Harry Houdini's NJ Lab Reopens In Hudson County, But As A Coffee Shop

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — There's a new coffee shop in North Jersey with a magical secret.

Last month, a couple who own a vintage furniture shop in Union City completed a transformation, adding coffee and baked goods on the weekends. The gritty location was once Harry Houdini's film developing lab, when the neighborhood was still known as West Hoboken.

Susie Felber — a self-proclaimed "magic nerd" who's also a Weehawken-based comedian and part-owner of a local marketing company — stumbled upon the "cool hang" last weekend while chasing a different story for her newsletter, the Weehawken Gazette.

The Weehawken Gazette first reported the story, giving Patch permission to use the photos.

"Red alert for coffee fans with a hankering for a cool hang," Felber wrote, "...it’s located in a groovy collector’s-grade furniture studio."

The new spot is Beni Coffee, and it opened in November inside Studio Beni, the couple's furniture studio (see interior shots on TIkTok here).

The owners responded to inquiries from Patch on Sunday, explaining: "We decided to open a coffee shop in our space because we loved the idea of creating a welcoming place for people to gather and enjoy. We are currently only open Saturday and Sunday, but we are discussing the possibility of opening during the week in 2026!"

The History

As noted on a Houdini fan website, Wildabouthoudini.com, Houdini started the Film Developing Corporation in 1916 to process motion picture film, a necessity for a developing industry. FDC's main offices were located in Manhattan, but the lab was set up at 216 Weehawken St. in West Hoboken — now known as 216 19th Street in Union City.

The Houdini website notes that the lab must date to at least 1920. A trade publication described the location that year, writing, "On the west shore of the Hudson not far from the center of Hoboken the laboratory of the Film Developing Corporation is running full blast. The laboratory under the direction of Messrs. Houdini, Hardeen and Davidson has forged ahead..."

Hardeen was Theodore Hardeen, Houdini's brother who was an escape artist.

Felber suggested that with the 100th anniversary of Houdini's death coming on Oct. 31 (he died at 52 after an appendectomy), perhaps a seance may be held at Beni Coffee? It's a thought.

What do you think? Read more below.

• Read the original story, with more information, in the Weehawken Gazette here.
• Follow Beni Coffee, and see their dishes, on Instagram here.
• Know of a restaurant or unique business opening in Hudson or Bergen counties? Tell Patch so we can write about it.
• See Patch's story on 5 new restaurants that opened in North Jersey last month, here.