New Businesses – Page 10 – Salem Main Streets

Warming Up to Downtown Shopping

New Businesses, Salem Event, Salem Farmers Market, Salem Shopping, SMS News No Responses »

Nov 222014

What do the over 100 restaurants, gift shops, other stores and attractions in Salem Ma have in common right now? Besides good bargains and eclectic choices, they have heat! Temperatures today (Saturday) are not expected to rise beyond the upper 30s. So you can sit at home, or go to a cold impersonal mall — or make Salem a one-stop warm & toasty shopping/dining daytrip destination. (This also applies to Sunday, or for that matter any day you would like to visit.)

But don’t take our word for it. Friday’s Salem Gazette had an article and an interview related to downtown shopping.

In the first of two front page stories, the emphasis was on the lengths North Shore communities (including Salem) go during the holiday season to invite and involve the community in local shopping over malls and big-box stores.

Ethan Hartley wrote “…local businesses in Massachusetts can offer something that you will be hard pressed to find under the bleak, florescent lights of a conglomerate store or a shopping mall — old-fashioned holiday cheer and excitement with an emphasis on building a strong community.”

Community is a key word. Salem Main Streets endeavors to work with our downtown merchants to design and promote events which increase business traffic and cement customer support/loyalty. The second article, an interview by Gregg Phipps with our manager Kylie Sullivan points to one of those projects, the Salem Winter Market.

Is the Winter Market successful in bringing people downtown to shop and do you think more and more people are turning away from mall shopping?

“That’s certainly the hope. There are so many great shops in downtown Salem, and we try really hard to ensure that our vendor offerings at the Winter Market complement rather than compete with the surrounding businesses.”

Kylie went on to explain that as much as the Market brings vendors to downtown Salem, it also creates a community gathering space in downtown Salem where residents and visitors from neighboring towns stop to chat with the vendors, other shoppers and even with merchants in surrounding stores.

Shopping need not be impersonal. It can be fun. The Winter Market will be closed this week in light of Thanksgiving but will be open again on Dec. 4, 11 and 18. Our stores, restaurants and attractions are open now. And the warmth you feel when you go inside comes from the people, as well as the heating vents.

Live From Salem, Mass – It’s Saturday Downtown Events All Day

New Businesses, Salem Dining, Salem Event, Salem Farmers Market No Responses »

Sep 062014

If you picked today to visit Salem, MA, you made an excellent selection. We of course hope you return next month for our Haunted Happenings month-long extravaganza in celebration of all things Halloween, but today offers a diverse menu of selections in our Downtown District.

Get here early enough today (or most likely keep in mind for another Saturday, because you know you’ll be back), there is the Salem Food Tours Saturday Morning Coffee Walk at 9:15am. Get the inside scoop on our great shops, restaurants, downtown Salem and the waterfront area. Ideal for locals and visitors alike. Includes complimentary organic coffee or tea and finishes with local cider tasting (no food tasting on these tours.) Runs approx. 1 hour & 20 minutes. For more info email info@salemfoodtours.com or call 978.594.8811.

Silver Moon Comics & Collectibles is a new comic book theme store having its grand opening in the Museum Place Mall, today & tomorrow. In addition to comics, there will also be figurines, posters, and tie-ins with movies and TV shows related to the industry— as well as guest artists on a regular basis. The store provides discounts to customers with military or Salem State University ID and is receptive to anyone wishing to bring in comics or collectibles to trade or sell. Hours this weekend are 9am – 8pm Saturday and 10am – 7pm Sunday. For more info call 978.594.8641.

The Salem YMCA is hosting its first annual Salem’s Best Chef fundraising event, featuring chefs from Finz, 62 Restaurant and Wine Bar, the Ugly Mug Diner, and Scratch Kitchen. Takes place tonight 6-8 pm in the YMCA’s Ames Hall. The extra interesting aspect of this fundraiser for the Y is that for the competition portion of the event, each chef will be given a basket of secret ingredients, “Chopped” style from— the Salem Farmers’ Market! Tickets are still available. Call 978.740.9622. The YMCA is located at One Sewall street.

Peabody Essex Museum continues to intrigue, amaze and entertain with its selection of exhibits. Today it launches an all day session of events; it is the exclusive East Coast venue for Calder and Abstraction: From Avant-Garde to Iconic. This exhibition brings together 40 sculptures by Alexander Calder, one of the most influential and innovative artists of the 20th century. It will run from Sept. 6 to Jan. 4, 2015.

A menu of some of today’s Downtown events to delight the senses. Just for you from Salem Mass. Enjoy!

Puzzled As To What To Do?

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Jul 292014

Puzzles to the right, puzzles to the left. It’s a puzzling sight. This Friday through Sunday, Aug. 1-3, the Hawthorne Hotel will be THE meeting place for the 12th annual Puzzle Parley.

