State Cracks Down On Bergen County Restaurants That Refused To Take Cash: Attorney General

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — More than two dozen New Jersey businesses, including restaurants in Bergen and Hudson counties, have been cited by the state for refusing to accept cash or for not informing customers about credit card surcharges, the Attorney General's Office announced Tuesday.

The state said they're attempting to protect consumers before the holidays.

New Jersey passed a law in 2019 mandating that almost all businesses accept cash, although enforcement waned during the pandemic. In February 2023, the state AG began fining businesses that didn't comply, even small cafes.

The state announced another round of enforcement on Tuesday, including civil penalties against 30 businesses in New Jersey.

The state said that businesses cited for "no-cash" policies included: Patisserie Forentine in Hackensack, Bluestone Lane in Hoboken and Jersey City, Glosslab in Hoboken, Dry Bar in Paramus, Hoboken, and Summit, and the Cookie Connect in Ridgewood, Bloomfield, Hoboken, and Morristown. They also listed several other independent cafes in Hudson County.

In terms of credit card surcharges, those are legal — the state said — but the amount must be disclosed to the customer before a purchase.

North Jersey businesses cited for allegedly breaking that rule include Sunrise Bagels in Oradell, Bagel Supreme in Paramus, Tastee Platters in Hoboken, the Lola in Hoboken, and Los Cuernos in Jersey City.

Now Accepting Cash

A check of Bluestone Lane in Hoboken in October found that the location is now accepting cash. Patch had reported back in February that a person at the counter said they were not, but apparently a change was made.

The upcoming location in Paramus, slated to open in 2024, will also accept cash, a spokesperson told Patch earlier this fall.

The purpose of the law is to prevent discrimination against those without bank accounts or who can't get a credit card, including an estimated 4 percent of New Jerseyans.

Experts say that refusing to accept cash disproportionately impacts marginalized groups. (Read this story to find out how you can report a business breaking the law.)

Very few business have an exception. (See the exceptions in this story.) Rental car companies and some airport businesses are allowed to be cashless.

New Jersey had announced a previous round of fines on businesses for refusing to comply with the state law in February 2023.

READ MORE: Cashless Cafe, Now Accepting Cash, Will Expand To Bergen County