PALMER SQUARE COMMERCE & COMMUNITY
EDITED BY FELICIA NG
This book was created as a semester-long research and design project on representing place through visual form for the course VIS 415: Advanced Graphic Design at Princeton University in Fall 2014 under the guidance of Danielle Aubert. The student editor would like to extend a special thanks to the Princeton Historical Society, Palmer Square Management, and the Lewis Center for Arts at Princeton University for their generous time and assistance, without which the creation of this book would not have been possible.
TABLE OF CONTENTS Palmer Square History 9 A recollection of the construction and evolution of Palmer Square. Palmer Square Stores 29 An overview of the businesses that operate in Palmer Square today. Palmer Square Patrons 63 A brief survey of the people who visit Palmer Square. Palmer Square Management 83 An interview with the organization that manages Palmer Square. Palmer Square Community 117 A peek into the communal events that are hosted at Palmer Square.
N
206
Princeton Battle Monument
YMCA
533 Princeton Public Library
27
Palmer Square
Princeton Cemetery
500 ft
Princeton University
571
Nassau St.
HISTORY STORES
PALMER SQUARE HISTORY
PATRONS - David Newton, Vice President, Palmer Square Management 9 Edgar Palmer
COMMUNITY
MANAGEMENT
“Palmer Square has been and is an on-going breathing mechanism. Going all the way back to Edgar Palmer’s time, I’m sure he had profit in mind, but on the other hand, he built something for the generations.”
MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY
11
PATRONS
10
STORES
A historic snapshot of the businesses along Palmer Square West after their construction in the late 1930’s.
HISTORY
An early sign displays the names of retailers that occupied store spaces in Palmer Square shortly after its construction.
Palmer Square was the dream and personal project of Edgar Palmer, heir to the New Jersey Zinc Company fortune and a 1903 Princeton University graduate. Rumor has it that he fell in love with Princeton while attending the University and decided to stay to realize his vision of an integrated downtown that would act as a commercial complement to his beloved alma mater. Plans were first conceived in 1906, and the purchase of real estate in the area began in 1925. In February 1929, Palmer, as president of Princeton Municipal Development Inc. (now known as Palmer Square Inc.), publicly announced his plans, which called for the creation of a new municipal center in the heart of Princeton. This collection of retail, office, and residential buildings would replace what was originally known as Baker Street and the center of a poor African-American neighborhood. The design of Palmer Square, prepared by architect Thomas Stapleton, was part of the Colonial Revival movement taking place in America at the time, assembling a variety of styles including old Newport, Philadelphia, Annapolis, and Williamstown, and also included a hotel, a post office, and a playhouse.
STORES PATRONS MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY
12
Additional expansions of retail, office, residential, and parking spaces were developed along the north side of Palmer Square on Hulfish Street in the late 1980’s, as were new stores on Palmer Square East. From 2006 to 2013, 100 new luxury apartment units were built along Paul Robeson Place, effectively completing Edgar Palmer’s original vision. Presented on the following pages are a series of maps detailing the evolution of Palmer Square through the decades from the earliest recoverable documentation of its occupants to what it looks like today.
HISTORY
Due to the Great Depression, construction of Palmer Square did not start until 1936. From 1936 to 1941, the first phase of construction provided a number of much-needed jobs to the community and saw the creation of several buildings on Palmer Square West as well as the relocation of Nassau Tavern from Nassau Street to the center of the Square. The Silver Shop, Skirm’s Smoke Shop, Lindle’s Cleaners, and Cousins Co. Wine & Liquor were among the first businesses to open on Palmer Square West in 1937. Sadly, Edgar Palmer passed away in 1943. The following year, his friends and University classmates constructed a memorial in his honor. Today, visitors will recognize it as the iconic bronze tiger that stands proudly in the center of Tiger Park at the entrance to Palmer Square. Even after Edgar Palmer’s death, the Square continued to develop. In 1963, One Palmer Square was built on the corner of Palmer Square East and Nassau Street, which provided retail and office spaces for a number of old and new tenants in Palmer Square, including Princeton Bank & Trust (now known as PNC Bank).
The continued construction of Palmer Square in March 1939, as viewed from the east side. 13
HISTORY
Palmer Square Palmer Square 1943 1943 O = Office R = Restaurant S Princeton S = Store T = Telegraph Office
Playhouse
SS
Princeton
Playhouse
S
S
S
S
S S S S S
S S S S RT S S
S S S S S S
S
Post Office
S S S S S
Palmer Square S S S S RT S S Nassau Street
14
Post Office
Palmer Square East
S
Palmer Square East
S
John Street
S S S S S S
S
COMMUNITY
John Street
S
S
Nassau Tavern
MANAGEMENT
S
Palmer Square West
S
S
Palmer Square West
S
PATRONS
S Nassau Tavern S
S
S
O Hulfish Street
S
S
S
S
O Hulfish Street
S
STORES
O = Office R = Restaurant S = Store T = Telegraph Office
Palmer Square S S S
S
S
S
Nassau Street
15
HISTORY
Palmer Square Palmer Square 1955 1955 Jersey Banker’s AssociationNew Jersey Banker’s Association Res New Princeton Playhouse
Playhouse
Hulfish Street
Hulfish Street Sears
Res
Town Shop
The Clothes Line
The Clothes Line
Cousins Liquor Co.
Cousins Liquor Co.
Applegate Floral Shop
Applegate Floral Shop
Nassau Delicatessen
Nassau Delicatessen
Yankee Doodle Tap Room
Res
Langrock Stores University Cleaners & Laundry
Langrock Stores University Res Cleaners & Laundry
Post Office
U
U H
H
Res
Res
The English Shop Palmer Square Res
U
Nassau Street Honore’s Jack Barber Renwick Candy Honore’s Jack Barber Shop Renwick CandyShop Shop Skirm’s Smoke ShopShop Renwick’s Coffee Shop Electric Coffee & Gas Shop Co. Renwick’s Public Service Electric & Gas Co.Public Service LaVake’s Jewelers Research Corp. Opinion Research Corp. Saks Opinion Fifth Ave. University Shop Saks Fifth Ave. University Shop
16
Post Office
Res John Street
John Street
The Little Gallery Princeton Decorating Shop
Yankee Doodle Tap Room
Durner’s The English Shop Barber Shop Palmer Square
COMMUNITY
Res The Little Gallery Princeton Decorating Shop Res G. R. Murray Insurance G. R. Murray Insurance Princeton Municipal ImprovementPrinceton Municipal Improvement H. P. Clayton Dry Goods H. P. Clayton Dry Goods Princeton Gift Shop Princeton Gift Shop Princeton Book Mart Princeton Book Mart Princeton Music Center Princeton Music Center
Nassau Tavern
Nassau Tavern Palmer Square East
Silver Shop Palmer Square West
Joan’s Dress Shop
Silver Shop
MANAGEMENT
Joan’s Dress Shop
PATRONS
Res
Town Shop
Palmer Square West
Sears
Palmer Square East
Princeton
STORES
H = Heating Plant Res = Residential Res U = Unknown
H = Heating Plant Res = Residential U = Unknown
Durner’s Barber Shop U
Nassau Street
Brophy’s Shoes Brophy’s Shoes Skirm’s Smoke Shop The Princess Shop The Princess Shop LaVake’s Jewelers Hinkson Stationary Hinkson Stationary
17
HISTORY
Palmer Square Palmer Square 1965 1965 H =The Heating Plant Res = Residential Princess UShop = Unknown V = Vacant
The PrincetonPrincess Playhouse Shop
Princeton Playhouse The Prep Shop
Hulfish Street Kalen’s Fine Arts Tavernwood Beauty Manor
Kalen’s Fine Arts Tavernwood Beauty Manor
Nills Bakery
Nills Bakery
Silver Shop
Silver Shop
John Street
Res
U
V
Post Office
Travelex Inc. University Barber Shop Nassau Delicatessen Post Laidlaw & Co. Office Clark Dodge Co. Nassau Fund Palmer Square Inc.
