♪ Announcer: support for "NJ Biz Beat" with Raven Santana supported by NJMEP.

Manufacturing date is October 6.

It is a day of seminars, awards and networking.

Register online.

♪ Announcer: this is "NJ Biz Beat" with Raven Santana.

Raven: hello, I am Raven Santana.

Thank you for joining me on a new season.

Newark small businesses are propelling the city to new heights and returning the favor with new investment.

Newark recently announced a plan to help companies relocate downtown and fill businesses.

one of a number of initiatives aimed at supporting a growing downtown business sector.

This week we are highlighting new works economic vision as it seeks to expand its already unique business climate with a diverse group of unique businesses.

I spoke with leaders from the communities including a one-on-one interview with the mayor where we discussed everything from businesses he would like to see moved to Newark, his allusions for a supportable housing and whether he will make a run for governor.

Mayor, I remember a time when not everyone wanted to come to Newark.

It was kind of scary.

It got a bad rap.

Driving in, there is a vegan restaurant across the street and Prudential is pulling in major artists and there is development all over the city.

As someone that has lived here, you now have been mayor since 2014, what are you most proud of when it comes to the business sector here in Newark?

>> we are usually defined by headlines and other issues and incidents in the city.

Now people are engaging the city in different ways.

They are coming to conferences, shows and participating in ice skating rings downtown and going to restaurants.

They are hearing different kinds of headlines about what is happening in the city around the country which makes people pause a little and think about what is happening in that little town on the side of the Hudson.

We are making our way here and I am proud of the change in that narrative.

Announcer: audible is part of that progress.

It has offered to $50,000 for cities to come and relocate here -- for companies to come and relocate here.

Mayor Baraka: audible has been working in lockstep with us for some time.

During a higher by -- hir e by Lyft program.

Audible started giving stipends to their workers to buy food at lunchtime in Newark.

During the pandemic they participated in working kitchens and raised dollars to pay restaurants to feed people that needed it during the pandemic.

As we are working after the pandemic to close some of these gaps in retail that exist because businesses have left because of that, audible steps up to the plate and obviously it also benefits them to put businesses in and around the area where they are but it has a multiplying effect.

We are extending that work down to the southern end of Broad Street as well.

Announcer: let's talk about affordable housing because that is part of changing the perspective.

Most of the new development has to include affordable housing.

How has that helped with this whole vision?

Mayor Baraka: affordability is important.

It is a national issue, a statewide issue.

The lack of affordable housing or housing period.

It is a difficult issue in surrounding communities that have zoning ordinances that do not allow people to come into the cities make cities more densely populated.

More folks come into our city which means we need a variety and diversity of housing.

Announcer: do you feel there is something for everyone here, even young professionals?

that also impacts business here.

Mayor Baraka: I think we are working on expanding that and I think there is a group of people like workforce housing, people that just came home from college trying to get jobs and people that start out need affordability and good jobs.

We are working on creating a tech hub in the city which is taking off and bringing jobs of that caliber to the city and making the corporations look at Newark residents as academics, professionals and folks that graduate from college and degree holders that can take these jobs and then building the housing where the soaps can live.

Something -- where these folks can live.

Something I don't think the state things of they have a prejudicial idea of who affordable housing is, they are not thinking of their own children living in their basement or still in their room since coming home from college.

Announcer: it is interesting because it is not just development but also arts and culture.

Let's talk about the new work symphony.

The renovation is set to be completed soon.

Talk about how that will impact business.

Mayor Baraka: that is a part of us trying to develop the southern part of a broad street.

If you go to the northern and you have the library and Harriet Tubman square.

Thanks to Senator Booker and Senator Mendez we just got $4 million to redo Linkin Park and that will go towards developing Symphony Hall.

We will try to arrive the stuff happening on the northern end of Broad Street.

It attracts more folks to live in the community and more businesses to open up there.

It improves the neighborhood, the life of the folks there but it also does well for the economy in the city yet the same time.

Announcer: I know you have been a champion of making sure that black and brown businesses are a big part of this new development.

Tell me about the status of that and for those watching why they should set up shop here.

Mayor Baraka: we probably have more black and brown businesses downtown per capita than any other city in the state of New Jersey.

People are not doing the data on that and they showed.

I would challenge any city to compare themselves to the number of people of color with businesses in their downtown corridors.

We have two major businesses coming from New York City.

Two Harlem based restaurants coming here to be a part of the ecosystem here.

Announcer: I have to be honest.

It all sounds great.

Where are people going to park?

it took me like 20 minutes to find somewhere to park your you have a parking spot but I had to fight for parking.

[LAUGHTER] Mayor Baraka: I just had a community meet last night and people were complaining about the same thing.

People are afraid that they will not find a place to park on their block.

Announcer: I mean -- Mayor Baraka: besides us trying to help people that additional streams of income.

More than 50% of the people here do not own a car.

It is mind-boggling to me.

Where the cars coming from?

Announcer: when we are speaking about ventures, is this the last will hear from you or are you going to run for governor?

Mayor Baraka: [LAUGHTER] That is the talk of the state at this point.

Right now I am the mayor of new work and I am happy -- Newark and I am happy.

It does not mean I'm not thinking about it.

But, I am not an overly ambitious guy that says I have to be the governor or I might explode.

I am doing a job that I am completely content with doing.

Announcer: I will say, Mayor, that you have accomplished a lot of things that people at one time said you could not do.

And Newark has become a place to live, to work, and to play.

And let's see what else comes out of all of this new development.

I guess we will have to wait and see.

Mayor Baraka: yes, ma'am.

Thank you.

Announcer: Newark's ironbound neighborhood is rich in history and known for its Portuguese and Spanish businesses especially as world-class restaurants.

But it is still growing and welcoming new traditions while supporting the legacy of its community making it an ideal place to live, work and play.

I sat down with the Executive Director of the ironbound business improvement District to learn how the community balances tradition with new development.

We are at the café here in the ironbound.

One of the most famous areas here in Newark and it has been bustling since 9:00 a.m. this morning.

I have seen firefighters.

I have seen a councilmember.

I have seen teenagers, women -- it is just such a melting pot here.

Is that what the ironbound is?

>> this community has been an immigrants' starting point in this community and state for hundreds of years.

Immigrants from all over Europe, Central and South America are all welcomed here to get a start and fulfill their dreams.

I think that kind of atmosphere makes it feel welcoming to everybody.

Those that came before me were welcomed with open arms and I'm coming now here in 2023 and I'm still being welcomed.

Announcer: I think people automatically think Portuguese but there are so many other influences.

There is Brazilian, Spanish.

We are sitting in an Albanian owned restaurant right now.

>> and you have to understand the Portuguese Diaspora as well.

They may be Portuguese speaking but they are from Mozambique or Angola.

There is a lot of diversity in the Portuguese speaking world as well.

But you are right, a lot of the property and businesses are still Portuguese owned.

There is -- this is a diverse neighborhood.

More Ecuadorians live in the ironbound war than anywhere else other than Ecuador.

We have Argentinians, Hondurans, Mexicans, Guatemalans.

And they have all melded into what happens here of community that has a lot of different faces and voices and sounds.

Announcer: let's talk about development because investment has been everything here.

Tell me a little about what that has created here and not just for the community but for business.

Vince: there is tremendous investment in the city of Newark in general but the location of ironbound, minutes from work -- from Newark International Airport, the transportation nexus is a valuable thing for businesses, residents and we have seen developers come in from other places, New York City -- New York City for example looking for opportunity here.

I think we are seeing the benefits of that in that you have a lot of different people represented, different price points if you will in terms of what is available for the housing market from upscale units to more affordable things here and affordable housing is one of the primary goals of our Mayor.

We are trying to strike a balance where this is a place for everyone.

