Listen to this articleThe basics:
- Audible will open The Pillars, a 15,000-sq.-ft. retail hub, in Newark‘s Arts and Education District
- Part of Audible’s Business Attraction Program to support local entrepreneurs
- Mayor Ras Baraka and CEO Bob Carrigan will attend October grand opening celebration
As Audible continues to invest in its headquarters city, the storytelling giant is ready to unveil an innovative retail hub in Newark.
“The Pillars” will officially debut at 33 Washington St. in the city’s Arts and Education District in October. The rollout follows renovations across the 15,000-square-foot ground floor interior and the façade of the prominent modernist building.
The transformation aims to establish a hub for local businesses, visitors and the community, while establishing an anchor in the neighborhood. With spots for four retail tenants, Audible will also provide direct support through its Business Attraction Program.
Launched in 2023 by Audible, that economic development initiative offers support via funding, mentorship, networking and more for startups and retail operators looking to expand or locate in Newark.
A central court will greet visitors to The Pillars, according to Audible, complete with the company’s listening booths. At opening, three businesses will occupy space (see below). The fourth tenant has not been announced; however, Audible said the anchor food and beverage occupant will debut in 2026. The space also aims to tap into experiential brick-and-mortar excitement, and will offer interactive and unique on-site activities to that end.
‘A new paradigm’
Commenting on The Pillars, Audible CEO Bob Carrigan described the initiative as “a new paradigm for corporate investment.”
“By transforming physical spaces and directly supporting local businesses with financial assistance through our Business Attraction Program, we’re building an ecosystem that sustains entrepreneurship, drives foot traffic, and celebrates community,” Carrigan added.
Mayor Ras Baraka called the effort the epitome of the innovative and community-focused development driving Newark forward. “When we invest to bring new amenities to our neighborhoods while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs, it strengthens the fabric of our whole city,” he said. “The Pillars adds to the vibrancy of Newark’s Arts and Education District, and spotlights how we build a more equitable and prosperous city by reimagining spaces that serve us all.”
Carrigan and Baraka will celebrate The Pillars’ grand opening with an Oct. 15 event at 11 a.m. Retail tenants from the new space and others will also be on hand for the ribbon cutting and reception to introduce the inventive new space to the city.
According to Audible, more than 70,000 visitors make the trek to the Newark Arts and Education District each month. The company noted over 150 businesses serve the area. It said a significant portion (one-third) represent restaurants and food establishments, many of which are independently owned.
Overall, Audible said it generates nearly $2 billion annually in economic impact in Newark.
The work at The Pillars marks the latest in the Arts and Education District Audible calls home. In 2019, the company debuted a historic restoration at its Innovation Cathedral. At the nearby Harriet Tubman Square, which it helped to establish, Audible’s touch is apparent in the audio component that accompanies the park’s signature art piece. Through the Newark Artist Collaboration, Audible commissions public art from local creatives.
Report: Newark boasts $2B in untapped retail demand
Opportunity awaits for local businesses and entrepreneurs, according to a recent Invest Newark study. Read more about what’s already offered as well as where and what’s needed throughout the city, here.
Leading off at The Pillars are:
Tansy
A woman-owned home goods and plant store with a unique vision of socially conscious home décor. Featuring products from local artists, charitable organizations and global sources, Tansy also offers regular classes in plant care, terrarium building and creative arts, connecting with community and sharing education
“We’re thrilled to expand Tansy from Seattle and Burbank, and now to Newark. Our newest location at The Pillars will be more than a retail space—it will be a platform for creativity and community connection.”
— founder Shawna Christian
Pooka Pure & Simple
Moving back home to Newark with its award-winning bath and body products, the business will also unveil The Bloom Bar. The innovative perfume blending bar lets guests learn to craft a signature scent. The new space will also offer weekly DIY workshops.
“Returning to Newark at The Pillars feels like home—now with an immersive vision for retail and creativity. We can’t wait to welcome everyone to shop, blend, and celebrate with us.”
— founder Dawn Fitch
HealHaus
A community-focused wellness destination that prioritizes mental, physical and spiritual health. The business offers daily yoga, meditation and breathwork classes, as well as specialty workshops on weekends. It also features a wellness café serving chef-curated smoothies, teas, elixirs, and select grab-and-go food items.
“HealHaus has been a growing community since it first began in Brooklyn seven years ago. Newark’s vibrant community and rich cultural heritage make it the perfect home for our next chapter. We’re excited to create a space in Newark where the local community can see themselves reflected in the work we facilitate.”
— founder Darian Hall
