well-deserved - The Latremie Post

A New Hotel to Rise on Route 1 South in Avenel, Woodbridge

A new five-story hotel is set to rise on Route 1 South in the Avenel section of Woodbridge, marking the end of an era for the old City Hotel, Star Hotel, and the iconic dive bar, The Spot.

### When Route 1 Was the Beating Heart of New Jersey Road Trips

There was a time when motels ruled New Jersey’s highways. After World War II, families hit the road for vacations in record numbers, and motels popped up everywhere—especially along Route 1 and other roads leading to the Jersey Shore. These motels were affordable, convenient, and embodied the spirit of the 1950s and ’60s road-tripping family.

### From Family Vacations to Faded Signs: The Decline of Route 1 Motels

But times changed. With the completion of the interstate highway system, travelers began bypassing local roads like Route 1. Flying became more popular, and the once-thriving motels started to fade away. While some classic motels survived—some even enjoying a retro revival in places like Wildwood and Cape May—most met a common fate: they became “cheap motels,” eventually closed, and were demolished.

### City Hotel and The Spot Make Way for Cambria Suites

Demolition is now underway for the City and Star Hotels, as well as The Spot, which has been closed for about 15 years. Rising in their place will be a Cambria Suites hotel at 939-943 Route 1 South—a five-story, 104-room building that will also feature a restaurant on the first floor.

### Avenel’s Route 1 Rebirth: From Blight to Boom

Woodbridge Mayor John McCormac has described the project as a long-overdue improvement. He called the old motels “one of the ugliest sites on Route 1,” adding that the township has worked hard to clean up blighted properties in the area.

“Route 1 in Avenel has experienced a rebirth,” McCormac said. “New stores and businesses have opened along Route 1, Avenel Street, and Rahway Avenue ever since the Station Village apartment complex took over one of the worst contaminated sites in the township at General Dynamics.”

### The End of an Era, A Fresh Start for Woodbridge

It’s the end of an era for the old Route 1 motels, but like much of Woodbridge, this stretch of highway is getting a fresh start and a brighter future.
https://nj1015.com/woodbridge-route-1-development/

As the saying goes, honesty is the best policy. While some employees hesitate to take well-deserved paid time off (PTO) because they feel guilty—looking at you, millennials—others, their younger Gen Z counterparts, seem to have no problem asking for time off for reasons straight from the heart.

A manager recently took to X (formerly Twitter) to share a leave request email he received from a young employee that would have many boomers scratching their heads. The email read:

“I recently had a breakup and haven’t been able to focus on work, I need a short break. I’m working from home today, so I’d like to take leave from the 28th to the 8th.”

Short, sweet, and to the heartbroken point.

When the manager publicly shared a screenshot of the email (with names blurred out), he wrote above it: “Got the most honest leave application yesterday. Gen Z doesn’t do filters!”

If you’re wondering, yes — this manager did approve the leave request **without any questions**.

The post quickly went viral, receiving over 14 million views on X. Many people expressed support for the generation born between 1997 and 2012.

One commenter wrote, “Gen Z might not have everything figured out, but when it comes to work—they know their rights, speak up without fear, and refuse to tolerate nonsense.”

Another chimed in, “In an age of AI, you should be hiring people with solid communication skills and great EQ. This person is that.”

And someone else tweeted, “I respect the honesty. Sometimes a breakup hurts more than deadlines.”

This, of course, isn’t the first time a Gen Z employee has had an unexpected reason for requesting time off. Another young worker sent a candid email that read:

“Feeling a bit overwhelmed with all the work and my energy feels a little off, so not getting that vibe right now. I’ll be out from 28th July to 30th July (pls don’t miss me).”

At first, this manager didn’t seem as understanding as the previous one since the employee appeared to be stating what they were doing rather than formally asking for time off. However, by the end of the day, the request was still approved.

“She was frustrated with all the work, so I approved it,” the manager shared.

In the end, it seems that honesty—and a little vulnerability—go a long way in today’s workplace, especially among Gen Z employees who are redefining how we communicate and set boundaries at work.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/02/lifestyle/gen-z-employee-had-unexpected-reason-for-time-off-request/

Tag: well-deserved

From Dive Bar to Hotel: Cambria Suites Replacing Route 1 Motels in Woodbridge

Gutsy Gen Z employee requests time off from work for the most head-scratching reason