Downtown Denville

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Open Your Business in Downtown Denville

The Downtown Denville Business Improvement District (BID) supports events, promotional efforts, outreach, and improvements in Denville’s downtown. As a vibrant, active community, Denville is the perfect place to open your business. The support of both the Downtown Denville BID, and a very active group of small business owners, keeps the community’s business, shopping, and dining local.

With its staff and all-volunteer Board of Directors, the Downtown Denville BID supports events, promotional efforts, outreach, and improvements in our downtown area. With a vibrant, active community, Denville is a must-visit NJ destination and a wonderful place to start or expand your business.

WHY DENVILLE?
Denville consistently lands on many ”top foodie destination” lists, and for good reason. Visitors come from all over to dine at The Pasta Shop, Hunan Taste, and Thatcher McGhee’s, and come back for return visits to check out our pubs, vegetarian restaurants, and, of course, Denville Dairy. The town truly has the perfect food option for every craving. Downtown Denville also has a great mix of retailers in our shopping areas, everything from unique one-of-a-kind boutiques and home decor stores, to gourmet food shops and full-service spas.

DEMOGRAPHICS
With approximately 20,000 residents and its distance to train lines and bus service, this haven is a perfect choice for both commuters and suburbanites. Several lakes, a golf course, playgrounds, and a top-rated school district continue to position Denville as an attractive selection for residents and businesses.

GET IN TOUCH
If you’re looking for a location to open up your business or to add an additional location for it, let us know. We can connect you with the building owners and real estate agents for the available space in town, and support you along the way. Whether you need a small or large space, or retail, restaurant, or office, we have a few options that may be perfect. Email us at bmesa@downtowndenville.com and we’ll help you discover everything that Denville has to offer you and your business.

Celebrate National Ice Cream Month in downtown Denville!

It seems rather fitting to celebrate the hottest of summer days with a dish of ice cream, but when better to do it than in July, which is National Ice Cream Month? And so, in the interest of research, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite of the sweet treats available in downtown Denville.

Whether you enjoy your ice cream outside at their bright orange tables or take it to go, the folks at Denville Dog & Grill have a delicious assortment of 32 Welsh Farms ice cream flavors to choose from. Get it in a cone, cup, or even milkshake form, but don’t forget their Pineapple Dole Whip! It’s the next best thing to hopping a flight to Florida for Disneyworld’s version!

Speaking of milkshakes, if that’s your pleasure pop into Weenies and check out all their crazy and traditional concoctions! They have everything from old fashioned Chocolate, Vanilla, and Coffee, to more unusual varieties like Maple Bacon, Frosted Flake, and Blue Cotton Candy. They’re open until 3 am for outdoor dining, to go orders, and delivery.

You might not think of Bubble in Paradise when you’re thinking about ice cream, but then you’d be missing out on their fun shaved ice and taiyaki creations! They have a wide variety of build-your-own shaved ice creations that you can top with ice cream, and they also offer made-to-order egg waffles and taiyaki topped with ice cream and your choice of toppings and drizzles. Still not enough? They even have traditional sundaes that you can top with non-traditional toppings like mochi, pocky, or red bean.

And, of course, no ice cream list is completing without mentioning Denville Dairy! In business for over fifty years, the Fine family has been serving up their homemade treats to customers far and wide. Milkshakes, cups, cones, pies, cakes, and even ice cream sandwiches! Tons of flavors and toppings to choose from, each one more delicious than the next, and sugar-free and fat-free flavors are available as well (and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference!).

With just less than two weeks of National Ice Cream Month, you have your work cut out for you, but we know you’re up to the challenge! Indulging in ice cream around town? Share on Instagram and be sure to tag us – we’d love to see!

Great Events for 2020 Announced !

The Downtown Denville Business Improvement District has announced a slate of outstanding events coming to one of Morris County’s best downtown districts. The events draw shoppers and visitors to all that Denville has to offer from great retail to top restaurants. Many events also tie-in with local causes and charities as Downtown Denville has always been the place where a community comes together.

