Places in Union County, NJ

From online databases to local history resources to practice test, the Rahway Public Library has a vast array of digital and electronic sources. Find an obituary, read old newspapers, or research a topic all without leaving your home.

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As a tavern and stagecoach stop, this early 19th-century hotel was the scene of auctions, public meetings, elections, business transactions, entertainment, horse breeding and a host of other activities. The handsome Federal-style inn contains a taproom, two parlors, 12 bedrooms, and a kitchen wing with a working fireplace.

Originally a house and store, the 1790s structure was adapted to tavern use in 1798. A circa-1820 addition created the imposing building that stands today, its four stories making it a rare example of an early public house.

The smaller, mid-18th-century Terrill Tavern was moved to the property in the 1970s, where it now stands as the museum shop.

Listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places
Owned and operated by the Merchants and Drovers Tavern Museum Association

Featuring:
• Restored early 19th-century hotel
• Period rooms furnished with antiques
• First-person accounts of the early 1800s
• Exhibits about tavern life and stagecoach transportation
• Tavern yard restoration

For Hours: merchantsanddrovers.org or call (732) 381-0441

Photo By KForce at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=17957460

Construction began on the one-room school house in 1844, on the property of Jacob R. Shotwell, a former Vice President of RSI Bank. The primary funding, support and oversight for the school came from the Society of Friends (Quakers), who had a history of supporting persons of color. The Friends paid the school’s expenses and the salary of Miss Martha (Matilda) Putnam, who served as both teacher and principal.

The school had an average enrollment of 35 students, and eventually received financial support from state public education funds. In 1882, the school was integrated, and by the mid 1880s, it closed.

In the years that followed, Ms. Lucy H. Eddy, a local philanthropist from the neighborhood established the “Rahway School for Colored Children Trust Fund” that helped to preserve books and artifacts left from the school. These items are currently being stored at the Rahway Library, but will serve as the basis for the restoration and the holdings of the newly envisioned African-American History and Heritage Center of Rahway, NJ.

This site is sponsored by the Ebenezer AME Church. However, it is currently not open to the public.

For further info:.ebenezeramechurch.com or call (732) 382-0541

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Our Food
Chef’s culinary vision is modern American gourmet comfort food done exceptionally well. With an atmosphere as inviting and comfortable as the Irving Inn, the food most certainly follows suit.

Our Drinks
Have a local craft beer from our tap. Try our inspiring handcrafted old-fashioned cocktails, or sip fine Bourbon or Rye from a curated collection of American whiskeys. If wine’s your thing, you’re in luck, we have a cellar full of bottles or you can get just a glass.

Ahh, The Waiting Room. Since 1979 we have provided a welcome respite for the forlorn and weary citizens of the world. The Waiting Room offers a safe haven from the insanity that is modern day life.

Whether you are waiting for a train, waiting for a ride, waiting for an answer, or waiting for someone to come along and change your life; The Waiting Room is the perfect place to fall back, relax, consider your options; and decide how to attack the rest of your life. So when the time comes for agonizing reappraisal, or just a nice cold beer, we’ll be here. . .waiting on you.

So what are you waiting for? Get over here and enjoy our lively atmosphere, delicious dishes, wide selection of cold beers, and very tasty mixed cocktails. Nestled in the heart of downtown Rahway, The Waiting Room is Union County’s legendary restaurant and bar, providing a sanctuary for all who pass through.

The Union County Performing Arts Center’s Mainstage is housed in the restored “Rahway Theatre” – which has resided in Downtown Rahway since 1928. This historic landmark has become the centerpiece of the recently established arts district of Rahway, New Jersey, which has played a vital role in the revitalization and cultural renaissance of the community.

The magic of this venue lies in the heart of the facility; a restored vaudeville theater and silent movie palace that has stood the test of time and an ever-changing world around it. Like many of its fellow historic sites and theaters, it remains a monument to an era past while still contributing to the community’s future.

One of the most astounding pieces of the theater is its original Wurlitzer organ. This grand instrument was the foundation of the preservation effort in which the arts center emerged from. Since the 1960s (when it was first restored), the organ was played regularly – and frequently recorded on by notable organists and practicing volunteers at the center. The piece’s enormous sound compared against its small size has coined the moniker “Biggest Little Wurlitzer” amongst its peers.

The Mainstage is listed in both state and national registers of historic sites, and is now operating as a multipurpose venue for the performing arts. It is the largest center for the performing arts in Union County.

