From the state’s northern reaches to its southern border, each downtown has its own unique charm:

• In Denville, people pack into cozy cafes and street fairs.
• Princeton’s historic Nassau Street blends trendy shops with old-world architecture.
• Red Bank shines with its art scene. The Count Basie Center pulls in music lovers, while Two River Theater plays to packed houses nightly. People wander past boats rocking on the Navesink’s calm waters.
• With waterways winding past beautiful Victorian homes, Cranford’s nickname as the “Venice of New Jersey” fits perfectly. Sweets lovers can’t walk past Vanilla Bean Creamery without stopping in.
• Westfield, just a short hop from Manhattan, mixes family-owned shops with big retail names.
• Around the historic town green, Morristown’s restaurants and entertainment spots bring fresh energy to streets George Washington once walked.
• Nicknamed the “Brainy Borough,” Metuchen hums with creativity around Forum Theatre Arts Center and ArtWorks gallery. Local artists pack its walls with eye-catching pieces.
• Farm-to-table restaurants line Collingswood’s main street.

“The trends of diversification, densification, and adjacent residential revival are also occurring on and around urban colleges, universities, medical centers, and research parks,” says downtown.org.

Fresh updates and new sidewalks show progress, as each town keeps its character alive. Old brick buildings next to modern shops show how history and progress work together in these renewed downtowns.