In a move that demonstrates how dedicated Audible is to bring street life to its corner of Newark, the audiobook giant recently announced it will pay up to $250,000 to the right retailer to open a store in Newark.
The company is offering the grants, along with subsidized rent, to retail businesses that sign on for one of the two remaining spaces at The Pillars, its 15,000-square-foot retail and community hub at 33 Washington Street.
Three of the five retail spaces at The Pillars are leased and open: Tansy, Pooka Pure & Simple and HealHaus. Audible wants two more retailers to fill it out.
Here’s a look at the open spaces:
- About 2,500 square feet with frontage on Washington Street;
- About 4,500 square feet with access from The Pillars’ central court and through an alleyway between The Pillars and the Newark Museum of Art.
Retailers chosen will get up to $250,000 in grants over two years through Audible’s Business Attraction Program. They’ll also get subsidized rent and a “vanilla box” fit-out, which includes HVAC, sprinklers, electrical, ADA-compliant restrooms and polished concrete floors.
Full-time employees who live in Newark will receive stipends to live and shop locally, and the businesses will get operational support, mentorship and a place in The Pillars’ marketing.
To be clear, Audible isn’t looking for startups.
Applicants need at least one existing store or regular pop-ups with steady customers, and at least three years of profitability. The company wants boutique, experiential, destination-style concepts from businesses that know the local market, will work with neighboring retailers on events and will hire Newark residents when they can.
But please also not, national chains, franchises and liquor-focused businesses need not apply.
The Pillars, which opened in October 2025, sits in the Harriet Tubman Square neighborhood, surrounded by Audible’s global headquarters, the Newark Public Library, Rutgers Business School and the Newark Museum of Art, which is planning a major development with retail, maker spaces, galleries and housing.
The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, nearby, is in the middle of a seven-acre redevelopment of its own.
Audible, an Amazon subsidiary, said more than 30 companies in the innovation, retail and entertainment sectors have joined its Business Attraction Program since it launched in 2023.
Applications are due Nov. 15. They must include a business plan, three years of financial statements, proof of existing retail operations, a preliminary fit-out budget and design concept, and commercial references. Retailers can apply here or request a site visit by emailing [email protected].
