This article is sponsored by Lackawanna Station.
Lackawanna Station has gained its fair share of notoriety since its construction in 1912. It once served as one of the most decorated train stations in the country, and then fell dormant for years. Now, in 2024, it will reopen as a commercial environment to highlight some of the area’s most talented artists, artisans, food, and local businesses. Located at 1 Lackawanna Plaza in Montclair Center, the reimagined Lackawanna Station will transform from an abandoned 100,000-square-foot strip mall into a bustling attraction dedicated to the arts, local entrepreneurs, community connection, and economic growth. The Montclair Flea Holiday Market will officially open on Saturday, November 30th, 2024, and run every Saturday and Sunday from 11AM-6PM just in time to kick off the holiday season. This holiday shopping extravaganza will bring together local merchants, featuring a mix of food + drinks, music, art, and shopping with a NYC flea market feel. Keep reading to find out more about the newly transformed Lackawanna Station in Montclair and follow them on social media to see what surprises they will announce over the next few months.
Grand Opening of the Market
The Lackawanna Station is a reimagined pop-up space in a repurposed abandoned mall that will be showcasing all different types of local creativity and commerce. The Montclair Flea Holiday Market will be the first of many events where local businesses and regional merchants can connect with the vibrant community of Montclair.
The whole experience will kick off on November 30th with the Montclair Flea Holiday Market, The Trucks at Lackawanna, Gardenship (an artist-run collider space), and other surprises that will soon be announced. The market will showcase locally-owned micro-businesses and will feature a rich blend of food, music, and art. What’s more, the entire holiday market will be operated by locals. It’s sure to be THE spot for shopping locally this holiday season.
“Lackawanna Station combines Montclair’s historic roots with a fresh, modern vibe,” explained Jason Gleason of BDP Holdings. “It’s a unique space where vintage architecture meets a lively market setting, creating a central spot for the community to gather, shop, eat, drink, and enjoy local arts & culture.”
In addition to these dynamic events, Lackawanna Station will be building out the Rec Room. This co-working space will feature nearly 9,000 square feet of skylight-filled space for all of your co-working needs. Think — free coffee, strong WiFi, private + open space, meeting rooms, and more. The co-working space will open in spring 2025.
Not-to-Miss Attractions
The market will run every weekend from late November through mid-January, bringing together artisans, food enthusiasts, and collectors to celebrate the season in style. Visitors to the market can expect a diverse array of vendors with a unique blend of high-quality items, perfect for holiday gift-giving. These small businesses, each bringing their own flair, will occupy nearly 175 vendor spots each day the market is open.
The whole experience — because it isn’t just a flea market — will have visitors enjoying great music, crafted holiday drinks (from three different bars around the station), and an array of vendors with everything you could possibly imagine, and then some. There will also be a number of different food trucks as well as other spots to grab a bite while you shop.
“Beyond shopping, expect a full sensory experience,” shared the team behind Lackawanna Station. “Food stalls serving tasty treats, and a bar providing seasonal cocktails and craft beers to enjoy while exploring.”
The eclectic blend of vendors will include businesses such as Coracor (baby wraps), Cheesecakes by Diamond, Book Haven Books, Afterglow Vintage, Cosmic Peace Studio (home decór), Mir Valley Ceramics, and so many more.
Applications to be a vendor at the upcoming Montclair Flea Holiday Market + this season’s other weekend markets are currently open. Click here to apply.
Don’t miss Lackawanna Station’s first event of the season, the Montclair Flea Holiday Market on November 30th, 2024.
Lackawanna Station is located at 1 Lackawanna Plaza in Montclair. For more information or to apply to be a vendor, email [email protected] or visit the site.
Renovations for The Bellevue Theatre in Montclair Underway
The Bellevue Theatre, located at 260 Bellevue Avenue in Montclair, has been a small-town staple for quite some time. As the theatre opened in May 1922 and closed in November 2017, residents and theater lovers alike were concerned about the future of the vacant building. The Montclair Planning Board recently approved renovations for the building that will not only allow the reopening of the iconic theater but also add some space for retail businesses to thrive. Read on to find out more about the official future of The Bellevue Theatre and what it means for Montclair residents and visitors.
Photo Credit: RHG A+D Architecture + Design
About the Theater
The Bellevue Theatre has been a Montclair staple since opening its doors on May 13th, 1922. The interior was Tudor style complete with an indoor balcony and had a tea room on the second floor — named Highgate Hall — with its own murals on its walls. The theatre’s grand opening consisted of musical performances and a movie screening of a 1921 silent film, Orphans of the Storm. It was originally part of a five motion picture licenses plan throughout Montclair, and this eventually produced what is currently known as the Bellevue, the Wellmont, and the Clairidge theatres. The Bellevue Theatre reinforced the English village vibe of Upper Montclair’s historic business and shopping district and is a historical landmark in Montclair.
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A New Chapter
According to NorthJersey.com, Bellevue Theatre originally closed in November 2017 after Bow Tie Cinema’s lease was up and the company chose not to renew it. In March 2018, plans were announced for a partnership between the theater owner and two other groups to renovate the facility into six theaters, a restaurant, and a bar, per Montclair Local. After three years of negotiations and a pandemic, the Township of Montclair’s Building Department placed a stop construction order on the front of the building in October 2023 due to construction being performed with improper or lack of permits, per Montclair Local.
Moving Forward
The Township adopted the Bellevue Theatre Redevelopment Plan in 2022 (the current plans) after being submitted to the Planning Board, Historic Preservation Commission, and Building Department for various reviews and approvals. Montclair-based architecture and design firm RHG Architecture + Design took over the project in fall 2023. “The architect before us was retiring, so the owner of Bellevue sought us out to help continue their vision,” RHG founder Rachael H. Grochowski told The Montclair Girl. RHG currently serves as the lead of construction and is helping Bellevue Theatre rebuild in phases.
Photo Credit: RHG A+D Architecture + Design
The current renovation plan includes a new retail space along the building's east facade next to Upper Montclair Plaza where Somedays Bakery (owned by the same people at the helm of Chip City) are in talks of leasing out. “Move House Montclair (a yoga studio) has already moved in on the west retail side,” Rachael said. The proposed storefront window system appearance is also set to be consistent with the surrounding stores.
Photo Credit: RHG A+D Architecture + Design
There was also a submittal of three duplex apartments or office spaces being placed above the theater lobby, though these plans haven’t been officially approved yet. According to TAPinto Montclair, lighting will be provided on the western side of the building where parking is to be made available for visitors and Bellevue Theatre employees.
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Now, over 100 years after its original grand opening, The Bellevue Theatre is gearing up for a 21st-century comeback. “The mission of this project is to expand the main street traffic and create more of a sense of community to the Upper Montclair Plaza,” Rachael told MG. The project even hopes to feature an artistic mural on the side of the building.
The Montclair Girl will update this piece as work progresses on the project. For now, follow @themontclairgirl on Instagram and TikTok to stay in-the-know with all of the Montclair + Essex County news, and sign up for our newsletter that shares the top stories in your inbox here.
