Newark’s New Ashley Stewart Store Caters To Plus-Size Women

NEWARK, NJ — Plus-size women in Newark now have another shopping option: Ashley Stewart’s recently opened, 4,500-square-foot “concept” store at 204 Springfield Avenue.

The national fashion chain said that its new Newark location houses a range of branded apparel, jewelry and handbags, and for the first-time ever, incorporates a social lounge that “serves as a fashion haven for girlfriends to gather and celebrate their curves,” according to a news release.

The store also has large fitting rooms that lead to a runway-ready lounge, complete with a digital display that streams the brand’s Ashley TV multimedia content, as well as a Casual Shop, Career Shop and Intimates Shop.

The store is the first brick and mortar opening since the “reinvention” of Ashley Stewart in 2013, company representatives said.

According to a news release from city officials, the store will have a total of 11 employees, eight of them Newark residents. Six were hired through job fairs held in Newark.

To celebrate the opening, Ashley Stewart had an opening party for their Divas on April 1 and will have a ribbon cutting with the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation and Mayor Ras Baraka on Thursday, April 13.

On April 22, Ashley Stewart will host Finding Ashley Stewart 2017 at the store. The event is the fourth of eight stops on a national tour which, combined with an online search for finalists this summer, which will culminate in New York City with a grand finale in September. This nationwide search will award the title of Ashley Stewart 2017 to a woman who “embodies and exudes the confidence, strength and fierceness that has become synonymous with Ashley Stewart.”

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Photos: Ashley Stewart