The first people to fill District Drive at The Park this fall will be there for a costume contest for dogs. The Halloween Dog Parade is on Sunday, October 25, from 10 a.m. to noon, and its listed venue is District Drive in Berkeley Heights, at "The Park (formerly Connell Corporate Park)." That is the same street where the new restaurants, the brewery and the duckpin bowling venue are being built. As of October 9, none of them has opened.
The restaurants are running late. The rest of The Park is not. The 185-acre campus has a three-mile trail, a seven-acre public grove and an established restaurant, all open now. If you have been waiting for the restaurant district to open before you go, that wait could run into winter. The open space and the event calendar are already there.
How the Opening Date Kept Moving
In March, the opening date sounded close. A PR Newswire release on March 10, 2026 announced a wave of retail and dining tenants "ahead of summer 2026 grand opening." The next day, Shopping Center Business reported that several of those tenants were expected to open in July. Jersey Digs wrote on March 23 that six openings were expected starting in July 2026.
Here is how the timeline has moved since then:
- March 2026: July openings for the first group of tenants.
- April 23, 2026: Boschetto signs for a second location, with a fall opening planned.
- July 27, 2026:The UC Scoop says Four Spoons Ice Cream Co. and Doner Shack are "set to open this summer," with Cafe Exchange and Boschetto to follow in the fall.
- Now: The developer's dining page shows "Opening in Phases August 2026" over the upcoming concepts, but none of them lists actual hours yet. The tenant pages say "Coming Soon," and Prime IV's says "TBD."
- Latest stated windows: Emberside Brewery's page now says "Opening Winter 2026." Dogtopia's location page, updated September 18, says "Late Fall 2026."
Large mixed-use projects open in phases, and some delay is normal. The problem for anyone planning a weekend is that the summer date is still what most people repeat. The developer's own pages now point to fall and winter.
What's Actually Open at The Park Right Now
The Park's FAQ says the campus is open to the public year-round, "parks, trails, eateries and more." Leashed dogs are allowed in the outdoor public areas. The campus has parking, including EV charging stations, and the FAQ describes the whole campus as walkable and bike friendly. The parts you can use this month:
- The Trail. A three-mile loop around the edge of the 185-acre campus, with seating along the way. The sports courts and the Trout Playground are still labeled "Coming Soon."
- The South Grove. A seven-acre public park with an open amphitheatre, seating, and outdoor areas for working and eating.
- Grain & Cane. At 250 Connell Drive, next to the Embassy Suites. It serves seasonal American food at brunch, lunch and dinner, plus beer, wine and cocktails. Posted hours are 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday. It is part of Table & Banter Hospitality, and Chef Louis Bayla is the executive chef.
- Starbucks at the Embassy Suites. A full-service store you can enter from the parking lot or the hotel lobby.
Two things you may see online are not open to the general public right now. Table & Banter Market, on the second floor at 300 Connell Drive, is part of the FIELDHOUSE membership. Its page doesn't mention walk-in access for non-members. Dogs Among People, the off-leash dog park, is a members-only club in the North Grove, which The Park describes as a future expansion. On your own visit, your dog can go anywhere outdoors on a leash, but the dog park requires a membership.
The Lawn's status is unclear. Its page describes a gathering space on District Drive with year-round programming and ice skating in winter. The District Drive plan, though, still marks it "Opening fall 2026." Check before you plan around it.
October's Calendar Is the Most Reliable Schedule
The tenant pages give seasons. The ParkLife events listing gives actual dates. For the rest of October it shows:
- Mandala Meditation, October 13
- Sound Bath Meditation, October 14
- Grazing for Gatherings: Charcuterie Board Workshop, October 21
- Halloween Dog Parade at The Park, October 25
The dog parade is the first one The Park has held. The three most creative costumes win. There will be lawn games, plus food and drinks for sale. Registration is free with a complimentary ticket, and you can sign up on the day. You don't need a dog to come watch. Questions go to [email protected].
The listing doesn't show any November or December dates yet, and no holiday market has been announced. Over the next two months, the events listing and the tenant pages are the two places to watch.
The Tenant List, With Each Latest Stated Window
Each entry below shows the newest status from the developer's or tenant's own page. These are forecasts, not confirmed opening dates.
Tenant | What it is | Latest stated status |
|---|---|---|
Four Spoons Ice Cream Company | Rotating classic and seasonal ice cream flavors, plus frozen yogurt | Hours "Coming Soon"; summer target has passed |
Doner Shack | Berlin-style beef doner and chicken shawarma kebabs | Hours "Coming Soon" |
Cafe Exchange | Two-story social café for coffee, wine and books | Fall 2026; hours "Coming Soon" |
Boschetto | Fast-casual regional Italian; second location after Montclair | Fall 2026; hours "Coming Soon" |
Rosa Azul MexiDiner | Mexican restaurant and bar | "Coming Soon" |
Rosa Azul Taquería | Quick-service Mexican | "Coming Soon" |
BASH | Speakeasy-style duckpin bowling with open-flame steak and wood-fired pizza | "Coming Soon" |
Emberside Brewery | Brewery at 800 District Drive | "Opening Winter 2026" |
Dogtopia | Dog daycare, boarding and spa at 500 District Drive #6 | "Late Fall 2026" |
Greatness Wins | Athletic apparel flagship | Hours "Coming Soon" |
Prime IV Hydration & Wellness | IV hydration and wellness | Hours "TBD" |
Some of these tenants are planned to share space and serve the same visitors. Emberside's page describes the brewery as next to District Garden and Rosa Azul Taqueria, pairing its beer with tacos from next door. Emberside's family history goes back more than 50 years, to supplying rice to brewers, and the brewery opens five generations later. If those businesses open around the same time, that end of District Drive should come together quickly. If they open months apart, it won't.
Dogtopia sits close to the dog parade route on the map and on the calendar. The parade is on District Drive on October 25. Dogtopia's own page lists 500 District Drive and says "Late Fall 2026." The dog crowd is getting an early introduction to the street.
Planning a Visit Before the Restaurants Open
For an October weekend, start with the parts of the campus that are open. Walk all or part of the three-mile Trail. Spend time in the South Grove. Have lunch or an early dinner at Grain & Cane, which is open both days of the weekend. The Starbucks at the Embassy Suites is there for a coffee before the walk. If you have a dog, bring a leash and a costume for the 25th.
If you're waiting for an ice cream or kebab stop on District Drive, Four Spoons and Doner Shack are the ones to watch. They were the first two promised for summer, and the July 27 UC Scoop still had them first in line. Emberside's page already points to winter.
Opening dates at a project like The Park affect more than weekend plans. They change how a part of Berkeley Heights is used, and buyers tend to ask about them. If you would like to talk about how the build-out on the former Connell campus could figure into your own Berkeley Heights real estate plans for the coming year, Richa Garg is glad to go through it with you. Book an Appointment whenever it suits you.
