A new kind of space has opened in Newark, and it is already reshaping how Black women experience rest, beauty, and community. Audible has launched The Pillars, a 15,000-square-foot hub that brings together three Black women–owned businesses focused on wellness, scent, and soft living. The space sits at 33 Washington Street, right in the heart of the city’s Arts and Education District.
The Pillars is more than a retail project. It is designed to feel like a warm heartbeat in the center of Newark—one that celebrates creativity, small business growth, and emotional restoration for Black women and the broader community.
A Wellness Hub Rooted in Black Women’s Entrepreneurship
The Pillars brings together three standout brands: Tansy, HealHaus, and Pooka Pure & Simple, all led by Black women. Their work blends beauty, wellness, and community care in one shared space. For longtime Newark beauty entrepreneur Dawn Fitch, the moment feels deeply personal.
Twenty-five years after launching her clean-beauty brand, Fitch is returning to her hometown with something new. Her space inside The Pillars features The Bloom Bar, an interactive scent-blending corner where visitors can create custom perfumes, relax, and connect.
“We’re most excited to reopen retail, but more importantly, to be back in the city of Newark,” Fitch said. She added that Audible’s support has made the relaunch special during her brand’s anniversary month.
Scent-Blending, Softness, and a Space to Rest
Fitch describes her work as part beauty, part healing. For her, The Pillars is a place where “Black girl softness” is protected and celebrated. She believes Black women deserve spaces where they can slow down, breathe, and feel cared for.
“Things are so hard for us right now, and I don’t think we’re getting the love we deserve,” she said. She invites visitors to sit, blend fragrances, talk to a neighbor, and remember joyful moments through scent. “Fragrance brings you back—to your grandmother’s coat, to a cookie in fifth grade, to a memory that makes you smile.”
Her vision makes softness a form of activism. “This isn’t just about products,” Fitch explained. “You can blend a fragrance or just sit and rest. We want it to be a place where you hang out and rejuvenate yourself.”
Audible’s Investment in Community and Local Founders
The Pillars also marks a major shift for Audible. According to Aisha Browne Glover, Audible’s VP of Urban Innovation, this is the first time the company has signed a lease for a purpose beyond its own business operations. The goal was simple but bold: invest directly in Newark’s people.
Glover pitched this idea four years ago. She envisioned a building that would support underrepresented founders through Audible’s Business Attraction Program. The program offers funding, mentorship, and subsidized rent to help local entrepreneurs grow and stay rooted in Newark.
“We were looking for diverse retailers who weren’t chains,” Glover said. “We wanted businesses that offered experiences, not just products. Spaces where people come again and again—for team-building, for connection, for joy.”
A Space Built for Community Connection and Joy
Audible chose each tenant through a careful process. They studied business records, sustainability, social media presence, and community impact. The goal was not to simply fill space, but to build what Glover calls “community gravity”—a place people naturally return to.
Fitch believes this is exactly what Newark needs. “People don’t just want products anymore—they want community,” she said. “They want to make something with their hands, talk, and rest. That’s what Pooka is about, and that’s what The Pillars will be.”
With its scent-blending bar, healing practices, cultural care, and focus on ease, The Pillars stands as a new sanctuary in Newark. It is a space where Black women can slow down, restore themselves, and feel seen.