H
Houghton’s Real Estate Brophy’s ShoesShop Durner’s Barber Palmer Square Res
Princeton Houghton’s Real Bank & Estate Trust Co. Durner’s Barber Shop
U
Palmer Square
Nassau Street
H
Travelex Inc. University Barber Shop Nassau Delicatessen Laidlaw & Co. Clark Dodge Co. Nassau Fund Palmer Square Inc.
Princeton Bank & Trust Co.
COMMUNITY
V
V
Brophy’s Shoes
Yankee Doodle Tap Room
Palmer Square East
Milady
Yankee Doodle Tap Room
Palmer Square East
Milady
Princeton Chamber of Commerce Princeton Chamber of Commerce Honore’s Jack Barber Shop Honore’s Jack Barber Shop Princeton Decorating Shop Princeton Decorating Shop G. R. Murray Insurance G. R. Murray Insurance Weller Cornelia Real Estate Weller Cornelia Real Estate Nassau Shoe Tree Nassau Shoe Tree H. P. Clayton Dry Goods H. P. Clayton Dry Goods Princeton Gift Shop Princeton Gift Shop Princeton Book Mart Princeton Book Mart Princeton Music Center Princeton Music Center
Palmer Square West
Cousins Liquor Co. Applegate Floral Shop
Nassau Tavern
U
Nassau Street
Langorck Princeton Inc. Langorck Princeton Inc. Skirm’s Smoke Shop Skirm’s Smoke Shop Gallup & Robinson Inc. GallupRestaurant & Robinson Inc. Renwick’s Renwick’s Restaurant LaVake’s Jewelers LaVake’s Jewelers Saks Fifth Ave. University Shop Saks Maas FifthLouise Ave. University Fine Candy Shop Maas Louise Fine Candy
18
MANAGEMENT
Cousins Liquor Co. Applegate Floral Shop
Nassau Tavern
John Street
The Clothes Line The Little Clothes Line
Palmer Square West
The Clothes Line
U
Hulfish Street
Town Shop
The Little Clothes Line
V
The Prep Shop
PATRONS
Town Shop
STORES
H = Heating Plant Res = Residential U = Unknown V = Vacant
19
HISTORY
Palmer Square Palmer Square 1975 1975 H = Heating Plant Luttmann’s O = Offices Luggage Res = Residential
Luttmann’s Princeton Playhouse Luggage
U = Unknown V = Vacant
Hulfish Street
Kalen’s Fine Arts La-Jolie-Coiffures
Kalen’s Fine Arts La-Jolie-Coiffures
Polly’s Fine Candy
Polly’s Fine Candy
Cousins Liquor Co. Applegate Floral Shop
Milady
U
Brophy’s Shoes
U
O V Res
UU
Post Office
John Street
John Street
Honore’s Jack Barber Shop Princeton Decorating Shop Princeton Shutterbug Revere Travel Services Nassau Shoe Tree H. P. Clayton Dry Goods Princeton Gift Shop Princeton Book Mart Princeton Music Center
Palmer Square Inc. Post Walter B Howe Office Inc. Laidlaw-Coggshall Inc. Nassau Delicatessen Nassau Fund
H
Princeton Houghton’s Real Bank & Estate Trust Co. Durner’s Barber Shop
Houghton’s Real Estate
U
Brophy’s ShoesShop Durner’s Barber
U
Palmer Square U O V Res
U
Palmer Square
Nassau Street
Langorck Princeton Inc. LaVake’s Jewelers
20
Langorck Skirm’sPrinceton Smoke Shop Inc. LaVake’s Jewelers LaVake’s Jewelers
H
Palmer Square Inc. Walter B Howe Inc. Laidlaw-Coggshall Inc. Nassau Delicatessen Nassau Fund
Princeton Bank & Trust Co.
COMMUNITY
U
Milady
H. P. Clayton Yarn Shop
Yankee Doodle Tap Room
MANAGEMENT
Cousins Liquor Co. Applegate Floral Shop
Yankee Doodle Tap Room
Palmer Square East
The Little Clothes Line
Nassau Tavern Palmer Square East
The Little Clothes Line
Nassau Tavern Palmer Square West
Silver Shop The Clothes Line Palmer Square West
Silver Shop
Honore’s Jack Barber Shop Princeton Decorating Shop Princeton Shutterbug Revere Travel Services Nassau Shoe Tree H. P. Clayton Dry Goods Princeton Gift Shop Princeton Book Mart Princeton Music Center
Hulfish Street
Town Shop
The Clothes Line
H. P. Clayton Yarn Shop
The Prep Shop
PATRONS
Town Shop
Princeton Playhouse The Prep Shop
STORES
H = Heating Plant O = Offices Res = Residential U = Unknown V = Vacant
U
Nassau Street
Skirm’s Smoke Shop LaVake’s Jewelers
21
HISTORY
Palmer Square Palmer Square 1985 1985 U = Unknown V = Vacant Ann Taylor Hulfish Street
Town Shop
Crabtree & Evelyn
Crabtree & Evelyn
Cousin’s Liquor Co.
Cousin’s Liquor Co.
