Princeton Blog

Princeton, N.J. — March 13, 2025: Few local businesses are as iconic as the Princeton Record Exchange, which has been named one of the best record stores in the country by Rolling Stone, CNN, USA Today, and many others.The store has been buying and selling music and movies since 1980. Serious collectors and bargain hunters make pilgrimages from across town and around the world to search through its enormous selection.

Princeton, NJ — Friday, Feb. 14, 2025: Experience Princeton is proud to announce the return of Experience Princeton Restaurant Week, coming to a lunch and dinner menu near you March 1-7, 2025. And to celebrate, beginning February 15, f you buy an Experience Princeton Digital Gift Card worth $20-$200, we’ll add a bonus card equal to half your purchase! There’s never been a better time to try a new Princeton eatery or visit an old favorite!

Princeton, NJ — Jan. 22, 2025: If you loved to bake with your kids but they’ve grown up and moved on, what would you do with that urge to create cookie delights? Milk & Cookies store owner Lauren Ariev Gellman found the perfect solution — bake for everyone!

Princeton, NJ — JANUARY 17, 2025: Experience Princeton is excited to welcome four new additions to Princeton Shopping Center. From revamping your fitness routine to indulging in mouth-watering bites, there’s a fresh new experience waiting for you.

Princeton, NJ — December 10, 2024: “Putting community needs at the heart of everything we do.” Those words underline the community-first approach of Akshay Patel, owner of Hinkson’s, at 28 Spring Street in Princeton. Akshay bought the 115-year old business in 2023 and has embraced the former owners’ well-established service model while adding creative innovations of his own.

‍Princeton, NJ — Dec. 5, 2024: Alfalfa, a fast-growing and health-focused restaurant brand founded by childhood friends in New Jersey, will open its sixth location — and fourth in the Garden State — in Princeton at 140 Nassau St. on Friday, Dec. 6. The grand opening will be marked with fun giveaways for the community and a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10 a.m. with the mayor.

TRENTON, NJ – November, 21, 2024: The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) today announced the designation of four new communities to the Main Street New Jersey (MSNJ) Program, an initiative aimed at encouraging and supporting the revitalization of downtown business districts throughout the state. With the designation, downtown districts in Princeton (Mercer County), Plainfield (Union County), Millburn (Essex County), and Haddonfield (Camden County) can now receive technical assistance and training in how to strengthen their main streets as centers of community and economic activity.

Experience Princeton and the Municipality are working hand-in-hand to keep our community clean and welcoming. Here’s how your business can play a part:

Princeton, NJ — October 15, 2024: Experience Princeton is excited to announce the release of its Annual Report 2024 recapping a year of growth for the two-year-old organization.

Princeton, NJ — Oct. 14, 2024: Experience Princeton is thrilled to announce our “ShopPrinceton2Win” contest, an exciting new promotion running from Oct. 28-Dec. 10 that encourages customers to shop in Princeton for a chance to win prizes for both themselves and business owners!

Princeton, NJ — The Princeton Symphony Orchestra (PSO) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on September 26 during the latest Experience Princeton Meetup to officially open its new offices at 1000 Herrontown Road. The move came none too soon as, having more than doubled its administrative staff, the PSO had outgrown its previous location on the grounds of the Princeton Charter School.

Princeton, NJ – Sept. 19, 2024: Experience Princeton is excited to announce the launch of the "Fall for LOCAL" campaign, a community-wide initiative designed to celebrate and support local businesses during the vibrant fall season. The campaign will run Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, through Friday, Nov. 29, 2024, and will showcase the unique dining, shopping, and entertainment experiences that make Princeton a cherished destination.

Princeton Special Improvement District businesses looking to improve their storefront and facade appearance can get some financial assistance, thanks to Experience Princeton’s pilot Storefront Improvement Program.

Princeton, NJ — Experience Princeton is excited to welcome Amicus Therapeutics to Princeton as the company settles into its beautiful new corporate headquarters at 47 Hulfish Street.

Princeton, NJ — Experience Princeton proudly introduced new board members Rachel D. Grainger and William D. Hare at the organization's Annual Meeting on June 26 at the Nassau Inn.

Princeton, NJ — Experience Princeton is pleased to announce our new "We're Open" ad campaign focused on the vital and important businesses of North Witherspoon Street.As the corridor undergoes a beautification project this summer and fall, this campaign will highlight the dynamic Princeton retailers, restaurants and service providers that are open for business and ready to serve the Princeton community during this construction period.

Princeton, NJ – March 15, 2024: Isaac Kremer, Executive Director of Experience Princeton, and Municipality of Princeton Councilmember Michelle Pirone Lambros testified Thursday, March 14, at the New Jersey Legislature's Assembly Community Development and Women's Affairs Committee regarding the significant advantages of Special Improvement Districts (SIDs) for local communities. Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter, Chair of the committee, led the session, which aimed to explore the benefits and challenges of maintaining SIDs and downtown business improvement zones in the long term.

