DNJ Newsletter: Spotlight on Historic Midtown Elizabeth & High Summer Highlights from Downtown New Jersey

The Center of it All | Summer 2025 | DowntownNJ.com

Dear Friends of Downtown New Jersey,

As we savor the final weeks of summer and look ahead to the fall, our downtowns continue to showcase the very best of community life. From bustling sidewalks and outdoor dining to lively street fairs and cultural events, this season reminds us just how vital our commercial districts are to the fabric of New Jersey.

In this High Summer edition of our newsletter, you’ll find updates on the important work happening across the state, resources to strengthen your local efforts, and stories that highlight the creativity and resilience of our downtowns.

Thank you for being part of this network. Whether you’re managing a district, running a small business, serving in municipal government, or championing the place you call home, your commitment ensures that our downtowns remain vibrant year-round.

Wishing you a strong finish to summer and an exciting season ahead.

Warm regards,

Natalie Pineiro

Executive Director, Downtown New Jersey

Midtown Elizabeth: A City Alive with History, Culture & Celebration

Midtown Elizabeth is alive with energy. It’s a place where history whispers from every corner even as new life and transformation unfold daily. The district has always been at the heart of Elizabeth’s story—its streets once walked by Alexander Hamilton now pulse with restaurants, shops, and cultural landmarks that reflect both the city’s heritage and its forward-looking spirit. From storefront makeovers to world-class events, Midtown is proving that past, present, and future truly meet here. MORE>

A Legacy of Revitalization:

Honoring Jef Buehler's Career of Service to New Jersey's Downtowns

For more than three decades, Jef Buehler has been a driving force behind the revitalization of New Jersey’s downtowns and commercial corridors. His recent retirement marks the end of a career defined not only by professional accomplishments, but also by the relationships he built and the passion he carried for every community he touched.MORE>

"Spark" Incubator Launches in Metuchen: Tiny Storefront Houses Limitless Potential

Metuchen’s tiniest storefront at 450 Main Street has been reimagined as Spark, a one-of-a-kind incubator giving local artisans and entrepreneurs a chance to test their ideas in a real brick-and-mortar setting. Unlike traditional multi-vendor spaces, Spark features one “sparkler” at a time, creating a curated and dynamic downtown experience. With early successes already proving its impact, Spark is fueling innovation and vibrancy in the heart of Metuchen. MORE>

Reinventing Retail: Why Downtown Shops Still Matter in a Digital World

Brick-and-mortar shops are often cast as underdogs in the age of Amazon and one-click convenience. With e-commerce now accounting for just over 16% of U.S. retail sales, the story is often told as if physical retail is on the brink of extinction. The reality? The opposite. More than four out of every five purchases still happen in stores, and new research suggests people don’t want to give that up.MORE>

Keeping Dollars Downtown:

How Customized Gift Cards Strengthen Local Economies

A customized downtown gift card offers a powerful tool for supporting local businesses by keeping dollars in the community, attracting new customers, and strengthening the downtown brand. As demonstrated by Downtown Cranford and Downtown Summit, these programs have successfully achieved all three goals.MORE>

Gentle Density and Missing Middle Housing in New Jersey

This article highlights a long-standing housing gap in New Jersey—options between sprawling single-family homes and dense multifamily buildings remain scarce. It introduces “gentle density” as a thoughtful zoning strategy that encourages mid-scale housing—like duplexes, ADUs, and six- to twelve-unit structures—to enhance affordability without eroding neighborhood character.MORE>

TOD in Your Downtown Forum: Filling the Gaps: Infill for Transit Connected Communities

Tuesday, September 30 at 9:30AM

Gov. James J. Florio Special Events Forum

Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy

This event, hosted by NJTOD, Downtown New Jersey, and NJ TRANSIT’s Transit Friendly Planning (TFP) Program, this forum will explore infill development in New Jersey’s transit-connected communities. REGISTER>

Save the Date!

The 2025 DNJ Conference will be held on October 23, 2025 at the Stangl Factory in Flemington, NJ! Register and get more info on support and sponsorship at DNJConference.com

Each year Downtown New Jersey recognizes New Jersey’s best downtown projects, programs, and leaders. We are now accepting nominations for the 2024 awards. Winners will be recognized at an in-person luncheon ceremony at the Downtown NJ Conference on October 23rd. Click here to nominate a project today!

Sept 16 - 17th: Governor's Conference on Housing and Economic Development (Atlantic City)

Sept 14 - 17th: International Economic Development Council Annual Confernece (Detroit)

Sept 24 - 27th: International Downtown Association Conference (Washington D.C.)

October 9th: NJ Future Smart Growth Awards (South Orange)

Nov. 18 - 20th: New Jersey League of Municipalities Conference

Check out DNJ's session “Emerging Trends in Downtown and Commercial Corridor Redevelopment: What’s Next?”, and visit us at Booth#: 2911 at the League.

Executive Director – Experience Princeton (Posted 8/11/2025)

Assistant Director – Montclair Center BID (Posted 8/7/2025)

Marketing and Events Director – Montclair Center BID (Posted 8/7/2025)

Executive Director – Washington Borough Business Improvement District (Posted 7/31/2025)

Clean and Safe Services – Camden Special Services District (Posted 8/18/2025)

Get SOCIAL with US!

Downtown New Jersey recently launched its Instagram account! Follow us @downtownnj for exclusive video content, member spotlights, program announcements and MORE!

And don't forget to follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn to stay connected, expand your network, and learn more about how we can work together to create thriving downtowns!

Help us help you!

Our ability to continue to advocate for New Jersey’s downtowns during these especially challenging times depends on member support. We hope you will consider joining today! JOIN DNJ>

Downtown New Jersey is an organization of individuals, businesses, government agencies, and local and regional organizations that are passionate about downtowns. Downtowns reflect our communities’ unique identities, provide a focal point, a convenient local place of commerce, and offer a sense of place where people can gather and truly be community. Downtown New Jersey is a resource dedicated to ensuring the vitality of our downtowns. Count on us as your resource for anything regarding downtowns in New Jersey.