Audible is making a powerful statement with the grand opening of The Pillars, a 15,000-square-foot retail and community hub officially launched on October 15, 2025, at 33 Washington Street in Newark’s Arts & Education District.
What began as a renovation of a modernist building has transformed into a deeply intentional space steeped in wellness, beauty, and Black community-centered entrepreneurship.
At the heart of The Pillars is Audible’s commitment to reimagining what corporate investment in urban communities can look like. Through its Business Attraction Program, Audible is not just opening a physical space, but also financially and operationally supporting local founders, particularly those who historically face barriers. The program offers grants, mentorship, and networking to fuel long-term success.
The Pillars’ beautifully designed central court is more than just a retail walkway, it is a gathering place. Visitors will find Audible listening booths, where they can sample audiobooks and original storytelling, creating a sensory bridge between the brand and the community.
Among the three anchor tenants are a trio of deeply intentional Black-owned businesses, each aligned with themes of beauty, self-care, and wellness:
Tansy: A woman-owned home goods and plant store founded by Shawna Christian. Tansy brings socially conscious décor, creative plant workshops, and a community-centered spirit to the space.
Pooka Pure & Simple: Returning to Newark, Dawn Fitch’s beloved clean-beauty brand brings its signature bath and body line, plus a Bloom Bar, where guests can blend personalized scents and attend DIY fragrance workshops.
HealHaus: A wellness studio rooted in mental, physical, and spiritual health. Founded by Darian Hall, HealHaus offers yoga, meditation, breathwork, weekend workshops, and a wellness café serving smoothies, teas, and elixirs.
For Black women and other members of the Newark community, The Pillars stands as more than just a shopping destination, it’s a sanctuary. Here, beauty products are clean and intentional, wellness practices are accessible and community-focused, and entrepreneurship is deeply rooted in cultural care. As Audible CEO Bob Carrigan put it, The Pillars “builds an ecosystem that sustains entrepreneurship, drives foot traffic, and celebrates community.”
Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka echoed that sentiment, emphasizing how this project strengthens the city’s social, economic, and cultural fabric. By reimagining corporate space as a place of healing, connection, and Black-positive innovation, Audible is helping redefine what it means to build, rest, and thrive.
