About Explore NWNJ
Explore NWNJ is a local business directory for Northwest New Jersey, helping you find local small businesses, services, restaurants, gyms, and more near you.
We focus on the communities in Warren, Sussex, and Morris Counties and the people who live, work, and play here.
No random spammy ads. No copy written by someone who has never driven Route 80 in the fog.
Just local places. Local people. Local stories.
All in one simple Northwest NJ business directory for Warren, Sussex, and Morris Counties.
What Explore NWNJ Does
Explore NWNJ is a human curated online directory that helps you:
- Find local places to eat, move, shop, and hang out in Northwest New Jersey
- Discover small businesses you probably drive past every day
- Support the people who keep this area running – from diner owners to coaches to electricians
It is also a simple way to answer everyday questions like:
- “Where should we go tonight?”
- “Who do you use for…?”
For locals, Explore NWNJ is a simple way to search real local businesses by town, category, or keyword.
For business owners, Explore NWNJ is a place to get in front of people who are already looking for you – without another confusing ad dashboard or giant national directory in the way.
Who Is Behind Explore NWNJ
Hi, I am Kimberly Casteel Torres, but most people call me Kim. I am the human behind Explore NWNJ and a proud Northwest New Jersey transplant who has completely fallen for this area.
A few things about me:
- I live in Hackettstown, New Jersey with my husband, Ferd, and our tiny boss, Pablo the Yorkie
- I work in the cannabis industry as an Order Fulfillment Lead at GTI Hackettstown
- I love CrossFit, comfy clothes, coffee, and a good true crime binge
- I care a lot about helping busy people reclaim their time and energy
I kept hearing the same comments from friends, coworkers, and neighbors:
- “I did not even know that place existed.”
- “I wish there was one simple spot to find local businesses.”
- “I want to support small businesses, I just do not know where to start.”
So instead of just complaining, I built Explore NWNJ to solve that problem for locals and for business owners.
Why I Care About Local Businesses
By day I work on logistics, compliance, and getting products where they need to go.
By night (and early mornings) I build systems that make life easier for real people – including the small and mid-sized businesses that often get buried online.
Explore NWNJ exists to:
- Make it easier for locals to find you
- Give you space to tell your story, not just list your address
- Highlight businesses that are actually part of the community
If you are the kind of business that knows your regulars by name, this directory is built for you.
How Explore NWNJ Works
Right now Explore NWNJ is simple on purpose:
- Locals search by town, category, or keyword
- Listings show up in clean, easy to skim cards
- Every listing is reviewed by a real human (me)
- I keep improving the site based on what locals search for and what business owners need
A few important things:
- Every business listing is free
- There are no paid plans, no pay to play, and no boosted ad spots
- I do not list MLMs, network marketing, or direct sales opportunities
- Any “featured” or highlighted spots are editorial choices, not ads that someone bought
This is version 1 – the working but always improving version.
As Explore NWNJ grows, I will be adding:
- “Best of Northwest New Jersey” style guides
- Weekend and seasonal roundups
- Local spotlights and stories
- Special sections for things like pets, events, and services
A Note For NWNJ Business Owners
If you own or run a business in Northwest New Jersey, Explore NWNJ is built for you if:
- You want more local customers without paying for confusing ad dashboards
- You care about being seen by the people who actually live here
- You like the idea of long term visibility, not just a one time promo post
What you get:
- A free listing so locals can find you and know what you offer
- A space to share your story, not just your address and hours
- A chance to be discovered when people search for towns, categories, or services in NWNJ
There are no paid tiers and no “if you spend more, you show up more” model here. I personally review each submission to see if it feels like a true fit for Explore NWNJ.
My GTI Hackettstown Connection
Because I work at Green Thumb Industries (GTI) Hackettstown, I get a lot of questions about jobs in the cannabis industry.
If you are curious about careers at GTI – in Hackettstown or anywhere in the company – and are 21+ years old, you can use my referral link here:
I do not control the hiring process, but I am happy to help point people in the right direction.
Power Habits Guide – For Busy Locals Who Want Their Time Back
Outside of Explore NWNJ, I created the Power Habits Guide – a simple system that helps busy people reclaim time and energy without burning out.
If you want:
- Better habits without a full life overhaul
- More energy for your family, business, and community
- Practical tools from someone who actually lives and works in Northwest New Jersey
You can get it here: https://powerhabitsguide.com/
What To Expect As Explore NWNJ Grows
As Explore NWNJ continues to build momentum, you will see:
- More local businesses across Warren, Sussex, and Morris Counties added regularly
- More guides like “Weekend in NWNJ,” “Date Night Ideas,” “Rainy Day Plans,” and “Family Friendly Picks”
- More chances for local businesses to be highlighted in social posts, email spotlights, and community roundups
Founding businesses – the early ones who claim their spot now – will always get first look at new ideas, promos, and collaboration opportunities.
Connect With Kimberly Casteel Torres
If you want to follow along with the behind the scenes, the personal side, and more habits and productivity content from me, you can find Kimberly Casteel Torres here:
- LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kimcasteeltorres
- Facebook: facebook.com/kim.casteel.torres
- Instagram: instagram.com/kimcasteeltorres
And of course, you can always keep exploring the directory itself: