Downtown – Hammonton, New Jersey
We were invited to Hammonton, New Jersey, to participate in a press conference by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. The purposes was to announce the recently awarded Main Street New Jersey Transformation Grants. While there we discovered a downtown that was experiencing a resurgence driven by entertainment and the arts.
The Eagle Theatre was the catalyst for much of this activity. This small regional theater is in a fairly non-descript building. Plans were announced to expand into the neighboring building – a much larger Gothic Revival styled house.
A project to create a walkway linking the theatre with the downtown was announced. A walk of stars already exists in a landscaped sidewalk median.
As the walk approached the downtown an outdoor wine bar with handsome pergola, seating, lighting and plantings came into view.
Casciano Coffee Bar
Another asset in the downtown with fairly active use was the Casciano Coffee Bar. In addition to traditional coffee offerings, they had a wonderful selection of local food and other healthy items to buy.
Next Door Parties & Meetings, while now permanently closed, demonstrated how traditional storefronts may be repurposed for entertainment and other uses.
Chroma
Taffeta
Mary’s Cafe
This wall mural and pavers along the alley make for a welcoming connection between the parking area to the rear and the shops and restaurants lining the street.
The handsome brick building has some unique decoration in the parapet.
This handsome two-story hipped roof brick building has a presence on this important corner.
Monroeville Winery
Wine has become an important part of the image for Hammonton. A wine tasting room here reinforces that identity.
Annata Wine Bar
Public Spaces
And, public art, while not prevalent at the time of our visit was definitely on display. Here some temporary panels were mounted on an older building.
Public benches and planters have been placed throughout the district. The pairing of two planters with each bench creates an attractive grouping.
Downtown Hammonton banners are on lampposts reinforcing the artistic and creative identity of the town.
Historic Buildings
Perhaps the greatest observation we had of Hammonton was the right variety of building stock, with some excellent 19th century through mid-20th century buildings.
Hammonton Baptist Church
Hammonton Town Hall
