Editing Rahway, New Jersey (section)

===Downtown===
[[File:Main street rahway street.jpg|thumb|Main Street in 1920. The red storefront third down from the right is now [[cigar bar|cigar lounge]] Sticks Cigars. The arched-top building to its left (1519 Main) is now home to Fork, an American restaurant and cocktail bar that opened in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/entertainment/dining/2025/01/22/fork-restaurant-bar-opens-rahway/77856553007/|title='Modern and sexy' restaurant and bar opens in Rahway amid city's renaissance|first=Jenna|last=Intersimone|website=Courier News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/fork.nj/|title= Welcome to Fork on Instagram|website=www.instagram.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rahwayrising.com/wine-bar-in-the-works-for-main-street-space/|title=Wine bar in the works for Main Street space - Rahway Rising|date=August 21, 2017}}</ref> The building across the street at the corner of Cherry (1510 Main) is now a [[fish market|seafood market]].]]
[[File:Rahway National Bank.jpg|thumb|The Rahway National Bank, built in 1900 and renovated for office, retail, and restaurant space in the 2020s as The National building.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tapinto.net/towns/rahway/sections/business-and-finance/articles/tapinto-rahway-steps-inside-bank-vault-tests-out-mug-that-defies-gravity-and-receives-history-lesson-during-visit-to-the-national|title=TAPinto Rahway Steps Inside Bank Vault, Tests out Mug that Defies Gravity, and Receives History Lesson during Visit to The National|website=TAPinto}}</ref>]]
In 2020, downtown Rahway received accolades as a Great Downtown by the [[American Planning Association]]: <blockquote>"Downtown Rahway is a great place. It is a place that emphasizes livability, walkability, shopping, food, art, diversity and a destination. Centered in the heart of the bustling City of Rahway, next to the NJ Transit Station, Rahway's downtown is the building block for this diverse city."<ref name="greatplacesnj.org">{{Cite web|title=Congratulations to our 2020 Great Places in New Jersey Designees {{!}} Great Places in New Jersey|url=https://greatplacesnj.org/2020-designees/|access-date=2021-07-24|language=en-US}}</ref></blockquote>

In 2019, the Watt Hotel opened across from the [[Rahway station|train station]], with 100 rooms managed by [[Hilton Worldwide|Hilton]] on the third and fourth floors of a 17-story building, a lobby cocktail lounge and a rooftop terrace with a seasonal bar offering views of the city, river and outwards to the [[Watchung Mountains]].<ref>[https://www.rahwayrising.com/work-under-way-on-downtown-watt-hotel/ "Work Under Way On Downtown Watt Hotel"], Rahway Rising, October 23, 2017. Accessed March 5, 2023. "Work began earlier this month on the Watt Hotel, including new signage on the facade of the downtown building in recent weeks.... The 100-room hotel includes almost 17,000 square feet of retail space in the first four floors. Bridgeton Holdings plans to renovate about 6,000 square feet on the ground floor for the lobby area, housing a casual drinks and dining option. The commercial space occupies the first two floors of the building and the hotel occupies the third and fourth floors of the 17-story Carriage City Plaza."</ref><ref>[https://www.hospitalitynet.org/announcement/41003026.html "Watt Hotel; Tapestry Collection by Hilton Continues East Coast Expansion with the Opening of Watt Hotel Rahway"], Hospitalitynet, May 31, 2019. Accessed March 5, 2023. "Managed by Bridgeton Hospitality, Watt Hotel Rahway will be the first Tapestry Collection property in New Jersey."</ref>

Beginning in the early 1990s and continuing through the present day, the City of Rahway has rebounded as its downtown began to see the construction of new restaurants, art galleries, market-rate housing and the old Rahway Theatre reopening as the [[Union County Performing Arts Center]]. The theater underwent a $6.2-million renovation and expansion project, completed in 2007. As part of the expansion, the facility was purchased by the County of Union for $1.3 million and leased back for $1 a year.<ref>[http://ucpac.org/html/about_ucpac.cfm About Us], Union County Performing Arts Center. Accessed May 20, 2012.</ref>