Applegate Floral Shop Wit & Whimsy Clayton’s Yarn The Harbinger Squire’s Choice Frusen Gladje Revere Travel Nassau Shoe Tree
Applegate Floral Shop Wit & Whimsy Clayton’s Yarn The Harbinger Squire’s Choice Frusen Gladje Revere Travel Nassau Shoe Tree
U U
U
U
H. P. Clayton Benetton U
Mooshka U
U
U
Inn Health Nassau Club Inn
Nassau Inn
V Chamber’s Yankee Doodle Tap Room Walk Cafe V
Yankee Doodle Tap Room Chamber’s Walk
Palmer Square Green
Chamber’s Walk
Post Office
22
Banana Republic Palmer Square Green V
Post Office
Kiitchen Kapers Winberie’s
Winberie’s H. Gross & Co. Princeton Bank
Mooshka Tiger Park
Kiosk
Impressions Talbots Laura LaVake’s Ashley Jewelry
V
Chamber’s Walk Cafe
V
Banana Republic V Kiitchen Kapers
H. Gross & Co.
Nassau Street Talbots Laura LaVake’s Ashley Jewelry
Inn Health Club
Tiger Park
Princeton Bank
COMMUNITY
Benetton
John Street
H. P. Clayton
Palmer Square West
Silver Shop Expecting You
V
MANAGEMENT
Silver Shop Expecting You
Village Collection V Honore’s Barber Shop
Palmer Square East
Polly’s Fine Candy
Town Shop
Village Collection
Palmer Square West
Polly’s Fine Candy
Hulfish Street
Honore’s Barber Shop
John Street
Kalen’s Fine Arts LaJolle
PATRONS
Kalen’s Fine Arts LaJolle
Palmer Square East
Ann Taylor
STORES
U = Unknown V = Vacant
Kiosk
Nassau Street
Impressions
23
Salon Vis a Vis
Bowhe & Peare The Papery of Princeton
U
Kitchen Kapers
U bluemercury
Kitchen Halo Kapers Pub
Gap bluemercury
Hulfish Street
Silver Shop
Silver Shop
Au Courant Opticians
Au Courant Opticians
Crabtree & Evelyn
Crabtree & Evelyn
Dandelion Mother & Baby Co Ici Ici fashion for children Bent Spoon Lace Silhouettes Lingerie Thomas Sweet Chocolate Simon Pierce Glass
Dandelion Mother & Baby Co Ici Ici fashion for children Bent Spoon Lace Silhouettes Lingerie Thomas Sweet Chocolate Simon Pierce Glass
U U
U
Chamber’s Walk
Chamber’s Walk
Nine West Bucks County Coffee Co. U
U U
Post Office
Winberie’s
24
Mimi J.E. Maternity Caldwell
Origins Talbots
Post Office
J.Crew
J.Crew PNC Bank
Bucks County Coffee Co. Tiger Park
Mimi J.E. Maternity Caldwell
Banana Republic
Winberie’s
Kiosk
Nassau Street Talbots
Palmer Square Banana Green Republic
ETC. Company
PNC Bank
Tiger Park
COMMUNITY
Nine West
Ann Taylor
jaZams
ETC.Tap Room Yankee Doodle Company
Palmer Square Green
Zoe
jaZams Nassau Inn
Yankee Doodle Tap Room
John Street
Ann Taylor
Lindt Nassau Inn
April Conell
John Street
April Conell
Zoe Shoes
Zoe Cranbury Station Gallery
MANAGEMENT
Cotton Company Lindt Savioni Boutique
Palmer Square West
Cotton Company
Halo Fete
Hulfish Street Zoe Shoes
Cranbury Station Gallery
Halo Pub
Gap
PATRONS
Savioni Boutique
Halo Fete
Palmer Square East
Coach Store Aerosoles
Palmer Square West
Coach Store Aerosoles
jaZams
Mediterra
Palmer Square East
U = Unknown
Bowhe & Peare
jaZams
Chico’s Mediterra
STORES
U = Unknown
HISTORY
Salon Vis a Vis
Palmer Square Palmer Square The Papery of Princeton 2004 2004Chico’s
Kiosk
Nassau Street
Origins
25
HISTORY
Salon Pure
Salon Pure
Palmer Square Palmer Square Luxaby Baby & Child the farmhouse store the farmhouseLuxaby store Baby & Child The Papery of Princeton The Papery of Princeton Lacrosse Lacrosse Unlimited 2015 2015Unlimited Mediterra Mediterra
Palm Place Aerosoles
Au Courant Opticians
Au Courant Opticians
Olsson’s Fine Foods
Olsson’s Fine Foods
Dandelion Indigo Bucks County Dry Goods Cranbury Station Gallery Bent Spoon Rojo’s Roastery Thomas Sweet Chocolate Carter & Cavero Old World Olive Oil Co.
Dandelion Indigo Bucks County Dry Goods Cranbury Station Gallery Bent Spoon Rojo’s Roastery Thomas Sweet Chocolate Carter & Cavero Old World Olive Oil Co.
Ann Taylor
Palmer Square Management Design Within Reach
Ann Taylor Pacers Running Palmer Square Chez Alice Management Design Within Reach
Zastra
jaZams
Yankee Doodle Tap Room
Teresa Yankee Doodle Tap Room Caffe
Chamber’s Walk
Chamber’s Walk
Palmer Square Green
kate spade new york
jaZams Nassau Inn
Nassau Inn
Post Office
Palmer SquareBrooks Green Brothers
Winberie’s
Post Office
Brooks Brothers
J.Crew PNC Bank
Chez Alice Tiger Park
Teresa Caffe
Winberie’s J.Crew
lululemon Urban Jack lululemon Ralph Urban Jack Origins Talbots Talbots athletica Outfitters Wills athletica Lauren Outfitters Wills
26
Zastra Lindt
Halo Fete
Kiosk
Nassau Street
PNC Bank
Tiger Park
COMMUNITY
Pacers Running
John Street
Lace Silhouettes Lingerie
kate spade Princeton Soup new yorkCo. & Sandwich
Halo Pub
Zoe
MANAGEMENT
Lace Silhouettes Lingerie
Princeton Soup & Sandwich Co.
Palmer Square East
Toobydoo
Hulfish Street
Palmer Square West
Toobydoo
Palmer Square West
Botari
Barbour Lindt Botari
Halo Fete
PATRONS
Barbour
Kitchen Halo Kapers Pub
Zoe bluemercury
Hulfish Street
John Street
Palm Place Aerosoles
Kitchen Kapers
Palmer Square East
Princeton Corkscrew blueWinemercury Shop
STORES
Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop
Kiosk
Nassau Street
Ralph Origins Lauren
27
HISTORY STORES
PALMER SQUARE STORES
PATRONS MANAGEMENT
- David Newton, Vice President, Palmer Square Management 29
COMMUNITY
“It was always his goal to build a self-contained commercial community downtown to complement the University acoss the street.”
MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY
31
PATRONS
30
STORES
Large advertisements posted on the storefront windows of Urban Outfitters inform shoppers of the current sales and deals.
HISTORY
A friendly handwritten blackboard menu standing outside The Bent Spoon welcomes and invites passersby to walk in for ice cream.
Today, 52 different businesses proudly call Palmer Square home. Geographically spanning from Palmer Square West to Palmer Square East and from Nassau St. to Hulfish St., the diverse collection of businesses sell a broad range of products and services, such as food and drink, clothes and shoes, beauty supplies, homeware, toys, and art, as well as banking and hotel services. Some stores are part of larger business chains that pride themselves in offering quality products from well-established and nationaly or internationally reknowned brands, while others are one-ofa-kind shops, often owned by local residents, that pride themselves in offering unique and customized experiences that visitors would not be able to find anywhere else in the world. In the following section, these two different types of stores are referred to as “global” and “local,” respectively. Presented on the following pages are graphical breakdowns of the local and global nature of stores in Palmer Square as well as the types of products and services that they each sell. Also included is a photo series of all 52 businesses’ storefronts in Palmer Square, taken by Felicia Ng in fall and winter 2014.
