Vineland Convention Center Hosting First Events in November
Published 10/18/25
The new Vineland Convention Center will host their first events in November, and exciting news for Wander Back Beerworks…who will be opening in a portion of the Vineland City owned building in 2026!
The Vineland Convention Center is opening on Landis Avenue in a two-story 40,00 0sf space which was originally developed in 1958 as Newberry Department Store. After 40 years at the location Newberry closed in 1997. More recently, folks remember the property as the Landis Marketplace and Amish Market, and for several years it functioned as an independent movie studio. The City of Vineland acquired the property in 2015.
The Vineland Convention Center hosts their first event in November!
Earlier this month I got a tour of the 40,000 square foot space by Stephanie Berge who is part of the management team leading the efforts in building-out and operating the Vineland Convention Center space, as well as Chris Henke who is one of the three partners in Wander Back Beerworks Brewery.
The building features large glass frontage on Landis Avenue, but just like the original department store design the main entrance for the Convention Center aspects will be in the rear with its associated parking lot.
Vineland Convention Center
The Vineland Convention Center was officially announced in March of this year with a target for a Fall opening…which will be next month when the VCC hosts the Garden State Comic Fest the weekend of November 15th. The immediate following weekend they host the Philly Vintage Flea.
The Convention Center location places it in the heart of the Vineland’s downtown Landis Ave retail and commercial district, and will offer a modern flexible convention space with a design that support events of many sizes.
Being developed on both floors, the Vineland Convention Center can host larger events across the entire facility, or even make one of the floors available depending on the client’s needs.
As mentioned the main entrance will be in the back which gives direct access to both levels, as well as an associated parking lot.
While most will likely remember the retail store aspects of the space, as recently is 18 months ago the building was touted as an independent Movie Studio operated by the CEO of satire magazine Weekly World News! In March 2024 they were featured in New Jersey Monthly Magazine.
Meanwhile, Stephanie was working within the Vineland area hotel industry, and wanting to find reasons for folks to come visit Vineland and stay at the hotels (and dine in are restaurants), she felt the Landis Marketplace space would be perfect as a regional convention center…drawing in visitors from South Jersey and beyond, who would spend money in Vineland.
Not only did Vineland City love her idea, she soon found herself in a leadership role in converting the space into the Convention Center, working with event tenants and continuing her involvement going forward to operate the facility!
Even before they construction was competed, Stephanie and the City are doing a great job signing on events!
November 15th, the VCC is hosting the Garden State Comic Fest featuring a variety of vendors and celebrity autograph opportunities including famous Eagle’s Player Vince Papale!
A week later on November 22nd the Vineland Convention Center hosts the Philly Vintage Flea, which is an enormous vintage clothing event!
In December, Vineland will be having their Olde Fashioned Christmas on the Avenue community event, with the Vineland Convention Center as the centerpiece!
Stephanie tells me for February they already have a Sneaker Convention signed on as well as a Reptile show…and in June a Sports Card Show is signed on!
This is an impressive calendar already, considering the facility is just opening next month. Check the Vineland Event page for the latest on events at the Convention Center, Landis Theater and more!
Wander Back Beer Works Vineland
Wander Back Beer Works beers can already be found in area liquor stores and bars, developing a loyal following for their Wander Back Lager, Breeze Summer Lager, Wētā Pilsner and more.
Wander Back Beerworks brewery was founded by three veterans of the brewing industry – Christopher Henke, a founder of Cape May Brewing Company; Brian Hink, Cape May’s original Head Brewer; and Justin Vitti, CMBC’s former General Manager of Sales and Distribution.
Wander Back Beerworks will be opening on Landis Ave in Vineland
Back in March the Wander Back team was originally approved to develop a tasting room and Brewery as part of the Vineland Landis theater complex.
The City of Vineland also owns the theater which is already home to 830east bar & restaurant, which is located on the second floor of the theater building.
As plans started moving forward for the Vineland Convention Center project, the idea came up that maybe the Wander Back Beerworks Brewery would be better situated a few blocks away as part of the Convention Center complex?!
Consider that with both the theater and the convention center drawing in visitors to Vineland from South Jersey and beyond, having 830east at one location, and Wander Back at the other just started to make a lot of sense. Not only would the bar and the brewery each have their own directly associated larger destination venue, it extends the walkability of visits to Vineland as visitors make the extra effort of “Hey lets walk down to check out…”
It’s a perfect location to be able to utilize that front left main entrance as it also has stairs soon after you enter in, which enables Wander Back to take over space on both floors of the building!
With construction of the Convention Center moving faster and events taking place next month, the shell wall of the brewery is being developed right now…as Chris and the team work on the final design for the interior build out.
He knows that the main tasting room bar area will be on the main level, positioned with a perfect view of the large front windows and Landis Ave.
The lower level of Wander Back is expected to feature a different tasting room experience, as well as the brew system area which will be positioned to the back.
While the entire two-story facility will feature Wander Back Beers of course, it’s cool that they’ll be offering two different tasting room vibes…and you’re likely see music be a part of the design and experience.
The Wander Back Beerworks brewery and tasting room design is in the final stages, and they expect construction to start soon…Chris is hoping for an opening near the end of Spring!