Audible to Open Dynamic Retail Hub, The Pillars, in Newark, New Jersey
In October 2025, Audible will unveil The Pillars, an innovative retail hub in Newark at 33 Washington Street, and a bold new model for investment in urban communities. The company has renovated the 15,000-square-foot ground floor and facade of the prominent modernist building, originally designed by architect Welton Becket, in Newark’s vibrant Arts and Education District, transforming the space into a hub for local businesses, visitors, and community.
The Pillars will serve as an anchor for the neighborhood, featuring an inviting central court complete with Audible listening booths, and three distinct retail spaces that blend wellness, artisanal home goods, and hand-crafted beauty products—with a fourth anchor food and beverage tenant to be announced, opening in 2026. Tenants will receive financial support from Audible for fit-out costs through the company’s Business Attraction Program, which offers funding, mentorship, networking opportunities and more for retail and startup founders who have historically faced barriers to access.
"The Pillars represents a new paradigm for corporate investment in our headquarters city," said Bob Carrigan, CEO, Audible. "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. I’m thrilled to see The Pillars become part of the incredible momentum building in downtown Newark.”
"This project is the epitome of the high-caliber innovation and community-focused development that drives Newark forward," said Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka. "When we invest to bring new amenities to our neighborhoods while creating opportunities for local entrepreneurs, it strengthens the fabric of our whole city. 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."
At opening, The Pillars will feature three distinctive businesses, each with its own innovative approach to retail and demonstrated commitment to community engagement:
Tansy, a woman-owned home goods and plant store, brings its unique vision of socially conscious home décor to Newark. Featuring products from local artists, charitable organizations, and global sources, Tansy is dedicated to community and education, offering regular classes in plant care, terrarium building, and creative arts. "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," said Shawna Christian, founder of Tansy.
Dawn Fitch brings Pooka Pure & Simple back home to Newark with beloved, award-winning bath and body products, while unveiling The Bloom Bar—an innovative perfume blending bar where guests learn to craft a signature scent. In this inviting new space, customers can shop clean-beauty essentials, blend fragrances, and join weekly DIY workshops. An author, speaker, and health advocate, Dawn created Pooka after her autoimmune journey inspired a healthier lifestyle and a passion for community-centered wellness. “Returning to Newark at The Pillars feels like home — now with an immersive vision for retail and creativity,” said Dawn Fitch. “We can’t wait to welcome everyone to shop, blend, and celebrate with us.”
HealHaus is a community-focused wellness destination that prioritizes mental, physical, and spiritual health. HealHaus 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,” said Darian Hall, founder of HealHaus. “We’re excited to create a space in Newark where the local community can see themselves reflected in the work we facilitate.”
This latest investment in Newark's revitalization comes at a crucial moment for the city. The Arts and Education District already attracts over 70,000 monthly visitors, with more than half of these during the weekend — highlighting the area’s growing appeal as a vibrant destination for dining, shopping and cultural experiences. Of the more than 150 businesses serving the area, over a third are restaurants and food establishments, many of them independent—demonstrating the district’s strong foundation of entrepreneurial spirit. The Pillars will also tap into the recent nationwide momentum around experiential brick-and-mortar retail, with interactive offerings that meet growing customer demand for unique, tangible experiences that can’t be replicated online.
The Pillars is part of Audible’s larger neighborhood strategy that includes its 2019 restoration of the historic Innovation Cathedral, its work to help reimagine Newark’s Harriet Tubman Square, and its ongoing calendar of public events and programming. Through initiatives like the Business Attraction Program and the Newark Artist Collaboration, which commissions public art from local artists, Audible generates nearly two billion dollars annually in economic impact in Newark.