BE A SPONSOR OF ONE OF THESE GREAT EVENTS

LUNAR NEW YEAR CELEBRATION sponsored by Hunan Taste (February 9th, 1pm)

Downtown Denville’s Lunar New Year Celebration will be sponsored by Hunan Taste

A cultural celebration of Lunar New Year, which is celebrated by nearly half the world. The event will be sponsored by Hunan Taste, NJ’s Best Chinese Restaurant and chaired by Viva La Pet and The Urban Muse. It will feature a Pet Parade, Ice Sculpting, Dragon and traditional Chinese Dancers in Hunan’s Parking Lot after the parade, A huge maze for the kids and so much more. Supplies for Denville’s Animal Shelter will also be collected and awareness and fundraising for a local animal charity to be announced soon.

SPRING INTO DOWNTOWN DENVILLE Sponsored by Lakeland Bank (April 11th)

Spring Into Denville features tons of activities including egg hunts, music and more.

Families and children can come downtown for their spring shopping and collect eggs, in stores, filled with candy and other prizes. Many shops feature great specials and events. Don’t miss getting a pic with the Easter Bunny at Lakeland Bank or the hopping music playing throughout town.

CENTER STREET LIVE Presented by Saint Francis Residential Center (June 11th, July 9th and August 13th)

Once a month during the Summer, Downtown Denville will be rocking as on Center Street for live performances from your favorite local bands. Grab some food from outstanding surrounding eateries and a cold beer in the beer tent for the newest series coming this year. What an awesome event !

SUMMER BLOCK PARTY & SIDEWALK SALES (July 30th – August 1st)

Sidewalk Sales in Downtown Denville kick off with a huge summer block party featuring live music on Center Street, tons of store specials, events and sales, sales, sales.

DOWNTOWN DENVILLE RESTAURANT WEEK Presented by Saint Francis Residential Center (Sept. 20th-24th)

When you have some of the best restaurants in New Jersey there’s no better way to celebrate than eating out all week long. Eateries will have tons of daily specials, featured menus and more. Dine Out Denville !

PINK WITCHES NIGHT OUT Sponsored by Saint Clare’s Health System (Oct. 15th)

Pink Witches Night is one of the premier Girls Nights Out in NJ raising awareness for Breast Cancer and Women’s Health.

One of the best GIRLS NIGHTS OUT in New Jersey. This event has become a huge flagship event for Downtown Denville and thousands of women (and men too) come out to celebrate life ! Raising awareness for Breast Cancer and Women’s Health, the event always ties in with a local survivor’s charity. The SWAG BAGS are filled with ridiculous amounts of awesomeness and there’s tons of prizes and giveaways for those that register. Plus women love to dance to the music blaring throughout Downtown in their pink witches hats and other creative costumes.

SHOPPING OPEN HOUSE, SMALL BIZ SATURDAY & THE WHOLE HOLIDAY SEASON (Nov. 27th, 28th and Throughout the Holidays)

There’s no better place than Downtown Denville for the entire holiday season. Shopping Open Houses, Carolers, Small Biz Saturday, Holiday parade and more.

Downtown Denville is a holiday destination. The season kicks off with a huge shopping open house on November 27th (the day after Thanksgiving) with horse carriage rides, live performances, holiday characters, pictures with Santa and so much more. Carry over the celebration that weekend by support local stores for Small Biz Saturday and the traditional holiday parade on Nov. 29th when Santa comes to town via Denville’s Fire Department to take his Santa Land Residency on Church Street just outside downtown. Additionally the whole holiday season will feature regular holiday carolers, festive music and tons of activities. There is no better place to buy gifts than Downtown Denville and these great activities make it a true holiday experience.

BE A SPONSOR OF ONE OF THESE GREAT EVENTS

Holiday Shopping Open House

Presented by Saint Francis Residential Community. Support Your Downtown !

