, and he’s extra helpful with anything we need. Plus, we’re lucky to have his amazing sister, Sienna, as part of our Jives family too!

We absolutely adore Jake, and we can’t imagine Jives without his infectious energy and endless jokes Drop a ❤️ in the comments to show Jake some love!

03/12/2025

Meet the Staff: Matt!

Next up in our Meet the Staff series is Matt—the guy who keeps us all smiling and brings the good vibes every time he’s here!

💙 Favorite color? Blue—classic and cool, just like him.
🏀 Favorite hobby? Playing and watching basketball (he’s basically our in-house sports analyst).
😆 Fun fact? He’s a cool dude who loves making people smile—mission accomplished, Matt!

From me: Matt comes to Jives Café for two hours, three times a week, and in that short time, he somehow manages to help with anything and everything we need. He’s always down to brainstorm new coffee ideas, and let’s be real—he loves being on camera. We absolutely love Matt and are so grateful to have him as part of the Jives family!

Drop a 💙 in the comments if Matt has ever made you smile!

03/11/2025

Meet the Staff: Ella!

Next up in our Meet the Staff series is Ella—the storyteller, the filmmaker, and the creative genius behind so much of what we do at Jives.

🎬 Passions? Making films and writing stories—her creativity literally knows no bounds.
☕ Love language? Making coffee for people (so yes, she’s basically brewing happiness).
🌊 Fun fact? She will find any excuse to go to the beach—rain or shine, she’s there.

From me: Where do I even begin with Ella? She was one of my very first waitresses and baristas, and from day one, we learned everything together. She was my right hand, and over time, I realized she is one of the most talented people I’ve ever known. Everything she touches turns to gold.

Ella is an artist. She thinks outside the box. Her creativity reaches the moon. She’s loyal, kind, sweet, and beyond reliable. She’s also the mastermind behind most of the videos you see on our Instagram, and she helps me bring our drink creations to life.

One day, I know Ella is going to take over the film industry—but until then, I’m so grateful to have her as part of our team (and our Jives family).

Drop a 🎬 in the comments if you love Ella’s work behind the scenes!

03/11/2025

One of My favorite humans. She’s intelligent, she’s beautiful , and she’s a badass. No one I’d rather take on the world with. 💥🔥 My Daughter ❤️❤️

03/10/2025

Meet the Staff: Kayla!

Next up in our Meet the Staff series is Kayla—the sweetest soul with the best vibes (and apparently a secret talent for napping).

❤️ Favorite color? Red—bold, just like her energy.
🍽️ Hobby? Spending time with friends and going out to eat (because food is life).
😴 Fun fact? If she’s not at Jives or school, she’s probably napping… which is hilarious because she’s always full of energy when she’s here!
🧠 In school for? Psychology—so basically, she’s studying all of our minds.

From me: Kayla is truly one of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet. She walks into a room and instantly brings joy—she’s respectful, kind, and always ready to dance. We absolutely adore her, even if we’re still trying to figure out how someone this full of life claims to be a professional napper. 😂

Drop a ❤️ in the comments if Kayla has ever brightened your day (or if you also love a good nap)!

03/09/2025

A Night of Inspiration at the Eat Clean Bro Gala ✨

Last night was nothing short of incredible. The Eat Clean Bro Gala once again outdid itself, raising support for Children’s Specialized Hospital and changing lives in the process. This year, we brought our daughter with us to witness the magic firsthand—seeing her take in the impact of this event was beyond inspiring. It’s one thing to tell your kids about generosity and giving back, but it’s another to show them.

Kayla & Jamie—your passion, hard work, and dedication to making this night unforgettable is unmatched. The level of detail, the energy, the heart you pour into this event every year blows us away. Thank you for doing what you do and for letting us be a part of something so meaningful. Until next year! ❤️

03/09/2025

Meet the Staff: Karissa!

Next up in our Meet the Staff series is Karissa—the quiet one… or so you think.

💖 Favorite color? Pink—because obviously, she’s a queen.
🏋️‍♀️ Hobby? Hitting the gym and staying strong (both physically and in her sass levels).
😂 Fun fact? Ummmm… yeah, still thinking on that one.

From me: Where do I even begin with Karissa? She comes across as quiet and sweet, but don’t be fooled by that innocent smile—there’s a whole lot of sass behind it. She’s a true queen, and in her own words, “slay, queen.” Whether she’s keeping us on our toes or serving up coffee with a side of attitude, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Drop a 💖 in the comments if you’ve ever been blessed by Karissa’s sass!

03/08/2025

Meet the Staff: Annie!

Next up in our Meet the Staff series is Annie—the barista, the dancer, and the absolute menace we wouldn’t trade for anything.

🎶 Favorite things? Working out, traveling, and vibing to music.
👨‍👩‍👧 Where she spends her time? With family, friends, and most likely dancing behind the counter at Jives.
💃 Fun fact? If there’s a beat, she’s moving—even if she’s mid-coffee order.

From me: Annie drives us absolutely up the wall… and I absolutely adore her. She’s always up to something silly, keeping us all entertained whether she means to or not. But beyond the chaos, she’s also hands down the best barista. Sometimes, life brings people into your world who just become family, and Annie is one of those people.

Drop a 🎶 in the comments if you’ve ever caught Annie mid-dance behind the counter!

Jives Cafe

04/26/2025

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