Westfield’s shuttered Rialto Theater is one step closer to reopening, and local leaders are already framing it as more than just a renovation.
The New Jersey Economic Development Authority has approved a $43,381,250 tax credit for the Rialto Center for Creativity, funding the next phase of work to transform the century-old Broad Street theater into a performance, education, and gallery space, according to Jersey Digs. The award comes through the state’s Cultural Arts Facilities Expansion (CAFE) Program, which supports major arts and cultural capital projects statewide.
Since closing in 2019, the theater has sat vacant—but that dormancy is coming to an end.
Once finished, the Rialto will offer a flexible performance and event space built to hold up to 450 people, along with classrooms and studios for workshops, gallery space designed with local artists in mind, a café open to anyone walking by, and a catering kitchen for private events.
Construction is set to start next year, with the doors expected to open in 2029.
“The Rialto’s return marks a new chapter for Westfield,” said Bill Crandall, President of the Rialto Board of Trustees. “Thanks to the NJEDA’s generous commitment to the arts, we’re rebuilding more than a theater; we’re creating a home where creativity thrives and people come together.”
A Local Landmark Gets a Second Life
For Westfield Mayor Jeremy Berman, the project carries value that is unseen in the price tag.
“The Rialto is one of Westfield’s most meaningful historic landmarks, and its restoration represents an extraordinary opportunity to honor our past while investing in our future,” Berman said. “As a vibrant arts and cultural anchor, the Rialto Center for Creativity has the potential to strengthen our downtown, support local economic development, and create a welcoming destination for residents, visitors, artists, and businesses alike.”
Daniel Taugher, Executive Director of the Downtown Westfield Corporation, echoed that sense of civic investment, tying the theater’s revival directly to the health of the town’s business district.
“We’re excited for the new iteration of the historic Rialto as the Center for Creativity, a reimagined arts hub that will drive foot traffic, strengthen our small businesses, and provide residents and visitors with a vibrant calendar of events,” Taugher said. “As Downtown Westfield continues to reinvent itself, this cultural anchor will serve as both an economic driver and a community gathering place for generations to come.”
Funding the Final Stretch
The state’s award is just the starting gun. It kicks off a new $10 million fundraising push, building on a $5 million leadership gift and a handful of early contributions that helped get the project this started in the first place.
Organizers are hoping individuals, foundations, corporations, and community partners will step up next. Anyone interested in contributing can donate through Rialto Reimagined—larger gifts come with the option of naming rights.
Continuing Westfield’s Cultural Influence
Westfield has long been an important cultural hub within New Jersey, sprouting the careers of several notable artists, musicians, and more, such as Goo Goo Dolls guitarist John Rzeznik, Marvel Studios President Kevin Feige, and perhaps most famously, Addams Family creator Charles Addams.
Supporters of the project see the Rialto’s revival as a way to tell that story, but also as a means to extend the legacy. The re-opened theater restores a physical home for the arts in Westfield—hoping to build off the environment that jumpstarted so many careers in the past.
For now, the project moves into its next phase. But for many Westfield locals, the theater-to-be is already a major win for downtown.
The New Jersey Digest is a new jersey magazine that has chronicled daily life in the Garden State for over 10 years.