Ribbon cutting for Elm Street Plaza in Westfield

WESTFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – An official ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the opening of an outdoor event venue in Westfield.

Dozens showed up to see the first concert from a local band called ‘Whiskey Traveler’. The new plaza is built on the location of the former JJ Newberry’s department store which burned down nearly 40 years ago.

This $1.3 million investment is expected to draw in thousands of people from the region. It will not only host concerts, but also festivals, open-air markets, movie nights, and a variety of community events.

“I think that it is just going to give the community itself a pride, a proudness, an opportunity to just say hey this is what we have here in the city of Westfield, I will meet you down at Elm Street Plaza,” said Westfield Redevelopment Authority Chair, Kathleen Witalisz.

The celebration starts at 5 p.m. and continues throughout the weekend with the RunWestfield 5K and Downtown Kool Down Block Party.

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