Announcer: tell me a little about more about what that affordable housing means.

And why is there pushback?

Vince: the designation of the developments New York the train station makes -- the designation of the developments near the train station makes sense.

What I would say is the city of Newark is a population of roughly 300,000.

The city could easily welcome thousands more residents and businesses as well.

And the mayor and his administration are working to incentivize people to do that.

There will be concerned over certain pieces of property and locations.

As realtors always say, location, location, location.

Will some people find the place exactly where they want to be at their price point?

maybe not but there is a place for them in the city of Newark.

The airport, the Seaport or the East Ward.

There is a lot of housing here from two family homes and apartments to very upscale rental units coming online.

Announcer: tell me about the major projects going on here in the ironbound.

Not just affordable housing.

Vince: many people that have knowledge of the ironbound are familiar with a restaurant called Iberia.

The property was recently sold.

It will be redeveloped and have thousands of units of residential housing and retail.

It will also have restaurants.

They are committed to designing a courtyard like you would find in Europe or South America to be an inviting place for people to gather.

They walk from Northbound station.

That is a transformative project.

Some of the most amazing views of the New York City skyline you will ever see as well as the Newark skyline as well.

High-end amenities.

It is designed to entice people looking for a certain living experience and that is right here at the same time throughout our neighborhood you are seeing developments of smaller pieces of property.

What may have been a single-family home may be developed into a four family unit, much more modern.

The ironbound was an immigrant community.

The brownstones of Jersey City for example -- this was a poorer neighborhood so the housing stock needed to be revitalized to meet our needs and demands and what people expect from their housing.

That is happening.

Announcer: Newark is a great place to be.

Thank you for joining me.

One ironbound business that has arrived for years is -- jewelers thanks to its loyal customer base.

I visited the store and learned about the family-owned business including some of the rare pieces that are imported and only sold here.

Victor is the owner and says he loves owning a business in the ironbound because of the diverse group of people that live and work in the neighborhood.

Victor showed off one of the rare pieces at his store and explain how they have managed to keep the business of customers.

Tell me what I am wearing and why your jewelry store is so special.

>> the piece you are wearing is a handcrafted peas.

It is called filigree.

We imported from Portugal.

It is all handmade.

There were a few countries in the world that can manufacture filigree.

It is a work of art.

Each piece is unique and different.

Our goal is to over service our customers.

We connect with our customers and try to build relationship with customers.

We have customers that are second, third generations and there are a lot of referrals.

That is where we thrive.

We love to work with the community.

Announcer: Newark is also home to a growing arts culture and entertainment scene and the epicenter of it all may be the Newark Museum of art.

It is the largest museum and home to stunning art collections from all around the world.

The museum is investing back into Newark with a housing and retail project in its own backyard.

I spoke with Linda Harrison, the director of the museum about this new project and how the museum is transforming the arts industry and the steady.

We actually have met.

I was here I think when you first started for the young venture capitalist and that was a huge event.

And when I think back to then, I think about the evolution of the cultural and economic impact of the museum.

Tell me about that.

Newark that was a really dynamic day, a full day of energy with entrepreneurs and startup businesses.

And part of my vision was to have us engaged, more engaged in the community.

And that was one of those events at the museum.

The museum was really being a part of the community and not just sitting in the community.

This idea of economic impact, social impact, and cultural impact can actually coexist within an anchor institution it is a museum.

Announcer: you really are trying to immerse yourself in Newark.

What have you seen since then?

how do you provide that reach?

Linda: people have an idea of what the museum is an part of my wanting them to see the museum is a vibrant, relevant place, this is why we changed the name from the Newark Museum to the Newark Museum of art.

This is why we said we would be an engaged anchor institution.

You tend to think of a museum as one from a the 20th century.

And here in the 21st century you got dressed up and went to the museum and you are very quiet.

We want that live interaction.

We want you to stop and be a part of it.

We want to hear what the community wants and how we can really be a value to the community.