Global* Princeton CorkscrewLocal** Wine Shop
Local** * Sells global brand items or has many (inter-) national store locations
* Sells global brand items or has many (inter-) national store locations
Princeton Kitchen Corkscrew blueKapers Wine Shop mercury
Zoe bluemercury
The Papery of Princeton
Kitchen Halo Halo Kapers Pub Fete Hulfish Street
Botari
Barbour Lindt Botari
kate spade Soup Princeton new york Co. & Sandwich
Toobydoo
Toobydoo
Nassau Inn
Au Courant Opticians
Au Courant Opticians
Design Within Reach
Pacers Running Palmer Square Chez Alice Management Design Within Reach
Palmer Square Green
Post Office
Chamber’s Walk
Palmer Square Brooks Green Brothers
Winberie’s
Post Office
Brooks Brothers
J.Crew PNC Bank
Chez Alice
lululemon Urban Jack lululemon Ralph Urban Jack Talbots Origins Talbots athletica Outfitters Wills athletica Lauren Outfitters Wills
Teresa Caffe
Winberie’s J.Crew
Tiger Park
jaZams
Kiosk
Nassau Street
COMMUNITY
Pacers Running
Ann Taylor
Chamber’s Walk
jaZams Nassau Inn Palmer Square East
Dandelion Indigo Bucks County Dry Goods Cranbury Station Gallery Bent Spoon Rojo’s Roastery Thomas Sweet Chocolate Carter & Cavero Old World Olive Oil Co.
kate spade new york
Zastra
YankeeTeresa Doodle Tap Room Caffe
Palmer Square West
Dandelion Indigo Bucks County Dry Goods Cranbury Station Gallery Bent Spoon Rojo’s Roastery Thomas Sweet Chocolate Carter & Cavero Old World Olive Oil Co.
John Street
Lace Silhouettes Lingerie
John Street
Lace Silhouettes Lingerie
Palmer Square Management
Lindt
Yankee Doodle Tap Room Olsson’s Fine Foods
Olsson’s Fine Foods
Ann Taylor
Zastra
MANAGEMENT
Palmer Square West
or only has local roots Barbour and few store locations
Halo Fete
PATRONS
Hulfish Street Princeton Soup & Sandwich Co.
Palm Place ** Sells one-of-a-kind items Aerosoles
Halo Pub
Zoe
Palm Place Aerosoles
** Sells one-of-a-kind items or only has local roots and few store locations
32
Luxaby Baby & Child
The Papery of Princeton Mediterra
LacrosseMediterra Unlimited
STORES
Global*
Salon Pure
Luxaby Baby & Child the farmhouse store
Palmer Square East
Lacrosse Unlimited
Salon Pure
HISTORY
Palmer Square Palmer Square the farmhouse store
PNC Bank
Tiger Park
Kiosk
Nassau Street
Ralph Origins Lauren
33
Toys
Art & Toys Stationary
Art & Specialty Stationary Accessories
Specialty Sporting Accessories Goods
0
Sporting Beauty Goods
0 Global Global
Local Local
COMMUNITY
5
Beauty
10
MANAGEMENT
5
Services
10
Services Homeware
15
Food & Homeware Drink
15
Food & Shoes & Drink Apparel
20
Number of Stores
20
PATRONS
Shoes & Apparel
Number of Stores
25
STORES
34
25
HISTORY
Palmer Palmer Square Square StoresStores
35
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Winberie’s Restaurant and Bar, 1 Palmer Square American bistro serving brunch, lunch, and dinner
Brooks Brothers, 17 Palmer Square East Men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing and accessories
36
COMMUNITY
J. Crew, 1 Palmer Square Men’s and women’s clothing and accessories
MANAGEMENT
Kiosk, 1 Palmer Square Newspapers, magazines, snacks, drinks, cigarettes, and bus tickets
37
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Post Office, 20 Palmer Square East Postal services
Teresa Caffe, 21 Palmer Square East Italian trattoria serving pizza, pasta, salads, wine, and more
38
COMMUNITY
Yankee Doodle Tap Room, 10 Palmer Square American grill and pub serving breakfast, lunch and dinner
MANAGEMENT
Nassau Inn, 10 Palmer Square Historic hotel
39
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Princeton Soup and Sandwich Co., 30 Palmer Square East Gourmet soups and sandwiches for breakfast, lunch, and dinner
kate space new york, 10 Hulfish St. Women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories
40
COMMUNITY
Zastra, 28 Palmer Square East Women’s clothing and accessories
MANAGEMENT
jaZams, 25 Palmer Square East Children’s toys and books
41
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Zoe, 11 Hulfish St. Women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories
The Papery of Princeton, 15 Hulfish St. Stationary and speciality gifts
42
COMMUNITY
Halo Fete, 9 Hulfish St. Gourmet ice cream cakes and pastries made locally at Halo Farm
MANAGEMENT
Halo Pub, 9 Hulfish St. Gourmet ice cream and coffee made locally at Halo Farm
43
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Mediterra Restaurant and Taverna, 29 Hulfish St. Mediterranean restaurant serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Salon Pure, 31A Hulfish St. Full service hair salon also offering waxing, nail services, and more
44
COMMUNITY
Kitchen Kapers, 23 Hulfish St. Fine cookware, bakeware, cutlery, coffee espresso machines, and more
MANAGEMENT
Luxaby Baby and Child, 19 Hulfish St. Children’s clothing
45
HISTORY STORES PATRONS Lacrosse Unlimited, 45 Hulfish St. Men’s, women’s, and children’s lacrosse gear, clothing and footwear
The Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop, 49 Hulfish St. Handcrafted wines
Palm Place, A Lilly Pulitzer Signature Store, 73 Palmer Square West Men’s, women’s and children’s clothing and accessories 47
COMMUNITY
46
MANAGEMENT
the farmhouse store, 43 Hulfish St. Home furnishings and specialty gifts
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Barbour, 67 Palmer Square West British clothing
Aerosoles, 69 Palmer Square West Women’s shoes
48
COMMUNITY
Lindt, 68 Palmer Square West Chocolates
MANAGEMENT
bluemercury, 72 Palmer Square West Spa treatments and beauty products
49
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Olsson’s Fine Foods, 52 Palmer Square West Gourmet cheeses, local meats, olives, and more
Au Courant Opticians, 57 Palmer Square West Eyewear
50
COMMUNITY
Botari, 63 Palmer Square West Women’s clothing and accessories
MANAGEMENT
Toobydoo, 59 Palmer Square West Children’s clothing
51
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Bucks County Dry Goods, 41 Palmer Square West Home furnishings, women’s clothing and accessories
Indigo by Shannon Connor Interiors, 45 Palmer Square West Home furnishings
52
COMMUNITY
Lace Silhouettes Lingerie, 51 Palmer Square West Sleepwear and lingerie
MANAGEMENT
Dandelion, 47 Palmer Square West Fashion jewelry and women’s accessories
53
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Thomas Sweet Chocolate, 29 Palmer Square West Freshly made chocolates
Rojo’s Roastery, 33 Palmer Square West Coffee roaster offering specialty Arabica beans
54
COMMUNITY
Cranbury Station Gallery, 39 Palmer Square West Custom framing, original artwork, lithographs, and pottery
MANAGEMENT
The Bent Spoon, 35 Palmer Square West Artisan ice cream and sorbet, baked goods, and hot chocolate
55
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Chez Alice Gourmet Cafe and Bakery, 5 Palmer Square West Cafe serving desserts, pastries, and coffees for breakfast and lunch
Pacers Running, 7 Palmer Square West Running and walking shoes, clothing, and accessories
56
COMMUNITY
Carter & Cavero Old World Olive Oil, 27 Palmer Square West Olive oils and other oil-related products from around the world
MANAGEMENT
Ann Taylor, 17 Palmer Square West Women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories
57
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Talbots, 38 Nassau St. Women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories
Urban Outfitters, 42 Nassau St. Men’s and women’s clothing, shoes, and accessories
58
COMMUNITY
lululemon athletica, 36 Nassau St. Yoga-inspired athletic wear for men and women
MANAGEMENT
Design Within Reach, 30 Nassau St. Home furnishings
59
HISTORY STORES PATRONS
Origins, 56 Nassau St. All natural skin care, sensory therapy and bath and body products
PNC Bank, 76 Nassau St. Banking services and ATM
60
COMMUNITY
Ralph Lauren, 54 Nassau St. Men’s and women’s clothing and accessories
MANAGEMENT
Jack Wills, 46 Nassau St. British clothing for collegiate ladies and gentlemen
61
HISTORY STORES
PALMER SQUARE PATRONS
PATRONS - Anita Fresolone, Marketing Director, Palmer Square Managenent 63
COMMUNITY
MANAGEMENT
“There are some people who know it’s beautiful and love the Christmas decorations, but they really might just use the Post Office or get a coffee... or you have that loyal local customer that is checking in almost weekly.”
MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY
65
PATRONS
64
STORES
Walking, window shopping, and browsing are popular weekend activities for families at Palmer Square.
HISTORY
Public wooden benches are scattered around Palmer Square Green for visitors to rest on amidst walking and shopping in the area.
Because of the myriad of resources and activities that it offers, Palmer Square attracts a diverse range of patrons throughout the year. Princeton residents and visitors alike flock to the town center for a variety of purposes. Curious to find out what people come to Palmer Square for, Felicia Ng set out on a lively November afternoon on the Sunday before Thanksgiving to survey 25 visitors as they rested on public benches around the Square. On a printed survey, she asked people to indicate how often they come to Palmer Square and which aspects of it they have utilized. Given that it was a weekend and close to the holidays, it was not a surprise that many people were one-time visitors staying at the center of Palmer Square in Nassau Inn, while others were Princeton residents or students from local high schools and universities who were relaxing and enjoying a casual day out in town. Several surveys were even jointly completed by couples or families that were sitting or walking together in Palmer Square. Presented on the folloiwng pages are the survey template and results as well as a few open-ended comments from patrons about their impressions of Palmer Square.
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How often How dooften you come do you tocome to Palmer Square? Palmer Square?
Only Several times Several times Oncetoday a week Once a week Once a month Once a month Several times Several times Several times Several times year per year per month perper month per week per week
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Note: One patron Note: One manually patron filled manually in “Walking filled in “Walking the dog” next thetodog” the choice next to“Other.” the choice “Other.”
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What do What youdo come you come to to PalmerPalmer Square Square for? for?
Special events SpecialSpending events time Spending with time Other: with Other: family and friends family andWalking friends theWalking dog the dog 71
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Kitchen Kapers Lace Silhouettes Lingerie Lacrosse Unlimited Lululemon atheletica Luxaby Baby & Child Kitchen Kapers Fine Foods LaceOlsson's Silhouettes Lingerie Origins Lacrosse Unlimited Pacersatheletica Running Lululemon Palm& Place Luxaby Baby Child TheOlsson's Papery ofFine Princeton Foods PNC Bank Origins Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop Pacers Running Ralph PalmLauren Place Rojo's Roastery The Papery of Princeton Salon Pure PNC Bank Talbots Princeton Corkscrew Wine Shop Thomas Sweet Chocolate Ralph Lauren Rojo'sToobydoo Roastery Urban Outfitters Salon Pure Zastra Talbots Zoe Thomas Sweet Chocolate Other: Lindt Toobydoo Urban Outfitters Zastra Zoe Other: Lindt
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Aerosoles Ann Taylor Au Courant Opticians Barbour bluemercury Aerosoles Botari Ann Taylor BrooksOpticians Brothers Au Courant Bucks County DryBarbour Goods Carter & Cavero Old World Oil Co. bluemercury Cranbury Station Gallery Botari BrooksDandelion Brothers Design Within Reach Bucks County Dry Goods theOld farmhouse Carter & Cavero World Oilstore Co. Indigo Cranbury Station Gallery J. Crew Dandelion Design WithinJaZams Reach kate spade newstore york the farmhouse Kiosk Indigo J. Crew JaZams kate spade new york Kiosk 15
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Note: Lindt was Note:accidentally Lindt was accidentally left out of theleft list, out but ofone the patron list, but one patron manually filled manually it in next filled to the it inchoice next to“Other.” the choice “Other.”
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WhichWhich storesstores in Palmer in Palmer Square Square have you haveshopped you shopped at? at?
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Yankee Doodle Tap Room
Yankee Doodle Winberie's Tap Room Restaurant & Bar
Winberie's Teresa & Caffe Restaurant Bar
Princeton Soup & Teresa Caffe Sandwich Co.
Princeton Soup & Sandwich Co.
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0 Halo Pub / Mediterra Halo Fete
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Halo Pub / Chez Alice Gourmet Fete CafeHalo & Bakery
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Chez Alice Gourmet The Bent Spoon Cafe & Bakery
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Which Which restaurants restaurants or cafes orin cafes in PalmerPalmer SquareSquare have you have dined you at? dined at?
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Princeton Princeton Girls NightGirls Out Night JaZams Out JaZams Pi Day Pi Day Summer Summer Block Party Block Party
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Patrons Note:manually Patrons filled manually in “Communiversity” filled in “Communiversity” and and “Halloween “Halloween Parade” next Parade” to thenext choice to the “Other.” choice “Other.” All eventsAll areevents annual. are annual.
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Which Which special special events events in Palmer in Palmer Note: Square Square have have you participated you participated in? in?
JazzFeastJazzFeast ChristmasChristmas Tree Other: Tree Other:Other: Other: Lighting Lighting Communiversity Communiversity HalloweenHalloween Parade Parade
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Note: Patrons Note: manually Patrons filled manually in “My dogs” filled innext “Mytodogs” next to the choice “Other.” the choice “Other.”
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Who do Who youdo come you to come to PalmerPalmer SquareSquare with? with?
