Audible CEO Bob Carrigan and Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka joined local dignitaries, including NJ Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz, entrepreneurs, community members, and Newark stakeholders on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, to celebrate the grand opening of The Pillars, downtown Newark’s newest retail hub and a bold new model for community-centered investment.
The event marked the official unveiling of the 15,000-square-foot space on the ground floor of the modernist building at 33 Washington Street, originally designed by architect Welton Becket. The project represents Audible’s largest community investment in Newark to date, underscoring the company’s ongoing commitment to transforming its headquarters city through innovation, local entrepreneurship, and community-focused development.
The newly designed space features a welcoming central court with Audible listening booths and three retail spaces that blend wellness, artisanal home goods, and handcrafted beauty products — with a fourth food and beverage tenant opening in 2026. Each business has received financial support from Audible through its Business Attraction Program, which provides funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities for small business owners and startup founders who have historically faced barriers to access.
At opening, The Pillars debuts three distinctive businesses:
● Tansy, a woman-owned home goods and plant store founded by Shawna Christian, brings its signature blend of socially conscious décor, greenery, and community programming to Newark, marking its first East Coast location.
● HealHaus, co-founded by Darian Hall, introduces its holistic wellness concept to Newark, offering daily yoga, meditation, and breathwork classes, as well as a wellness café serving teas, elixirs, and chef-curated smoothies.
● Pooka Pure & Simple, led by Dawn Fitch, returns to Newark with its beloved bath and body products and introduces The Bloom Bar, a new interactive perfume-blending experience where visitors can create custom fragrances and explore clean-beauty essentials.
Located in the heart of Newark’s Arts and Education District, which attracts more than 70,000 monthly visitors, The Pillars reinforces Audible’s long-term commitment to revitalizing its headquarters city. It follows a series of landmark initiatives, including the restoration of the historic Innovation Cathedral, the reimagining of Harriet Tubman Square, and the company’s ongoing support of public art through the Newark Artist Collaboration. Through these initiatives and its Business Attraction Program, Audible continues to drive economic growth and opportunity in Newark, generating nearly $2 billion in annual economic impact across the city.
For The Pillars renovation, Studio Cooke John Architecture and Design served as the Design Architect, with Gregory Switzer Architecture as the Architect of Record.
