Getting to know Sara Marzitelli, Vice President + Head of People Operations at Common, a colliding platform focused on people’s living experiences and the community around them.

I ended up in Jersey City in 2012 when my then boyfriend (now husband) had to commute to the City once a month from North Jersey. One day, upon missing his train, he ended up on the path to Exchange Place and had asked me to pick him up. I had never been to Jersey City before. While he was waiting for me to arrive he called me exclaiming "we have to walk around when you get here; it is amazing". We spent the afternoon walking all around Downtown Jersey City and that was when I fell in love with the neighborhood and decided to move to Jersey City.

Here we are years later, my husband, myself and our two dogs. I lead the HR team at a real estate tech startup that is focused on bringing design and technology to a very antiquated industry - property management. We design and operate homes throughout the US that focus on community and affordability.

“If I were going to describe Jersey City to someone in 3 words they would be Culturally Diverse and unique.”

There are so many things that make my The Powerhouse Arts District community so unique. What stands out most to me is the incredible Powerhouse Arts District history - the cobblestone streets, the warehouses (whether converted or not) there is so much character here. So many local shops, bars, etc. It really has a unique charm.

My MUST-GO-HERE list of Jersey City recommendations are…

Probably Liberty State Park - there is also so much history there and it truly is one of the most beautiful parks. It also happens to be around 400 acres bigger than Central Park. It has the most amazing view of NYC and the Cherry Blossoms in the spring are so beautiful to look at!

My favorite part of living in Jersey City…

Probably the people and the community. JC is the second-largest city in NJ but so many communities and neighborhoods have such a tight-knit community. You really feel a sense of everyone coming together and are so proud to call JC home.

An average day for me looks like:

If it is the work week I usually start with a workout at F45 - Pre pandemic it was at their studio - currently it is at the Lutze Parking lot where we have a fun socially distant workout. I usually follow that up with a trip to Maggies Farm Espresso for my coffee. I'll then do a walk around JC for 2-3 miles before the day kicks off. I venture along The Waterfront, Hamilton Park, Paulus Hook, or even up towards Hoboken. Once I come home I post up for my day at my desk. When work is over I step out for another walk and to bring my dogs to the park. We then typically meet up with friends for a walk, dinner, or a drink or to browse local shops. On the weekend you can find me on my bike riding around, in the parks, eating at a local spot, or hanging around with friends.

Local places you might find me…

I am really loving ITA in McGinley Square lately! The pizza and food are so good! Maggies Farm Espresso for coffee or breakfast; Whealth Kitchen for my weekly meal delivery - they are based in Journal Square; Satis is I am craving a European vibe and sitting on a patio to drink some rose; Franklin Social currently for a great cocktail; Hudson Hall for some quick casual bites and a delicious froze; Taqueria probably once per week, because of amazing tacos and margs! I also recently find myself at Torico or frequenting Bang cookies on Newark for a PB&J cookie.

Shouting out to some of my favorite local Jersey City businesses…

Maggies Farm Espresso for keeping me hydrated and caffeinated; Whealth Kitchen for my weekly local delivery of farm to table meals; My amazing trainers at F45 who keep me in decent shape so I can continue to indulge; Panos and the team at AcuWorx Acupuncture for keeping me aligned and stress free with acupuncture since 2013 - and one last shout out to all the amazing local businesses we have here in Jersey City! They are all truly unique in their own way and they deserve an extra shout out even more so in this time.