Friends Other: My dogs Other: My dogs
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Additional Comments
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The local ice cream and coffee shops on Palmer Square West were ostensibly fan favorites among surveyed patrons. 80
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On a crisp Monday morning in October, Vice President David Newton and Marketing Director Anita Fresolone of Palmer Square Management kindly sat down with Felicia Ng for an interview about Palmer Square.
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Today, Palmer Square is a thriving center of life in Princeton town.
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Street signs mark the intersection between Nassau St., the main downtown thoroughfare of Princeton, and Palmer Square West, the oldest row of retail stores in Palmer Square.
Palmer Square is a really interesting place to me because it blends together these different cultures of community and commercialism. In Princeton, the idea of “downtown” and “shopping mall” seem to be meshed together in this one space, and I’m looking to explore that intersection a little more. David Newton: Depending on where you want to start, we can talk about the decimation of New Jersey downtowns. There are two ways of expanding in real estate – one is through density and the other is through sprawl. New Jersey, for the most part, chose sprawl. As a result, because of the shopping centers and everything being into the next best thing, the downtowns got somewhat forgotten, and a lot of the smaller towns, which are very pretty architecturally, were left to ruin and second class citizenship. (Some of them have revitalized, led by restaurants and coffee houses and the more social aspects of retailing.) That didn’t happen to downtown Princeton.
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Palmer Square Management actively pursued Brooks Brothers for over a decade before finally seeing this storefront open in the Square. 87
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and you start planting seeds, and try and keep it warm. To give you an example: Brooks Brothers and Urban Outfitters were two stores who we actually did go after and we opened files on them in the year 2000. And they both opened within a week of each other in 2012. So it sometimes is a long-term process. And the same was true for J. Crew – we would be working with them and wooing them for a number of years before they finally came. Other
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I do notice that in Palmer Square, there are a lot of high-end stores now like Ann Taylor and J. Crew. DN: I wouldn’t call them “high-end.” I would call them “affordable luxury.” “High-end” [or] real lusuxy is what you find in Madison Avenue or Beverly Hills. How do you pick the stores that are able to open in Palmer Square? I also noticed that there are some more mom and pop shops like Princeton Soup and Sandwich and Halo Pub, which are opened by local residents. DN: Sometimes we pick them, and sometimes they pick us. Obviously, when I took over this job in 1995, there were already a lot of stores here, so I inherited stores and a successful operating base, but you make calls because Princeton is, I would say, definitely a B-lister. For a hot retailer, we don’t make the A-lister. Because we’re a B-lister, you occasionally see the hot concept, you make the calls, or you try and find out who’s representing them,
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Fun and inviting toy displays line the entrance to jaZams, one of the most successful homegrown bussinesses in Palmer Square.
second location, is the wine store. Zoe was a manager here on the Square, and she opened her business in 1995, and she went from 584 square feet to 3,068. Then she went and took the 584 back, so I think she went to something like 1,960. And now she’s at 5,000 feet. Anita Fresolone: I think the other thing is that the Square is not cookie cutter like a mall would be. Palmer Square West is tiny, and sometimes, like with the Brookes Brothers case, you’re just kind of waiting for space to open. Occasionally, we do shift people around if possible, but it is the on-going puzzle and sometimes waiting game. I think that sometimes, what they have to watch out for too, is that a store will come and pitch themselves to us, but we say, “Well, we already have a jewelry store.” We’re not a mall with 250 locations. We have our certain little group to cultivate, and we can’t really step on anybody’s toes.
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people seek us out – like lululemon or bluemercery were something we found when they were about 3 or 4 stores, and then they came to Princeton and it was good. As far as the entrepreneurship or as far as people opening their own stores locally, we have a couple of very very very successful retailers who are here on the Square who are homegrown. One of whom is jaZams, a toy store. Another of whom, even though we can’t really claim since we are his
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Situated at the entrance to Palmer Square and facing Nassau St. is Tiger Park-a beautiful public space dedicated to the local community. 91
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we maintain everything to our own uniform standard and we maintain it to a good quality level that we like. Anybody, god forbid, accuses us of being a shopping center, I deny like crazy, because - we’re talking frankly - on one level, that is the glorified shopping center, but on the other level, we are probably the majority of the downtown, and the result is that the health of Palmer Square is very much a sign for the health of the rest of the community,
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D.N.: And we also have restaurants and coffee houses, and the Momo family, which owns Teresa’s and Mediterra, really built they’re name here in Princeton. How do you see the relationship between Palmer Square and the greater Princeton community? Do you think it’s a town center? A shopping mall? Or maybe a combination of both? A tourist attraction? D.N.: We’re a mixed-use property, because we obviously have shops – about 45 storefronts - but we also have about 160,000 square foot of office space and 220-odd residential units we manage. There’s a hotel, which we don’t manage but is [in Palmer Square]. We’ve incorporated also in this the town green and Tiger Park. We do the landscaping, we manage Tiger Park, even though it’s not owned by us. So on one level, we are a shopping center, and we operate as a homogeneous-style management organization where we collect the rents and
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“Out to Lunch” by J. Seward Johnson is a sculpture tastefully situated in the Palmer Square plaza across from Princeton University.
ed a little bit of a splendid isolation around it. They didn’t really want the rest of the world creeping in, even though it’s beginning to now – the secret is getting out. But everything around here is really great quality, and I’m not just talking about the University itself - I’m also talking about secondary education institutions. Everything around here just supports what is a very very nice comfortable lifestyle for people. A.F.: I think though from a marketing standpoint, it’s always a challenge to figure out who you are talking to, because you are talking to people who you want to view Palmer Square as part of a day trip - they would come to Princeton and tour around, tour the University and then make here their hub - and then just from being in town so long and talking to different people, how they utilize the Square is so different. I mean there are some people who know it’s beautiful and love the Christmas decorations, but
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economically or whatever. Thanks to the University, you’re in a town of 25,000-odd people, but maybe in a larger area – maybe a primary trading area – maybe 250,000-300,000 people. But Princeton is projected out to the universe as a lot bigger than it actually is because of the wealth, the University, and the reputation and what comes out of here. Having said all that, the University - even though they’ll deny, I’m sure they planned it this way - they creat-
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With its myriad of resources and activities, Palmer Square offers a diverse range of purposes for its equally diverse range of visitors.
the town, so there are people who use our garages but couldn’t care less about what’s going on in the Square. So it’s not like your lifestyle center plopped in the middle of nowhere, where everybody there is literally just there for you. We’ve tried to stop people on the street sometimes and do little ambush surveys and maybe give them a gift card to Bent Spoon, and some people are like “Wait, what? No, no, I’m just here for whatever. Oh, I just used your garage.” But then others are like “Ohmygosh, I love Palmer Square! I’ll give you anything you want!” That’s interesting. So you kind of have two different audiences or target customers there. A.F.: Yeah, I think so. That’s cool. Well, speaking of the community aspect of Palmer Square, what kinds of community programs are hosted here? I know there are a lot – for example, the Christmas tree is a big one in the winter time, and I think I’ve heard of other kids events.
