HauntBound archive · catalog record
Reported phenomena, as catalogued
+ 2 further entries on record
A historic Hoboken steakhouse at 237 Washington Street, operating for decades before closing in 2022, where staff and a paranormal research team documented unexplained footsteps, flickering lights, and a reportedly haunted upstairs bathroom.
237 Washington Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030
Research updated September 2026
Age
All Ages
Cost
Free
No admission; building still standing as of 2026 but venue has been closed since 2022.
Access
Accessibility not stated
Urban sidewalk
Equipment
Photos OK
Est. 1908 · Part of Hoboken's historic Washington Street commercial corridor · Decades-long Arthur's steakhouse location · Subject of formal paranormal investigation by NJ Paranormal Research
Arthur's Tavern occupied a brick commercial building at 237 Washington Street, Hoboken, Hudson County, New Jersey — a structure long associated with food and beverage service in the city's downtown core. The Arthur's brand traces back to 1957 when restaurateur Arthur McGreevy established the first of several New Jersey steakhouse locations, including outposts in Morris Plains and Hoboken.
The Hoboken location became one of the brand's flagship restaurants, known for its charcoal-grilled steaks, garlic bread, and neighborhood-bar atmosphere. The building had been known earlier as 'Hoboken House,' a popular 1970s–80s eatery at the same address. The steakhouse operated for roughly four decades before being sold to David and Wanda Jacey in 2011.
The venue closed in early 2022 for an announced renovation, with plans to preserve the historic portion of the building while adding a modern addition. As of May 2026, the restaurant has not reopened. Hoboken's Historic Preservation Committee approved expansion plans for the building in August 2020, indicating ongoing development interest in the property.
The Stute, the student newspaper of Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, documented the tavern's ghost lore in an October 2025 article on haunted Hoboken history. John Cifarelli of New Jersey Paranormal Research conducted an investigation at the site, during which a parapsychologist was reportedly shaken by activity in the upstairs women's restroom.
Sources
Staff at Arthur's Tavern repeatedly reported a cluster of unexplained phenomena over the years: footsteps audible on the upper floors when the building was otherwise empty, lights flickering or turning on and off without cause, doors opening on their own, a clipboard allegedly launching itself off a desk in view of employees, disembodied whispers, and one account of a person's hair being pulled by an invisible force.
These reports prompted an investigation by John Cifarelli, founder of New Jersey Paranormal Research. The investigation included at least one parapsychologist who reportedly came away shaken, stating she was certain that the upstairs women's restroom was haunted. The tavern is locally believed to host three distinct spirits, though none have been formally identified.
The Stevens Institute student newspaper The Stute covered the site in a broader October 2025 feature on haunted Hoboken history, citing the Cifarelli investigation as the most documented paranormal inquiry associated with the building. Because the venue is now closed and interior access is unavailable, active paranormal visitation is not currently possible.
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