The Ave is Downtown Vineland. But it’s much more than just a collection of buildings and businesses. It’s a vibrant and thriving community that is the heart of Vineland.
From locally-owned shops and restaurants to cultural events and natural beauty, The Ave has something for everyone.
Make The Ave Your Third Place
Third Place refers to the social surroundings that are separate from the two usual social environments of home – “first place” and the workplace – “second place”.
The Ave in Downtown Vineland wants to be your Third Place. The Ave offers a vibrant and inviting atmosphere where you can meet up, relax, and connect with friends and family. With its diverse range of local businesses, and engaging events, The Ave provides a welcoming space for people of all ages, whether you’re looking for a great lunch or dinner spot, a unique shopping experience, or just a place to meet friends, The Ave has everything you need to make it your Third Place.
Hot Topics On The Ave
Join us for a fun-filled afternoon at our annual Pumpkin Patch Party.
Our annual Pumpkin Patch Party brings the community together to celebrate the fall harvest season. This event attracts hundreds of children and parents for a few hours of good, clean, wholesome holiday fun, games, and fellowship. We’ll have a DJ who provides a dance party atmosphere while children age 14 and under enjoy painting pumpkins and other games and activities. It is a wonderful family day in our Mini-Park at the corner of the Boulevard and Landis Avenue.
What’s more, you’ll be back home in plenty of time for trick-or-treating later
Now in its 14th year, the Taste of Vineland will take place on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Greenview Inn at Eastlyn Golf Course. This year’s event is generously sponsored by Levari Industries.
Guests will have the opportunity to sample a wide array of signature dishes—including appetizers, main courses, and desserts—from some of Vineland’s best restaurants. In addition to the delicious food, the evening will feature a silent auction and other exciting attractions.
“I can assure you, no one will leave hungry!” said Russell Swanson, Executive Director of Main Street Vineland.
The event will also celebrate the dedicated volunteers and community partners who have been instrumental to Main Street Vineland’s success over the past year. Awards will be presented for “Volunteer of the Year” and “Community Partner of the Year.”
This year’s honorees are:
Volunteer of the Year: Heidi DeBartolomeis, for her years of commitment to events like the Pumpkin Patch Party, Christmas Parade, Food Truck Festival, and volunteering for community efforts, cleanup of City Parks, and efforts to beautify our city.
Community Partners of the Year: Jacob Colon, Alyssa Giercyk, and Kaelin Zheng, for their efforts in promoting our downtown district events and spotlights on our businesses by creating videos for our social media accounts.
Tickets are $45 per person and are available for purchase online here or at the Main Street Vineland office. Tables of 10 may be reserved.
Main Street Vineland is also inviting local restaurants to participate by showcasing a sampling of their food to the more than 200 expected guests. Additional sponsorship opportunities and ad space in the event program book are also available on our website.
Indian Cuisine isn’t something most people would consider a staple in Vineland. Diwan Grill is here to change that. When the owner, Sanjeev Kumardub, decided to move his restaurant from Brooklyn, NY to Downtown Vineland, he saw an opportunity to show off in a virtually untapped market.
VDID staff were invited to Diwan Grill last month to sample both classic and contemporary Indian dishes. Here’s what we learned: Indian is one of the most flavorful cuisines in the world. Here’s some of the dishes we tried that are perfect for your first experience at Diwan Grill. When you’re ready, order online at diwangrillnj.com and receive 20% off your first order!
Appetizers: Samosas, Garlic Shrimp, and Smoked Chicken Wings
It should be a rule that every first-timer at an Indian restaurant should have to try the Samosas. A Samosa is a crispy fried turnover filled with seasoned potatoes and peas. Like french fries, it’s hard to resist eating the whole basketful, and the two sauces that came with them – a cilantro chutney and a sweet tamarind sauce – complete the flavor roller coaster. For something a little more familiar that introduces Indian flavor, the Garlic Shrimp and Smoked Chicken Wings are delicious appetizers.
Deep cut: Papdi Chaat is a famous Indian street food snack that combines crunchy fried crackers with soft potatoes, chickpeas, cool yogurt, and flavorful sweet-and-tangy sauces. Choose this for a super authentic appetizer loaded with flavor.
See more from our visit to Diwan Grill on our Instagram here
Entrees: Chicken Tikka Masala and Butter Chicken
These two are the perfect introductory dishes for anyone new to Indian cuisine. Both are creamy, tomato-based curries featuring marinated chicken, but with slightly different flavors. Butter Chicken heavily relies on butter and heavy cream for a smooth and somewhat sweet sauce. Chicken Tikka uses more tomato and onion to create a tangier cream sauce with hints of warm Indian spices. Serve over jasmine rice and add a side of naan (Indian flatbread) for dipping and you’re in for a delicious experience!
Deep Cut: Chicken Kali Mirch is a creamy, pepper-forward North Indian and Pakistani chicken curry made with a rich cashew-yogurt gravy and plenty of freshly crushed black pepper. Like heat? You can choose to “spice up” any dish when ordering online at Diwan Grill
Discover more great Downtown food finds on our Facebook page
Entrees: Kheer (rice pudding) and Mango Lassi
Living in Jersey, the diner capital of the world, most people know rice pudding. Kheer is a traditional South Asian variation of rice pudding that stands out through its unique use of aromatic spices, slow-simmered whole milk, and other flavor-packed mix-ins. A cultural twist on something very familiar. Mango Lassi, a beverage, is most easily compared to a fruit smoothie, made by blending ripe mangoes, yogurt, milk, and a touch of sugar or spices like cardamom. Perfect for summer time!
Downtown Vineland prides itself on being a cultural hub for the city, offering food and retail options that represent the various heritages that make up our citizenry. Diwan Grill is a great addition to Downtown and we hope you think of them next time you want to try something new.
