Haddon Township’s Small Business Boom: What’s New on Haddon Ave

If you’ve driven down Haddon Avenue recently (or walked—it's highly walkable, you know!), you’ve probably noticed something: it feels busier and a lot more intentional than it did even a couple years ago.

Haddon Township isn’t just filling empty storefronts; new businesses are opening with heart and love, eager to get involved in this incredible growing community. The latest wave of small independent businesses opening along Haddon Ave is transforming how downtown Westmont thinks and acts: let's see what's going on.

At 46 Haddon Ave, Pet & Park looks like a thoughtfully curated plant and home décor shop, but it’s actually doing a lot more beneath the surface. Yes, you can purchase succulents, adorable air plants, and more, but the shop also hosts hands-on experiences like “build your own terrarium” workshops and pressed flower frame classes. It’s designed as a space where people can gather and create away from home.

What really sets Pet & Park apart is its mission: the business was inspired by the owners’ daughter and is built to support vocational training opportunities for young adults with special needs and developmental disabilities. It’s a rare example of retail that blends community impact with everyday shopping—and it fits seamlessly into the Township’s evolving identity as an inclusive environment.

Further down the avenue, 8th & Ash Collective is helping define what modern local retail can look like. The shop features a rotating mix of artisans from New Jersey, Philadelphia, and New York, offering everything from handmade jewelry and pottery to books, artwork, and apparel. By platforming other creators, it ends up being not just a retail space but a celebration of local artists.

8th & Ash has monthly pop-ups, workshops, and a growing list of vendors, and the store has quickly built a following. Plans for expansion and new offerings—including additional maker space and interactive elements—signal something important: demand is strong for creative environments, and the community is showing up.

Located within the newer Haddon Towne Center development, Superbloom Bake Shoppe adds another layer to the Township's foodie era. They specialize in custom cakes and decorated sugar cookies, but what’s drawing people in are the events—cookie decorating classes, charcuterie workshops, and family-friendly experiences like Mommy & Me tea.

It’s the kind of business that turns a quick visit into a planned outing, and that shift matters when we're all desperate for third spaces, and ways to get involved in the local community.

Royal Mile Coffee Roasters wasn’t new to the area, but its relocation to Haddon Towne Center from the White Horse Pike marks a meaningful upgrade for the Township’s core.

Founded as a passion project and now a well-established local brand, Royal Mile brings small-batch, thoughtfully sourced coffee into a more central, visible location (and is helpfully walkable to the thousands of residents at Haddon Towne Center—smart move, RM!).

Coffee shops are often the backbone of walkable downtowns; they're places people return to multiple times a week, naturally boosting foot traffic for surrounding businesses. Royal Mile’s presence helps tie the newer development into the broader Haddon Ave ecosystem.

Beyond these recent openings, there’s a broader sense that Haddon Township is in a steady phase of reinvestment. Not just one-off shops, but a consistent pipeline of activity.

There’s been a noticeable uptick in businesses leaning into events and community programming—something you’re seeing clearly with places like 8th & Ash and Superbloom. Monthly pop-ups, workshops, and seasonal events are becoming the norm, not the exception. That shift matters because it keeps people coming back regularly instead of just visiting once.

On the retail side, Haddon Township continues to attract independent concepts over chains, which helps preserve the character of the avenue. And with several storefronts turning over in the past year, there’s an expectation locally that more announcements are likely on the way—especially as demand for small, walkable downtowns across South Jersey continues to grow.

There’s also the broader context: towns like Collingswood and Haddonfield have already proven how valuable a strong downtown can be, both culturally and economically. Haddon Township is clearly following that trajectory, but doing it in its own way, with a mix of creative retail, food, and community-focused spaces.

All of this small business momentum isn’t just good for weekend plans... it’s directly tied to what’s happening with home values in Haddon Township.

Walkable downtowns have become one of the biggest drivers of demand in South Jersey real estate, especially for buyers priced out of Philadelphia or neighboring towns like Haddonfield and Collingswood. And Haddon Township is increasingly checking the same boxes: local coffee shops, boutique retail, community events, and a main street where you can actually spend time.

That kind of environment tends to push values steadily upward. Buyers aren’t just looking at square footage anymore; they’re looking at lifestyle. Being a short walk from Haddon Ave, grabbing coffee at Royal Mile or Koupa Espresso Bar, spending a Saturday at local shops and events, or evenings at Reunion Hall and Tacconelli's Pizzeria carries real weight when people are deciding where to live.

Of course, rising demand comes with trade-offs. As more people look to move into Haddon Township, affordability can become a concern, particularly for first-time buyers. But from a broader perspective, what’s happening now is a sign of a town gaining traction—not just as a place to pass through, but as a place people are actively choosing to invest in and stay long-term.

Haddon Township’s growth isn’t loud, but it’s consistent, and that’s what makes it sustainable. The latest openings along Haddon Ave aren’t just new places to shop or grab coffee, but instead they’re part of a broader shift toward a more connected, experience-driven downtown. And if the past year is any indication, this small business momentum isn’t slowing down anytime soon.

If you've got questions about buying in Haddon Township, or want to sell your Haddon Township home, begin with the form below, and one of our top Haddon Township real estate agents will be in touch.