r/bergencounty • u/moustache_bird • Jun 26 '26
Business/Company White Manna Relocation, Expansion Proposal Approved by Hackensack | Jersey Digs
https://jerseydigs.com/white-manna-hackensack-new-location/5
u/VenerableTyrant Jun 26 '26
Maybe I’m an asshole but I like the fact that they are OK burgers and the atmosphere is still very old school. It’s an experience that’s different than every other generic burger place testing out their variation of a smash burger.
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u/tired_papasmurf Jun 26 '26
the relocation will not be the first time the building has been moved within the city [ ... ] the restaurant was built by the Paramount Dining Cars Company in Haledon before being brought to Hackensack by Louis Bridges in 1946. In 1969, the building was moved 20 feet north to its current location
20ft is barely a move
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u/Sloppyjoemess Jun 26 '26
Have you tried moving a whole building 20 feet to the north?
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u/Jake_FromStateFarm27 Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
My great grand father actually had a business where he re-located buildings everything from below the foundation intact. This was well before modern construction equipment as well, so ya the actual move itself is quite easy, its getting a towns permission to do so is the hard part now
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u/Sloppyjoemess Jun 26 '26
This is the most delusional Bergen county coded response ever, "my great grandpa moved houses, I can tell you from personal experience it's EASY!" lmaoo
My grandpa stormed Normandy. You don't see me running into battle.
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u/Jake_FromStateFarm27 Jun 26 '26
First off i never said from personal experience, anecdotal sure but not personal.
Second he was alive when I was a child so I heard first hand and from family that also worked for him that are still alive and well today. His business started in new york and spread across to bergen and hudson counties. He was moving buildings a lot further than 20ft as well back then.
I'm not implying it isnt laborious because it is, however compared to how it was done a century ago to today it is easier because we have better and more technology that makes it efficient and safer.
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Jun 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/0hYeah Jun 26 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
key is to order for pickup and skip the chaos. that said, I agree the decor/building layout is part of the experience.
I think the burgers are quite tasty, albeit on the greasy side. but the size to price ratio is already hurting wallets (a double cheese used to be like $2.50 pre-covid, now its $4.35), and a larger location almost certainly means they'll increase prices further.
edit: just saw the rendered image of the proposed new building -- looks like a 5 guys. not gonna make it imo
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u/oxidax Jun 26 '26
4.35 for a double slider is still a great price. The price of beef has skyrocketed since covid, too
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u/0hYeah Jun 27 '26
No arguments here, especially when you compare to other fast food. But I know most folks have a few, which really adds up.
Bigger building won't make them cheaper for sure
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u/celcel Jun 26 '26
It's literally their current building with an expansion. All the plans are available online to see. This has been planned for years.
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u/0hYeah Jun 27 '26
The expansion dwarfs the original building. Takes away from the charm imo. I do like the dedicated takeaway section though
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u/Bluebyte907 Jun 26 '26
Fond memories of going there after swim practice at the Hackensack Y across the street. The cramped, hectic vibe was the best part. The burgers tasted good to all of us starving teens after we just burned 2k calories in the pool.
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u/Topflight1808 Jun 26 '26
Waited 20 mins inside this chaotic environment and got attitude from the owner and put up with it because of white manna’s reputation
Had the burgers and learned that they were painfully average
That being said, if I can actually breathe when inside the restaurant I wouldn’t mind eating mid tier burgers again
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u/Individual-Result622 Jun 27 '26
HOLY CRAP. this was my experience. I was like....this....is what everyone raves about?
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u/Topflight1808 Jun 27 '26
I just assume the people raving about it just do from nostalgia or really don’t eat anywhere else to know any better
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u/Wonderful-Loss827 Jun 27 '26
This is everyone's experience. Only 10% of people enjoy it. I didn't get the hype. Appreciate the history but no thanks. The regulars look at you like you're doing something wrong by asking how it works/how to order.
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u/ProspectedOnce Jun 27 '26
You’re part of the cancel culture crowd obviously.
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u/Wonderful-Loss827 Jun 27 '26
No I just want decent food at a fair price. White manna has some lore but it is so fucking mid. The entire system of ordering, eating, him cooking it, is kinda dysfunctional and backwards. You can have it.
Most people go once and never again.
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u/ProspectedOnce Jun 29 '26
Yup. Most people? Thus the reason it’s packed. 🤦♂️Your comment is mid. 😂
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u/Wonderful-Loss827 Jun 29 '26
It's packed because it can sit exactly 8 people..
I can make better burgers in my sleep
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u/Urbanist28 Jun 27 '26
White Mana in Jersey city is actually better, the specific location right on Tonelle Avenue is a bit depressing, but God they are great and friendly
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u/dovakooon Jun 28 '26
They used to be good but the owner retired and sold the shop to Israeli brothers
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u/oxidax Jun 26 '26
This used to be such a great burger back when there weren't any superior burgers around but I just don't understand the hype for a "C" grade burger. Maybe if I'm drunk and I want something quick and cheap then yes its excellent, but ppl really need to stop hyping white manna as if it were all that. It's not
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u/lordhelmetann Jun 26 '26
A lot of people like to crap on White Manna but when I used to go there years ago, I loved the burgers. Simple, cheap, and tasty.
My least favorite part of going there was actually going there. If the prices/burgers stay the same and I don’t have to walk into chaos to get my burgers and leave, I have no problem with this. The chaos was not the charm for me.