Ribbon Cutting For Newark Café Is Sign Of City’s Business Boom

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Audible/Invest Newark. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Audible, the City of Newark, and Invest Newark are expanding efforts to drive economic development, both by attracting new businesses to the city and by strengthening those that have been building in Newark for years. Sweet Jeans Kitchen + Espresso Bar, a specialty café founded by Chopped contestant and Newark native Michele Vaccari Harriott and business partner Victor Soldano, is the first retail business to join Audible’s Business Attraction Program and the first recipient of the City of Newark and Invest Newark’s Retail Reactivation Initiative.

As New Jersey’s largest city, Newark is rapidly emerging as one of the country’s fastest-growing business hubs. Major stakeholders ranging from local government to corporate anchors are contributing to this growth by launching innovative programs that attract tech startups to the city and strengthen its small business and retail ecosystem.

On April 21, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Audible CEO Bob Carrigan, Invest Newark CEO Marcus Randolph, and the Sweet Jeans owners held a ribbon-cutting ceremony alongside city government and corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and local stakeholders to celebrate the café’s opening and its impact on the community.

Audible has played a key role in Newark’s transformation by encouraging more founders to relocate and build in the city. Its Business Attraction Program, which has doubled in size since last year, now includes over 20 companies across the innovation, retail, and entertainment sectors. The program provides up to $250,000 in non-dilutive grants, relocation assistance, and mentorship to startups and retail businesses, with a particular focus on supporting founders of color and women entrepreneurs. Collectively, Audible’s programs generate nearly two billion dollars annually in economic activity in Newark and the surrounding area.

“As we continue to grow the Business Attraction Program, we remain focused on supporting businesses that enhance the economic vitality and cultural vibrancy of Newark,” said Aisha Glover, Audible’s Global Head of Urban Innovation. “Newark’s transformation is fueled by bold, innovative businesses and passionate entrepreneurs. This expansion is about more than commerce—it’s about investing in the city and creating spaces that are community-focused, inclusive, and inspiring.”

The City of Newark and Invest Newark launched the Retail Reactivation Initiative in 2023 as part of their efforts to bring more diverse retail, cultural, and food experiences to the heart of the city. Supported by Urban Enterprise Zone funds made available thanks to the reform law spearheaded by the late Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, the Newark Retail Reactivation Initiative offers financial support for fit-out and furniture, fixtures and equipment for Newark-based businesses.

“We call economic movements like this ‘business attraction programs,’ but they are so much more than that. They are all about real people who walk our Newark streets—real people who sculpt their visions and talents into reality,” said Mayor Baraka. “What Michele Vaccari Harriott and Victor Soldano, Audible and Invest Newark have done, is to breathe their aspiration and vitality into our city. This is the ever-dynamic Newark that evolves through City Hall’s constant call for collaboration, cooperation and community—and I congratulate them all.”

Marcus Randolph, President & CEO of Invest Newark, shared “congratulations to Michele and Victor for their entrepreneurial spirit and resilience in bringing their creative, community-focused vision to life in the heart of Newark. We are proud to have supported their journey alongside the City of Newark, Audible, and other partners. This opening is a powerful reflection of the ongoing transformation of Newark’s downtown, and we look forward to seeing Sweet Jeans thrive as a part of the community.”

Sweet Jeans exemplifies the growing wave of entrepreneurs shaping Newark’s business landscape. Newark native Michele Vaccari Harriott and business partner Victor Soldano offer specialized coffees, homemade pastries, seasonal breakfast and lunch, catering services, family-style dinner experiences, and community events. The café will offer artisanal coffee and handcrafted macarons and serve as a welcoming hub for the community, encouraging engagement and collaboration.

For Sweet Jeans Co-Founder Michele Vaccari Harriott, opening in Newark is about more than just business—it’s about community. “We wanted to create a space where people feel at home and where they can connect over great food, coffee, and conversation,” said Harriott. “With the support from Audible, the City, and Invest Newark, we’re building something special—something that brings people together. And even sweeter that it's my hometown.”

The ribbon cutting event took place on April 21 at Sweet Jeans Kitchen + Espresso Bar, bringing together Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, Audible CEO Bob Carrigan, Invest Newark CEO Marcus Randolph, and other local government, business leaders, and entrepreneurs to celebrate the café’s opening. With the expansion of the Business Attraction Program and the Newark Retail Reactivation Initiative, Audible, the City of Newark, Invest Newark, and other key stakeholders reinforce their shared commitment to economic growth, ensuring that small businesses and startups thrive, and contributing to a vibrant and more resilient Newark.

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