And part of that was we need to also be cognizant that we are a part of a transformational city.

This is one of the reasons why I came here.

The mayor is transforming this city.

I was reading about that.

And you couple that with this is one of the coveted museums in the country.

Our scholars know about was.

The colleagues at other museums know about us.

They know about our extensive collections.

But the everyday person walking through Newark, did not.

What would happen if this city, the area and downtown -- what if we contributed to the building of housing that allowed for -- affordable housing and markets.

Announcer: how much are we looking at?

And how will that work?

Linda: the good news is we are not displacing anyone to build this housing.

This is one of the things I spoke with the mayor about.

We want to have you live, work and play in this hub but we don't want to be the only hub.

We want you to be able to walk from here and over to Symphony Hall.

We want to send the message that this is a safe place to live and to walk and along the way you will have all of these, I will say, cultural events.

Not only are you living here and you feel good about living here and it is safe to live here, this helps to drive the economic engine of the city end of the museum.

But you also feel that you do not have to leave now, this city, in order to experience this sense of culture.

Announcer: Linda, thank you so much.

You are inspiring.

Raven: fashion plays a major role in New Jersey's most populated city and you can see it on display when windowshopping.

One of the cities most well-known fashion designers is Marco Hall who has designed amazing outfits for stars Gabriel Union and Rhianna.

Despite his success he says he still gains inspiration for his work the city of Newark.

I spoke to him at his studio about Newark's growing fashion sing and how the city inspires him.

It is 90 six degrees outside but I feel fabulous in this piece right here.

One of the many beautiful pieces you have designed from your collection.

Tell me about your collection, your inspiration.

Marco: when I am designing it depends on the fabric.

The fabric tells the story.

Raven: tell me about the inspiration in Newark.

Marco: I love this city.

It gave me room to grow as a does Einar.

It helped me hone my skill.

I love to people watch.

I love how people put together a look to walk down the street.

What made you do that?

if it touches me I will come back and find out how I can make it work.

Raven: your shop, I'm looking around and you have beautiful pieces.

Tell me what it is like to own a shop here -- what does it like to be a business owner especially in the fashion industry?

Marco: being a business owner here is challenging.

I find that you have to bring people in your the locals are here.

Bringing new business here is like advertising, bring yourself into the world to make the world come to see us.

Being a business owner here is being true and making sure you have great product, a great business sense and you are community.

For me it is all about community.

I love being here on Halsey Street.

That has been the blessing.

Raven: you pointed out that you honed your skills here in Newark and I feel like in many ways you are creating a pathway for other young men and women who aspire to your level.

You are bringing celebrities here showing you can do something different.

Do you feel this is only the beginning?

Marco: definitely.

Every day is a learning curve, a teaching moment and a new day to challenge yourself and where you are going.

I love the fact that I have young kids coming around, knocking on the door and asking questions.

There are kids at Brown Mill who I meant toward before they became Brown Mill and it is nice to see them here doing their thing on the block as well.

Raven: do you feel you expect to see or inspiration here in Newark?

maybe there will be bigger fashion shows here.

Marco: I think Newark should partner with a Prudential or an audible like wrist ladies Benz fashion week.

-- Mercedes Benz fashion week.

Find a committee and do it the right way.

Find a month and make something magical happened.

-- happen.

People have been trying to do it but they have not built right in yet.

Raven: if you want high fashion and luxury, you come right here.

Marco, thank you for joining me.

It was wonderful.

That does it for us this week.

Remember to subscribe to our spotlight news YouTube channel to get alerted when we post new episodes and clips.

Next week, what is more New Jersey than a diner?

we will talk to diners -- we will talk to owners about what makes diners unique and a couple trying to visit every diner in the stage.

>> support for "NJ Biz Beat" with Raven Santana is presented by NJMEP.

It presents made in New Jersey manufacturing day.

It is a day of seminars and networking.

Register online.

♪ ♪