2 New Businesses Open In Newark At Thriving ‘Arts Collective’

NEWARK, NJ — A thriving community is beginning to take shape at an “arts collective” in Newark, which welcomed two new businesses with a ribbon cutting event last weekend.

The Gant-Gilbert Arts Collective gave a cheer for BlkBox Newark and Plants & Poets Café on Saturday and Sunday during a grand opening weekend.

The founders of BlkBoxNwk and Plants & Poets Café – which are both located on the first floor of 505 Clinton Avenue – each spoke at the ribbon cutting, saying they’re excited to join the community at the collective.

Invest Newark shared some information about both businesses:

• BlkBoxNwk – “BlkBoxNwk is an art gallery and performance space operated by John Murray, previous owner of The Coffee Cave and The CAGE, both in downtown Newark. It is an affordable, accessible and high-volume space for artists to express themselves and showcase their craft.”
• Plants & Poets Café – “Plants & Poets is a vegan restaurant operated by local, serial entrepreneur Rashena Burroughs, who also operates Blueberry Café, The Zucchini Bar, Aqua Phit, and Magic Cones Ice Cream. Plants & Poets will be offering vegan food and poetry readings in a plant-filled, comfortable atmosphere.”

“BlkBoxNwk is excited for the opportunity to provide arts and community-based programming to The Gant-Gilbert Arts Collective at 505 Clinton Ave in Newark’s South Ward,” said its owner, John Murray.

“We are cultivating a culture of authenticity, acceptance, artist empowerment and community service,” Murray added.

Rashena Burroughs, the owner of Plant & Poets Café, said it’s “super exciting” to embrace the Clinton Hill Community and South Ward of Newark, adding that the businesses’ main mission is to “provide healthy vegan food options” to people living in the neighborhood.

The Gant-Gilbert Arts Collective, developed by Invest Newark and the City of Newark, used to house a vacant bank. Last year, it was transformed into a $9 million “artist housing development” with a café and performance center. In all, it has 27 affordable apartments, according to Newark officials and Invest Newark, the city's economic development corporation.

In the future, the collective plans to provide 10 leasable office/workspace, as well as two secure parking lots for residents.

“We are looking forward to many events here at BlkBox Newark and we know Plants & Poets Café will also be a great place for people to get food here in Newark’s South Ward,” Invest Newark CEO Marcus Randolph said after last weekend’s events.

• See Related: Converted Building Gives Newark Artists A Place To Live, Work

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