Audible, a leader in audio listening, has made a significant investment in Newark, its global headquarters since 2007. On Wednesday, October 15th, 2025, Audible CEO Bob Kerrigan and Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka joined a host of politicians, dignitaries, community leaders, and entrepreneurs for the opening of The Pillars—a 15,000 square foot community-centered investment. The three Black-owned businesses chosen have our well-being in mind in different ways.
What Exactly are the Pillars?
The company used philanthropic dollars to renovate the ground floor of 33 Washington Street, transforming it into a retail hub in the heart of the city’s Arts and Education district. It is steps away from the Newark Museum of Art and across the street from Harriet Tubman Square. This is an area the company has invested in through other arts initiatives.
“I am really thrilled to be celebrating the grand opening of The Pillars. This is our largest, most ambitious investment yet in Newark’s future. By transforming 15,000 square feet here and the facade of the building, we’re further deepening our roots in the city, because we understand that when Newark thrives, we all thrive,” he explained. “The Pillars represent this shared destiny, a space that brings together local entrepreneurs, celebrates creativity, and reflects the best of Newark.”
Mayor Ray Baraka applauded the investment and talked about how corporations, the Newark Alliance, and art institutions are working collaboratively with the city. “You see that the art institutions and the corporations that have bought into what we are trying to do in the city of Newark, they have decided to work collaboratively to lift our city economically, socially, mentally, and spiritually, right across the street from Harry Tubman Square, he explained.”
Finding the Retailers
Aisha Glover, Global Head of Urban Innovation at Audible, oversaw this massive project over four years. She collaborated with the economic impact, neighborhood investment, real estate, design, and various other departments to complete this project. Glover also found the retailers she thought would be the best fit for the space.
The three new retailers join 25 others who have come through Audible’s Business Attraction Program. They can receive up to $250,000 in undiluted grants for office space, relocation assistance, stipends, and mentorship with Audible employees, among other perks.
Tansy, Plant and Ecclectic Home Decor
The COVID-19 pandemic taught us how critical plants can be to our environment and to our physical and mental well-being. But Shawna Christian was way ahead of us.
She opened her first store in Burbank in 2019, after running an IT company. She told the LA Times, “I turned 50 and realized I wanted to do something different before I passed away. So I spent all of my money and opened a plant store.” Well, she’s shaking things up again by moving to Newark.
Christian said she didn’t know a lot about Newark before she arrived, but her experience has been impressive. “I’ve never seen such love and support from a city for creative artists and entrepreneurs. It is mind-blowing what is happening in the city,” Tansy’s founder said. “The Pillars is a huge representation of what this area is going to be.”
In addition to plants, Tansy has a cornucopia of fair-trade items from all over the world. And she ships!
Pooka Pure and Simple
Of the three retail tenants coming to The Pillars, Dawn Fitch, owner of Pooka Pure and Simple —a natural brand of body products —is the only one who has previously had a store in Newark. For her company, celebrating 25 years in business this year, it was a homecoming.
Fitch joked, “I’ll be sandwiched between my favorite things, plants and yoga!. But I also want to say to Audible, like this opportunity, this grant, is amazing as a small business, after 25 years, to receive this type of support is just unfounded, and it isn’t just the financial support, it was the team who is amazing,” she said.
With a larger space, it is also an opportunity to bring new things to her Pookalitas (her loyal customers).”Something new that we’re doing is a fragrance blending bar, because we think scent is so much a part of people’s stories,” Fitch said.
HealHaus Will Open in November
Darian Hall, founder of HealHaus, felt like he didn’t have the support he needed to thrive with his studio in Brooklyn.
“The impetus for me starting that business was to really provide mental health services and wellness for our community. And it’s deeply personal for me. Why I got into this work. And a lot of times when you’re on your entrepreneurial journey, you feel like you’re on an island by yourself,” he explained.
When I got the call from Audible to be a part of this program, it was like, Wow, God makes no mistakes. And it’s been an incredible blessing to be a part of this.
I am so excited to bring the services we offer at HealHaus to the city of Newark because the community needs them. We need the yoga, the meditation, the therapy right for our communities to really thrive, and for Audible to back that, is really amazing.”
Check out the website for the full lineup of classes and the menu at the cafe.
Mayor Baraka said he was excited to see that the retailers looked like him. He is proud that companies like Audible are holding the line. “So, it is important for us to show people what humanity looks like, what democracy looks like, and what the beauty of diversity can do to cities that are growing.”
