Newark’s downtown is home to a diverse and vibrant community of residents, businesses, students, and cultural institutions. Audible’s The Pillars leverages this rich community fabric into new opportunities for local businesses and neighborhood activity by transforming an underutilized ground-floor space at 33 Washington Street into a mixed-use, community-oriented retail and gathering space in the Arts and Education District. By renovating 15,000 square feet of a prominent modernist building, Audible has created a hub for small businesses and visitors that promises to be an active anchor of the Harriet Tubman Square neighborhood and demonstrates the positive impact thoughtful investment can have on a community.

Audible worked closely with nearby institutions, city agencies, community organizations, students, and residents throughout the redevelopment process. Planning for 33 Washington Street began in 2021, followed by community meetings in subsequent years and surveys to gather input about the types of businesses, amenities, and events locals wanted to see in the neighborhood. This collaboration, in tandem with the efforts of the project team, helped ensure that the resulting space responds to community needs and celebrates the rich history and character of downtown Newark.

The Pillars brings together retail, community space, and programming to create a destination that encourages people to visit and engage with local businesses. The space features a central court with Audible listening booths and four retail spaces, with Tansy, Pooka Pure & Simple, and HealHaus among the businesses opening at The Pillars. Through Audible’s Business Attraction Program, these businesses receive support for fit-out costs, subsidized retail space, mentorship, and other resources designed to reduce barriers for historically underrepresented entrepreneurs. Community programming, which includes workshops, listening and reading parties, fashion shows, plant and floral activities, and other events, creates a welcoming space for residents and new visitors to engage with the neighborhood. 

New Jersey Future is thrilled to honor Audible’s The Pillars as a recipient of a Smart Growth Award for 2026. This project’s thoughtful reuse of an existing downtown space to support small businesses and create a community gathering place is an example for other corporations, communities, and developers across New Jersey to follow. By pairing investment in the physical environment and support for diverse entrepreneurs, The Pillars demonstrates how redevelopment can strengthen existing neighborhoods and create opportunities for economic and community vitality.