The facility is run by a non-profit organization staffed by professional, hard-working employees and is supported by an outstanding volunteer corps and its local community of residents.

UCPAC’s Hamilton Stage is your destination for original, fresh, and brilliantly re-imagined works of theater, dance, music, film and more!

The grand opening of the facility was hosted in September 2012. Hamilton Stage has been forging ahead with over 150 performances each year.

The space hosts an extraordinary group of performers and affiliates, and presents a full roster of concerts, plays, ballets, readings, art galleries, benefits and classes – featuring a vast blend of local and international talent.

The opening of Hamilton Stage was a significant expansion of the nonprofit UCPAC organization, which governs and operates Hamilton Stage as part of its growing campus of performance venues.

The stage features:

-A 199-seat theater, home to RSI Bank’s Bösendorfer grand piano
-The 75-seat Fazioli Room
-The 30-seat Classroom/Multipurpose Room
-The 1,400 square foot lobby, with gallery installations and a concessions area

Built in 2008, the Loft at UCPAC is located on the 2nd floor addition of the UCPAC Mainstage. The Loft is a versatile, intimate black box performance space and rehearsal studio.

The entrance to the Loft is located in the rear of UCPAC’s Mainstage theater, accessible from the back parking lot which borders West Main Street.

Sharing the same building as its historic predecessor, this black box-style venue has held a multitude of performances including live acoustic sets, jam sessions, stage plays, recitals and classes.

A handful of theater companies have made their home in this space, as the layout of the seating and stage bring a delightfully intimate experience to both ticket holders and performers. Hosting an audience of anywhere from thirty to seventy members, the stepped risers and wrapped seating of the space present the perfect setting for any performance group.

Peru has an amazing cuisine, one that has evolved from both local and immigrant traditions. Foods that were prepared by ancient civilizations are still enjoyed today, while typical Peruvian dishes also benefit from European, African and Asian influences.

La Malinche Restaurant is an authentic Mexican food restaurant located in downtown Rahway.

Step into Rahway’s newest dining spot, Cubanu, and enter a place where Old Havana meets a vibrant, fresh Cuban-American sensibility. This new restaurant and lounge promises to infuse the rapidly gentrifying downtown area of Rahway with a sophisticated Latin presence that respects tradition, but presents it in a sparkling, modish fashion.

Whether you crave a mojito, sangria, or a just simple cerveza, it’s a great way to begin your Cubanu experience. You’ll discover a full menu that pays homage to classic dishes with a defined Cuban accent and its own unique flair that’s sure to intrigue.

We are a small family run restaurant dedicated to serving the freshest and best tasting Sushi and Sashimi, Japanese and a few Korean dishes. Come in for a meal or order take out. Start with our Kani Salad and Shrimp Tempura appetizer then try our Rahway roll (eel, shrimp tempura, spicy salmon, avocado, masago, crunchy flakes) or other assorted Rolls and Sushi or try one of our generous Bento Boxes or Korean meals like Bulgogi (marinated sliced sirloin) or Hot Stone Bibimbap (assorted seasoned vegetables, fried egg over rice with beef, chicken or tofu).

This classic Vaudeville house opened as the Rahway Theater on
October 16, 1928 and featured a magnificent Wurlitzer pipe organ.
This organ was the catalyst for the preservation effort from which the 1,300-seat Arts Center emerged. Carefully restored to its golden age of grandeur, the Arts Center is a monument to an age gone by.

The Rahway Theatre organ’s 600+ pipes were installed in two lofts on both sides of the proscenium to heighten the sound. During WWII, many organs were scrapped, their metal donated to the war effort. This organ miraculously survived the arrival of sound movies and continues to be used for concerts and movies. Once one of almost 1,000 theater organs in New Jersey, it is now one of 11.

The Union County Performing Arts Center is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation operating in the historic Rahway Theatre. Enjoying a prime location in Union County, UCPAC is dedicated to making this landmark theatre your choice for the performing arts — for education, inspiration and entertainment. This historic landmark is the cornerstone of the Rahway Arts District.

Listed on the National and State Registers of Historic Places
Operated by the Union County Performing Arts Center, Inc.

Featuring:
• Historic marquee with 2,500 lights
• Restored orchestra pit
• 9-foot chandelier with over 500 lights
• The “Biggest Little Wurlitzer” organ

For Hours: ucpac.org or call Admin. Office: (732) 499-0441 or
Box Office: (732) 499-8226. Tours available by appointment.

Photo By PeterMac13 – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=28131091