Newark’s Akwaaba Gallery Turns Former Skyfall Lounge Into 9,000-SF Arts Hub

• Studio Lofts LLC, affiliated with Akwaaba Gallery, is redeveloping the former Skyfall VIP Lounge at 166-170 Littleton Avenue in Newark’s West Ward.
• The approximately 9,000-square-foot project will include 3,000 square feet of gallery space, 10 private artist studios, creative support areas, and three apartments in a separate building.
• Studio Lofts acquired the property for $755,000 in January 2024. Construction is expected to wrap by year-end 2026.

Former VIP Lounge Gets New Life as an Arts Destination

Construction is underway at the former Skyfall VIP Lounge in Newark’s West Ward, where Studio Lofts LLC is transforming the property into a new home for Akwaaba Gallery. Located at 166-170 Littleton Avenue near University Hospital, the 9,000-square-foot development will combine art exhibition space, artist studios, and residential units. The project brings a new use to a property that had been a source of distress, while adding a creative destination to the neighborhood. The gallery’s new facility is expected to be completed by the end of 2026.

 

 

Gallery Space, Studios, and Three Apartments

The development will include approximately 3,000 square feet of gallery and exhibition space, 10 private artist studios, and additional support and creative areas. Three apartments are planned in a separate building on the same lot, adding a residential component to the project. Laura Bonas Palmer, co-owner and director of Akwaaba Gallery, said the redevelopment is a personal investment in the neighborhood:

“We are taking a property that was once a source of distress and giving it new life, new purpose, and the opportunity to become a source of neighborhood pride.”

Palmer also said the gallery’s existing location at 509 South Orange Avenue will be leased to commercial tenants after the gallery moves.

$755K Acquisition Backed by Public and Private Financing

Studio Lofts LLC acquired the Littleton Avenue property in January 2024 for $755,000, according to Essex County property records. The site previously traded for $340,000 in May 2018. The project received a pre-construction grant from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority, which covered approximately half of pre-construction costs. New Jersey Community Capital provided acquisition financing, helping establish the financial foundation for the redevelopment. The city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment approved the project before the latest construction milestone. The gallery’s development is part of a broader effort to support Newark’s creative community and bring cultural activity into neighborhood properties.

A Community-Focused Redevelopment

Akwaaba Gallery opened seven years ago and focuses on contemporary art, including work by emerging and established artists from diverse and historically underrepresented communities. The new facility will expand its exhibition capacity while providing private studios for artists. For real estate investors, the project illustrates how an underused commercial property can be repositioned through a mix of cultural, creative, and residential uses. Its relatively modest scale combines neighborhood-oriented programming with a new revenue-generating residential component. Studio Lofts is converting a former nightlife property into a lasting arts destination, backed by public grant support and acquisition financing, with completion expected by the end of 2026.