Experience Princeton is is proud to announce the launch of the "Bloom Local" campaign. This collaboration between Experience Princeton and the Municipality of Princeton, running March 19-May 26, 2024, will celebrate the arrival of spring while fostering civic pride, kindness, and community. Together, the community is assembling an exciting bouquet of special events, art installations, new plantings and volunteer opportunities for you to enjoy from March through May, and "Bloom Local" will highlight these efforts.

Experience Princeton introduces a new digital gift card program that allows consumers to give the gift of shopping locally. The Experience Princeton Digital Gift Card is accepted at over 50 participating retailers, restaurants, service providers, and venues in Princeton, making it easy for residents and visitors alike to support the local economy.

Thank you for taking the time to read the inaugural Annual Report of Experience Princeton. After our first year, we have plenty to report about our progress and achievements. Looking forward, we are really excited for what is to come as the organization takes root and grows.

For the second year in a row, Experience Princeton will serve as a Neighborhood Champion for Small Business Saturday on November 25, 2023. Pick up your gift bags and list of participating businesses at Tipple + Rose (210 Nassau St), Homestead Princeton (300 Witherspoon St), and LiLLiPiES (301 N Harrison St in the Princeton Shopping Center). The day of the event look for blue and white balloons outside of participating businesses as a reminder to shop small! Additionally, LiLLiPiES will be having holiday carols and music, a book launch of Pie for My Birthday by Jen Carson, a drawing for fun gift baskets, and a visit from Santa Claus.

Aspendos Mediterranean Cuisine has announced that they will be having their ribbon ceremony for their new location in Princeton, New Jersey on Friday, October 6, 2023, at 4:30pm.

There's never been a better time to try vegan! The inaugural Princeton Vegan Chef Challenge kicked off Friday, September 1st. Local chefs are competing for the dining public’s votes with creative and delicious plant-based menu options. Veganism is on the rise, and you’re invited to see why!

Center for Anxiety has announced that they will behaving their ribbon ceremony for their 7th location in Princeton, New Jersey onSeptember 11th, 2023, at 2pm.

"Every bride has a unique story, and at Princeton Bridal, we believe that every dream deserves to be realized. Our journey began with a little girl who played with her mother's curtains as a veil, to a bride who shed tears of joy when she found "the one." It's true; when you know, you just know." This is according to Matija Tomasello who is opening Princeton Bridal at 301 N Harrison St in the Princeton Shopping Center.

For the second year in a row, jaZams is hosting the most famous man in stripes all around Princeton. Candlewick Press approves 100 local bookstores across the United States and we were honored to have been chosen again! The Find Waldo Local program highlights small, independently-owned local businesses around the country by encouraging participants to visit 25 of them in their “quest” to find Waldo at each stop, building a sense of community along the way. Shopping en route is encouraged!

Experience Princeton (http://www.experienceprinceton.org) is issuing a Request for Proposal for the services of an experienced Graphic Design and Digital Marketing contractor. The successful candidate will work with Experience Princeton’s Executive Director, handling a multitude of creative processes that range from initial briefings to the final delivery of advertisements and media in print and digital formats.

The Princeton Farmers’ Market began in 2009 with the idea of bringing healthy, locally produced goods right into the center of Princeton. Taking place downtown on Hinds Plaza for many years, our goal was to build a vibrant community that supports local agriculture, small business, a healthier environment and a more sustainable future. We would also like to send a very special thank you to the Municipality of Princeton for welcoming the market back to Hinds Plaza.

The Princeton Community Pride Picnic is an annual event celebrating the town’s LGBTQ community. Now in its third year, the picnic celebrates difference in a family-friendly environment where all are welcome to be who they are. This year’s picnic will be on the Green in Palmer Square on June 3, noon to 3 p.m. and will include live music, art, games and other activities. 

Charbellem, a Princeton-based company offering an exceptional collection of women’s clothing and accessories, opened its doors on Wednesday, May 24 at 11 am in a Ribbon-Cutting ceremony presided over by Princeton Mayor Mark Freda. The new store is located at 33 Witherspoon Street. Experience Princeton, a Special Improvement District (SID) dedicated to promoting Princeton through marketing and economic development, welcomed the town's newest retailer as an example of Princeton's growing attraction for entrepreneurs and the new markets they open.

After a two-year hiatus, Princeton Restaurant Week, to be held March 5-11, 2023, is shaping up to be the best yet.

Every year the town of Princeton celebrates with irrationally fun events! Presentations by a recent Nobel Prize winner, Pie Judging Experience, tours and more!

The Princeton Business Partnership is pleased to announce Experience Princeton as its new name, along with a new logo and tagline to support its brand strategy.