Our Holiday Shopping Open House will be Friday, November 29th 5:30-8:30pm. Come out and support your local businesses while enjoying tons of holiday activities

(Broadway will be open to vehicle traffic but Denville’s Finest will be present to keep everyone safe at crosswalks and throughout downtown. Second and Third Avenue will be closed to vehicle traffic for our Horse and Carriage Rides and Center Street will be pedestrian only for our live performances)

HORSE & CARRIAGE RIDES – (Second and Broadway) Ride our Holiday Carriage along Second and Third Avenue and you might get serenaded from our Holiday carolers

PICTURES WITH SANTA – (Lakeland Bank) The big guy is making a brief appearance before he officially arrives at Santa Land in our Holiday Parade on Sunday, Dec 1st. This is your chance to grab a pic

STORYTIME WITH MRS. CLAUS – (Lakeland Bank) Right across from Santa you can hear a story from Mrs. Clause while you wait

STORE SPECIALS – (All throughout downtown) Get a preview of Small Business Saturday on Nov 30th by stopping in your favorite shops the night before. Many will have specials, activities and promotions.

ELSA, OLAF & THE GRINCH – (All throughout Downtown) Our holiday characters will be roaming around for you to grab a picture and say hello. Don’t forget to hashtag #downtowndenville on your social media pics !

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

HOLIDAY CAROLERS (All throughout downtown) We’ll have our holiday carolers strolling our beautiful downtown sidewalks ready to serenade you

LIVE ON CENTER STREET – (Center Street) Perfomances all night hosted by Denville’s own Michael Scannelli. 5:30 pm – Danceworks, 6:15pm -Morris Hills Madrigal Choir under the direction of Mrs. Michelle Uhler, 7:00pm – The Great Scott Magic Show, 7:45pm Ronin Martial Arts – Weapons and Board Breaking Team

WARM-UP MENUS – (All throughout downtown) Many eateries will feature “warm-up” menus. Thatcher’s will have 21 & Over Adult Hot Cocoa and Irish Coffee for those who brave the cold in their outdoor seating areas

MAKE YOUR OWN STOCKING/HAT (The Urban Muse) Decorate your own Santa hat or holiday stocking

MISS NORTH JERSEY (SmartWorld) Come say “hello” and grab a pic with Miss North Jersey, Veronica Tullo, who will be handing out candy canes and collecting toys for the Children’s Miracle Network

TOY COLLECTION (SmartWorld). Donate new toys to the Children’s Miracle Network until Dec. 15th

FREE COOKIES (Official Downtown Denville Tables). Look for our official Downtown Denville tables and show us your Hot Cocoa (purchased from a Downtown Denville business) and we’ll give you a free cookie. We’ll also have hand warmers

WARMING STATIONS (Various) We’ll have several portable heaters for you to warm up near

FREE POPCORN (California Beach Hut) Check out CBH’s new location and grab some warm popcorn

FREE CLAM CHOWDER (Denville Seafood) It wouldn’t be a Holiday Open House without Denville Seafood giving out samples of their chowda to keep you warm

VENDOR TABLES (Various) Check out other great Denville businesses at their tables

MUSIC IN THE AIR (All throughout downtown) It wouldn’t be a Downtown Denville event without music scoring our event through our sidewalk sound system. And listen for announcements and guests joining our MC, Gene Fitzpatrick

AND SO MUCH MORE !!!

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NJ and National Main Street

We had the privilege of having our friends from New Jersey’s Main Street program, as well as the National program, join us Friday October 25th. The organizations have worked with us to identify ways to improve our downtown even more with grant identification, marketing tools and recommendations to satisfy community needs. With their help we recently conducted a study from residents about what their vision for Downtown Denville was.

The program representatives lead focus groups with township officials, store owners and more. There are many transformational grants available to help support downtowns progressing forward. We hope to be able to implement them soon based on the results of the surveys and focus groups they lead.