Unoccupied spaces set to become chic wine bars, dessert spots, and popular restaurants promising weekend and nightlife.
Finally there is hope of downtown Newark having activity after the work day ends. While there has been consistent development in Newark for nearly two decades, the early onset businesses and retail shops catered mainly to the employees at Prudential, Audible and the students at various colleges and universities in the area. This practice of being open only when corporate America was open, or only when school was in session, left a lot to be desired after 5pm or on Saturday or Sunday.
“I think our plan for Consigliere is to activate on the weekends in a way that we feel downtown Newark hasn’t activated in a while,” says Karl Fowlkes, co-founder of Consigliere, a wine and tapas bar being built at the Newark Urby luxury apartment building on Washington Street. “We want to just bring energy, talent, and experiences in a way that I think Newark hasn’t had in a long time.”
Fowlers and his partner Jarel Rosser were able to secure funding from the Invest Newark Retail Reactivation grant to help offset the cost of building-out the space, and purchasing furniture and equipment. The City of Newark and Invest Newark have pledged $3.6 million into the grant program so far. Business operators are eligible for up to $650,000 depending on the square footage of the storefront.
“Our new initiative reflects a commitment to bring new life into vacant retail spaces and enhance Newark’s physical appearance to enrich the lives of residents, visitors and workers,”said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. It is an important step in our strategy to make downtown a 24/7, exciting, walkable area where people can live, work and play.”
Taking over the vacant restaurant and rooftop space at the Indigo Hotel that didn’t survive COVID-19, is Delta’s Restaurant, a Southern-style restaurant that has been an around-the-clock landmark in New Brunswick for over two decades.
“We want to make a space (in Newark) where people can come to after graduations from Seton Hall, Rutgers Law, and the local high schools. We are going to piggyback off what’s happening at the Prudential Center in terms of concerts and sporting events,” says restauranter Joshua Suggs who has had major success being the go-to place for everything from celebration parties, to weekend jazz sets, to happy hours at his first location. Suggs says he wants to engage concert and event-goers such as those coming to Newark for the World Cup. “I think it’s really about forward, out of the box dynamic thinking, which currently in my opinion hasn’t really been done too much before… so we’re looking to take the restaurant to the next level.”
“We want to make a space (in Newark) where people can come to after graduations from Seton Hall, Rutgers Law, and the local high schools. We are going to piggyback off what’s happening at the Prudential Center in terms of concerts and sporting events,” says restauranter Joshua Suggs
Adding to the novelty of businesses downtown is Sweet Jeans Macaron & Coffee Bar. Remodeling empty space at the office building housed at 494 Broad Street, Sweet Jeans is building out a 2,000+ square foot cafe and community space specializing in family-friendly events and fresh pastries. “We’re hoping to do some fun pastry classes or baking; make French macarons; make pasta, and have family-style suppers together,” explains Michele Vaccari Harriott, who has lived in Newark for 34 years, as well as her 101 year-old grandmother who still lives in the North Ward section of town. “We want to make it fun and exciting for everybody, not just a 7 am to 2 pm corporate crowd. We’re definitely looking to make some memories after hours.”
“These entrepreneurs are diverse, local, and prepared to offer quality amenities to our residents, students, and workers,” said Marcus T. Randolph, President and CEO of Invest Newark. “They are investing in our downtown core, and we are proud to be able to invest in them and their dreams. Powered by our commitment to innovation and love for our community, we are creating an ecosystem that will shape the future of Newark for generations to come.”
Reporting by Jason Green, Joscelyne Quiridumba, and Mahima Aktar