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they really might just use the Post Office or get a coffee, and they may not be a shopper, and they could live very close, or you have the opposite, where you have that loyal local customer that is checking in almost weekly and knows the managers and gets those relationships, so I think it’s all over the place. Even our parking garages - while they are run and owned by us, and we have a few parking promotions for people who shop on the Square - they’re for
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It sounds like it’s a really high priority for you to really connect with the community. D.N.: I think we have no option. I mean, in the sense that, just through our physical location in itself, I really don’t think we could be anything but a community-oriented organization. A.F.: I just want to point out too that what makes Palmer Square kind of unique as well is, when you look at other towns - like we always
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A.F.: We run a lot ourselves – Girls’ Night Out, JazzFeast, we have the tree lighting, we work with jaZams to have the kids block party, we work on Pi Day, we participate in Communiversity, we have an event this weekend... Every October, we’ve been trying to do an event that is non-profit focused. Last year, we did a hair cut-a-thon with our salon and raised money for Parkinson Alliance. This year, we’re hosting SAVE Animal Shelter to help with their pet adoption mission. Are those all local? A.F.: Yeah, the Parkinson Alliance too - their national headquarters was just down the road in Kingston. So we try to, and even little things like at the tree lighting, McCarter Theatre sends over their nutcracker characters to take pictures. We work with the University, we work with endless non-profits and schools; everybody kind of wants a little piece of us, and we try to do as much as possible.
Holiday decorations light up the Palmer Square plaza in December and contribute to the community’s festive atmosphere. 97
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Community Walk, the central footpath in Tiger Park, is paved entirely with bricks honoring Princeton residents, students, and history.
other people in town are checking when our dates are because they might as well throw some stuff out if they’re on Witherspoon Street. And just to throw in one other thing: there’s Princeton Merchant Association, which is a volunteer group that oversees what goes on in town. How does that work? Does it work with Palmer Square Management? A.F.: Yeah, we’ve always had representation on the board, and you can always look up their website too on princetonmerchant.org if you wanted to check it out, but that’s equivalent to who is kind of looking out over what’s going on in town, and they have a voice which then we take part of on things that will affect all business in town - like if there’s something big going on like an hours ordinance, what time you can open and close and stuff like that. D.N.: I think this linkage is important. Our events are definitely something that, if you would com-
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see what West Field is doing or Red Bank is doing - their SIDs (special improvement districts), where basically a small office, maybe of 3 people - are doing programming for an entire town, so you have like Red Bank’s Jazz Festival. But since Princeton is not designated that way, it’s almost like Palmer Square is functioning as that for the entire town. I think that’s liked by a lot of people. When we have our annual sidewalk sale every August, we know
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As the town center of Princeton, Palmer Square serves as a convenient location for a variety of errands such as returning library books.
It definitely seems like it, because Palmer Square is almost literally the center of town for Princeton, and I think that Edgar Palmer’s vision for this whole place originally really was supposed to be a town center where everybody goes, right? D.N.: That’s right. What are some of the major changes to Palmer Square recently, and how do you think this will affect the future of the community? D.N.: Well, I think Palmer Square has been and is an on-going breathing mechanism. Going all the back to Edgar Palmer’s time, I’m sure he had profit in mind, but on the other hand he built something for the generations. What he built in 1937 was an outgrowth of the Depression era. It was always his goal to build a self-contained commercial community downtown to complement the University across the street. And so what you see from that is that, in very rough terms, every decade since then, something
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pare us to another shopping center that’s one of the things that I bristled at when we’re accused as such - we’re lucky enough where we’re physically located where the events are kind of obvious. If you look out at other shopping centers doing [this community element] - and this is probably a sweeping generalization - it’s more of a contrived effort. And I think that it comes a little bit more seamlessly in terms of where we’re located.
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Constructed on the corner of Nassau St. and Palmer Square East in 1964, One Palmer Square is now a major office and retail building.
gray retail. And then in 1990, they added the Palmer Square North side, but what was added in 1989 to 1992 was two office buildings, retailers along Hulfish St, basically non-joined two parking decks along Hulfish St, and then they also approved, I think, 117 residential units, which our predecessor built the first 17 [of and] promptly went bust. A.F.: Those 17 were above Mediterra all the way to Halo Pub. I see... so those are all residential? A.F. + D.N.: Above there, there are two-floor town homes. D.N.: And then you have the new phase, which was approved in 2006, and then it was completed in 2013, which we referred to - that’s the 100 residential units. So what you have from that is a holistic approach that, roughly every 10 years or so, something has been added that has gone to build up the whole thing in terms of what was completed in 2013. I’m not saying there won’t be other
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has been added. Everything has kind of moved towards the whole, so in other words, what started off as the shops in the older portion, which is what we call Palmer Square West, which was built in 1937 with the Nassau Inn, added to that was a hotel expansion in the 1940s. In 1964, One Palmer Square came along where J. Crew is. Then in the 1980s, they added the Chamber Street garage, they added the extension to the hotel, and then also, obviously some
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The integration of town homes above Halo Pub and Halo Fete reflects the residential and commercial nature of Palmer Square.
every 2 weeks and hear the status of [them], and it’s just fascinating to hear [about] all the different types of people - why, what their rationale [is], whether they’re retiring to Princeton, whether they want to come here for their kids’ education (private or public), whether it’s just they want a Princeton presence for half the year, lock and go, and then move to Florida or wherever else. People are just so drawn to this downtown living, maintenance-free, and the gorgeous[ness]. And then [there are] people downsizing from large homes or expensive properties because they want to be able to walk to McCarter theatre [or] they want to be able to walk to Small World, so that’s interesting kind of validation to even the original mission of the town center. That’s really interesting. I just have one last question: If there’s one message or feeling that Palmer Square could give to its visitors, what do you hope it is?
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things added going forward, but in terms of more land area there just isn’t any. If Princeton has a sudden change in heart, maybe you can add density, [but] it’s probably unlikely that Princeton’s going to go much beyond 65 feet, and that’s basically where you are. A.F.: And it’s been interesting being part of the process. We work closely with the sales and marketing team that’s managing the new residences, and we have meetings
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With its traditional colonial-styled architecture, Palmer Square gives visitors an experience that is remniscent of a European town. 107
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A.F.: Some people refer to it as, “Oh, it reminds me of being in a European town,” and I like the word “charming” - I don’t like “quaint,” - and I think the word you used before too was good: not “contrived.” So much work goes into it, but I think it’s presented in kind of an effortless, natural way. D.N.: Yeah well, it’s not just a facade. It’s basically something that’s literally come together and has evolved over a period of 75 years,
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D.N.: I think the University endows Princeton with something very special in the sense that you know it’s a place of complete higher learning that, physically, is a place of beauty, is a place where people come to learn, to discover, to expand, and to perfect their mind and their thinking. Edgar Palmer envisioned a commercial element that really complements that thought process. There’s something architecturally, landscaping-wise, and then also filled with residences and retailers, and then office tenants, that reflect that special aspect of Princeton. I think that’s largely been achieved. You can’t really say that anywhere is more special than anywhere else, but I think that we try our hardest not to be too cookie-cutter. Some people would say there are too many new mall types of tenants in here, but we try and, I wouldn’t say create, but we try and preserve what I think is that special spirit that kind of hovers over Princeton.
