1 top.jpg

The Freetown Cafe, a vegan-friendy restaurant at 41 Halsey Street in Newark, NJ. 08/26/2016 (Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media)

(Steve Hockstein/Harvard Studio.c)

NEWARK -- 2016 has been a banner year for lunch in downtown Newark. The city has seen a flurry of openings and announcements about casual dining options coming soon to the Brick City.

Newark economic leaders say the new businesses are not only a way to give residents and visitors more dining options during the day, but are also signs of the revitalization of the downtown area.

"Newark is just taking off...there are so many good things happening in the city," Scott Blow, the president and acting chief executive officer at the Newark Community Economic Development Corporation, told NJ Advance Media in a phone interview Thursday.

Referencing new residential, open space, mixed use, and commercial developments in the works in the state's largest city, Blow said various developments and market forces are combining to make Newark a more attractive city to business investors.

"Historically, Newark has been a commuter city," he said. "The goal is to create a 24-hour city." With other developments coming online, and real estate prices on the rise in New York City and Hudson County, "the opportunities (for new businesses) are here," he said.

Casual dining restaurateurs have been capitalizing on all of the buzz. Amid a sweep of new downtown eatery openings this year was also a slew of announcements about ones that are on the way. Some of the new spots include:

The Halal Guys

You know it's official when our #ComingSoon windows are up! Don't be shy, like it says, follow us on IG and FB to stay connected. #thehalalguysnewark Posted by The Halal Guys on Tuesday, December 13, 2016

The franchise, which started as a food cart in Manhattan in 1990, is gearing up for the launch of its latest location, on Halsey Street. The Newark spot, which is reportedly opening next week, comes on the heels of the first N.J. Halal Guys, which opened in East Brunswick in May. The company says it plans many more New Jersey locations as part of a global brand expansion.

Grabbagreen

Today we welcomed our newest restaurant and business partner Grabbagreen Newark to #Newark. Located in the Prudential ‘Shoppes on Broad’ as part of the revitalization downtown. Founded in 2013 by two moms who found it increasingly difficult to feed their family’s healthy food on the go, Grabbagreen’s Eat Clean menu is preservative-free, naturally gluten-free and GMO free. The whole food menu is based on super food ingredients and offers a full selection of grain and green-based bowls with fresh hormone-free and antibiotic-free proteins provided by LOCAL farms, fresh-pressed juice, handcrafted smoothies and acai bowls, breakfast and healthy kid-friendly items. We are proud of #GrabbaGreen for hiring most of its staff with Newark residents and also paying them above the minimum wage. These are the type of business partnerships we are proud of and encourage in our city. Thank you again for inviting me to participate in your grand opening. The food was amazing and as promised, I will be back for more. #WeAreNewark #NewarkOnTheRise Grabbagreen Posted by Ras J. Baraka on Monday, December 12, 2016

City officials gathered at Prudential's 'Shoppes on Broad' Monday to officially welcome Grabbagreen's first location in the Northeast. Founded by two moms in 2013, the company aims to make fast food healthy by offering a clean eating menu featuring foods from local farms.

"It's right up my ally. I need a place like this, I'm a vegetarian," Mayor Ras Baraka said in a video he posted on Facebook welcoming the new eatery. "It's exactly what we're trying to do...(bring) a variety of different businesses to our city."

Barcade

Barcade. (Jersey Journal file photo)

The trendy chain that features craft beers and vintage arcade games is set to appear before the Planning Board early next year about a new location on Broad Street.

"We are really excited about the opportunities in downtown Newark," Barcade's CEO and co-founder Paul Kermizian told NJ Advance Media. "There's a lot of opportunity to have more nightlife because people are coming into downtown or they are working there."

Redd's Biergarten

Redd's in Newark. (Courtesy Redd's)

Redd's - the company behind the restaurant and bar outside MetLife Stadium - opened a new concept outside the Prudential Center in May. Part of the "restaurant row" developing between Broad and Mulberry Streets, Redd's owners said they hoped to capitalize on visitors who go to Newark to visit the Rock, NJPAC, and other attractions in the area, and are looking for a fun place to eat.

Freetown Cafe

Nataki, Kwane and Kanika Williams, owners of the Freetown Cafe, a vegan-friendy restaurant at 41 Halsey Street in Newark, NJ. 08/26/2016 (Steve Hockstein | For NJ Advance Media)

For a Caribbean flair, downtown Newark eaters can try Freetown, which Jamaican-American siblings Kwame, Kanika and Nataki Williams opened on Halsey Street this summer. The family opened up shop in Newark after success with Vital Dining in Montclair.

Porto Station Grill

This eatery on Market Street celebrated its grand opening in October. Adding to the famed Portuguese cuisine offerings available in the city's Ironbound district, Porto Station does Portuguese with an Italian twist. The upscale grill and bar serves breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks and coffee.

TBD Marcus Samuelsson Project

Marcus Samuelsson.

The celebrity TV chef announced last month that he is planning a new concept to open inside the redeveloped former Hahne's department store, a complex that will also be home to the city's first Whole Foods. Though details on the restaurant have yet to be worked out, it could open as early as next year. It will likely be the first of several eateries to open inside that development, and several others starting to take shape downtown.

The influx of restaurants in the area, Blow said, shows that Newark "is becoming a destination." People may come for the Devils game or concert performance, but now, they can stay for the eats.

Jessica Mazzola may be reached at

. Follow her on Twitter

. Find

.