The Rahway Art Hive will host a gala opening Thursday from 6 to 11 p.m. to open its new space on Main Street, coinciding with the Arts District‘s monthly First Thursdays event.

The art studio and co-op gallery will be three times as big as its former home on East Cherry Street and expand to eight artists. The former camera shop sign has been replaced with a colorful mural above the Main Street storefronts.

A few years ago, there was some talk about possibly bringing an upscale, sit-down Chinese restaurant into the space, when Main Street Barber Shop moved next door after Sound-A-Rama was subdivided.