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A.F.: Can I ask you a question? Oh yeah, definitely! A.F.: Like I said when we came up, we don’t get to hang out with a lot of students. We do tend to stick in our little Orange Bubble...
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A plaque underneath the bronze statue in Tiger Park honors Edgar Palmer and his dedication and contributions to the community.
D.N.: Right, and we have a nice little team, you know. There’s one man who works here - I always tell the same story, but his father did the job before him, and he’s our Head of Maintenance. He came here literally when he was an apprentice for his father when he was 12, came here full time when he was 18, he’s now 56, 57, and he’s been working on the Square for 37, 38 years. In addition to knowing everything about it, this is really a labor of love - somebody who’s dedicated his entire life to knowing every inch to this place - and whereas he is my prime example, a lot of other people would follow on from that sample, and that’s what makes it special.
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so when you look at that aspect of it, it can be appreciated. It’s not like some set design that comes straight off the architectural board, because it reflects its surroundings. Definitely, it sounds like even today, the whole mission of Palmer Square still is Edgar Palmer’s original mission, so it seems like you’ve really stuck to its roots. A.F.: I think so. We hold ourselves to high standards and we like our role of being the center of town.
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reached out to me. It’s in the Art Museum, right? It is, exactly! A.F.: So the Art Museum just reached out to me and said, “Take an ad out and our program,” and I said, “You know what? I’m not just taking an ad out. We should be talking about something.” Like a partnership. Yeah, the Princeton Art Museum likes to host a lot of community events as well, so that is a really great opportunity to bring not just people to the University but also the University to the community. D.N.: And the University has got better than it was, right? I don’t mean this as a downer on the University, [which] sees itself as and rightly so as they earned this, taking away that nobody should ever be arrogant in this world - but it sees itself as being an elitist, and it sees itself as being - I would say homogeneic. So basically, everything kind of goes on within the con-
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A.F.: We did do [it] last year: we had Community Walk, [which] they tried for the first time. I don’t even know if you saw it - maybe it was just for freshmen, I’m not sure but we worked with the Community Affairs Office and got to meet some people as they toured around. It was funny - the mix of some who, like you, seem to be able to rattle off everything you have experienced, and others [who were] just like, “Ooh, what’s on the other side of the street?” What encourages them to come out and explore? I think there are two events that really work for us: one is Communiversity - obviously it’s huge, and everybody wants to get involved, because it’s very exciting - and also Nassau Street Sampler. I don’t know if that’s something that you are involved with? A.F.: That’s really interesting that you brought that up, because I never knew anything about it until recently, and no one had ever
MANAGEMENT This plaque on the wall outside of Nassau Inn’s entrance is a physical reminder of Princeton University students’ bond to the community.
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Bricks honoring brilliant figures such as Albert Einstein on Tiger Park’s walkway reflect the town’s intellectual history and community.
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So in physical terms, for the community, this was something that was very much the brainchild of a man named Paul Breitman, who has just recently retired from the University. It took them 250 years to work it out, but they finally moved the bookstore to Nassau St. There’s the Keller Center, which is, god forbid they should call something entrepreneurial, but that’s basically what it is - it’s the entrepreneurial side of the University.
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text of University, and they’re a bit xenophobic. But it hasn’t even cost them in terms of not being closer to the community - it’s cost them by being a little bit too uppity-uppity, compared to Stanford, which didn’t do that. Stanford basically didn’t take the view that business was some grubby little commercial thing that us purists and academics didn’t have to [get involved in], and so the University finally woke up, saying that we can’t be so high-minded.
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It’s the way it should be, and there are many other things in this town in addition to the University - a lot of the people who live here, as I said, other secondary institutions - and there’s a lot to plug in to, so when you come down from the mountain top, and you take a few steps back, you realize that there’s a whole other universe out there, and I think that they finally got it. [This interview has been redacted and shortened.]
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So the University is finally beginning to work out that there is a community out there which can be used in order to help promote the University’s cause, and the community likes being part of that, because it is very proud of it, even though we may not wear orange and black, and it should be. Again, that spirit of what the University is all about should be something that is totally reflected in the town, and I’m hopeful that that can be achieved.
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Custom paintings on the windows of Winberie’s Restaurant and Bar feature Princeton University icons and colors.
These publicly illustrated references to the University reflect the pride and integration between the community and the University. 115
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- David Newton, Vice President, Palmer Square Management 117
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“The health of Palmer Square is very much a sign for the health of the rest of the community.”
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Public bike racks scattered around Palmer Square, like this one across from the Post Office, give visitors a place to park and lock their bikes.
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jaZams, a local toy store, is a passionate supporter of children’s education and hosts several popular children’s events in Palmer Square.
In addition to offering visitors a unique commercial experience, Palmer Square also plays as an integral role in the Princeton community by serving as a town center and hosting a number of popular events, many of which are co-hosted with other organizations, for local residents and visitors throughout the year. Every month, Palmer Square Management works with its retail stores and other local groups to organize family-friendly activities that attract participants of all ages. Annual traditions include events such as Princeton Pi Day in March, Girls Night Out in May, JazzFeast in September, fundraisers for local nonprofits in October, and a spectacular Christmas tree lighting ceremony in late November or early December. New events are also constantly being developed and added to the Palmer Square calendar as feedback from the community spark interest in fun and creative ideas that draw people from all over town together for interaction, entertainment and meaningful causes. Presented on the following pages are a small collection of event posters from recent years to illustrate the variety of ways in which Palmer Square engages the local community.
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PATRONS
MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY 131 130
HISTORY
STORES
PATRONS
MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY 133 132
HISTORY
STORES
PATRONS
MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY 135 134
HISTORY
STORES
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MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY 137 136
HISTORY
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COMMUNITY 139 138
HISTORY
STORES
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MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY 141 140
HISTORY
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MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY 143 142
HISTORY
STORES
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MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY 145 144
HISTORY
STORES
PATRONS
MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY 147 146
HISTORY
STORES
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COMMUNITY 149 148
HISTORY
STORES
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MANAGEMENT
COMMUNITY 151 150
The interior pages of this book were printed on 60lb text paper. The exterior was printed on 65lb cover paper. Printing and perfect binding were completed by the Princeton University Digital Print Center in January 2015. Titles and section tabs are set in Saturday Morning Toast Italics. Body text and page numbers are set in Adobe Caslon Pro Regular or Bold Italics. Text on maps and infographics are set in Helvetica Regular or Bold. Information and photographs in the History section were gathered from the Princeton History Society and Palmer Square Mangement. All other photogaphs in the book were taken by Felicia Ng. Official event posters for Cut-a-thon, Girls Night Out, JazzFeast, jaZam’s Summer Block Party, and Summer Movies on the Green in the Community section were designed by Phil Unetic and obtained through Palmer Square Management. All other event posters were obtained from the official Palmer Square website and Facebook page. Quotes on section title pages are from the printed interview with David Newton and Anita Fresolone of Palmer Square Management.
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