What is a Puzzle Parley? Since 1994, the Puzzle Parley has brought together people passionate about jigsaw puzzles. Anyone interested in making, collecting, assembling, displaying, discussing, or buying and selling jigsaw puzzles, whether young or old, new or veteran, is invited to attend and participate. Registration is required, check out their website for full details.

These are the firm, wood-cut puzzles rather than the die-cut cardboard type.

According to the National Museum of Play, around 1760, English mapmaker John Spilsbury pasted one of his maps to a board, cut around the borders, and created the first jigsaw puzzle. The first American puzzles appeared around 1850 and in 1908 Parker Brothers introduced its Pastime puzzles, featuring pieces cut as animals, letters, and geometric shapes.

At the 12^th Parley, there will be a special workshop for beginner puzzle cutters, as well as plans for a tour of the First Church of Salem, with special attention to the Parker family stained glass window and its game symbolism. Plus, a panel “How to sell puzzles in the Internet Age, ” a session on restoration, and a session on puzzle box repair.

Why hold this popular event at the Hawthorne? Bob Armstrong, one of the founders of the Parley explained “We’ve had several locations over the years. But we liked the ambiance of the Hawthorne Hotel. It is not a modern ultra sterile building. It has an old-fashioned decor that goes well with vintage puzzles.”

New this year, though, is a Sunday Puzzle Fair. Armstrong explains “Traditionally our meetings concluded with table sales. But we added Sunday 1-3 pm segment to the Parley, free of charge and open to the general public,” to open up the viewing potential.

See both new and vintage wooden jigsaw puzzles.
Peruse the history of jigsaw puzzle cutting.
Sit down, relax and try your hand at assembling different types of wooden jigsaw puzzles.
Chat with other jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts.

Several puzzle cutters and sellers from all over the country who are attending the Parley will be displaying their works. There will be puzzles for sale and exhibits that show the history and diversity of high-end wooden jigsaw puzzles.

Sounds like a typical, change of pace Salem Ma event.

Local Merchants Score On Best of the North Shore

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Jul 082014

Where is one of the great places on the North Shore to get a quick or extended bite to eat (Salem, MA) ? Opinions differ as much as tastes do, (Salem, MA) but according to North Shore Magazine’s readers, many of their favorites (Salem, MA) in the recent Best of North Shore survey are in…. you guessed it, Salem, MA.

And it’s not just food that we scored high in the hearts and minds of BONS responders. Salem establishments in other categories also ranked quite high.

DINE

A&J King – Best Bakery (BONS & Readers’ Choice)

Scratch Kitchen – Best BBQ

The Ugly Mug – Best Breakfast

Red’s – Best Breakfast (Readers’ Choice)

A&B Burgers – Best Burger (Tied? Runner-up? – with Lexie’s on State)

Passage To India – Best Indian (Readers’ Choice)

62 Restaurant – Best Italian

Brodie’s – Best Lobster Roll (Taster’s Choice)

Longboards – Best Lobster Roll (Taster’s Choice)

Grapevine – Best Mediterranean

King’s Roast Beef – Best Roast Beef

Turner’s Seafood – Best Seafood, Prepared

Opus – Best Sushi

Life Alive – Vegetarian (BONS & Readers’ Choice)

DRINK

Tavern in the Square – Best Sports Bar (Readers’ Choice)

INDULGE

A&J King – Bake Shop, Pastry (Readers’ Choice)

Ye Olde Pepper Companie – Best Confectionery

Harbor Sweets – Best Confectionery (Readers’ Choice)

The Cookie Monstah (featured at Salem Farmers’ Market) – Best Cookies

62 Restaurant – Best Dessert

Coffee Time Bake Shop – Best Dessert (Readers’ Choice)

RENEW

Paxton – Best Barber Shop, New School

North Shore Boot Camp Company – Best Boot Camp (and great pic of Brandi Dion!)

Hawthorne Hotel – Best Hotel (Readers’ Choice)

Rouge Cosmetics – Best Makeup Application (BONS & Readers’ Choice)

Yoga Sakti – Best Yoga Studio (Readers’ Choice)

PLAY

Witch City 5K – Best Community Walk/Run (Readers’ Choice)

Kernwood Country Club – Best Country Club (Honorable Mention)

Salem Willows Park – Best Family Hangout, Indoor (Readers’ Choice)

Haunted Happenings – Best Festival, Fall (Readers’ Choice)

Salem Film Fest – Best Festival, Spring

Salem’s So Sweet – Best Festival, Winter (BONS & Readers’ Choice)

CinemaSalem – Best Movie Theater (BONS & Readers’ Choice)

Peabody Essex Museum – Best Museum (BONS & Readers’ Choice), Best Tourist Attraction (Readers’ Choice)

SHOP

Petite Etoile – Best Baby Clothing

Modern Millie – Best Consignment (Readers’ Choice)

Roost – Best Gifts

Rouge – Best Makeup Selection

Mighty Aphrodite – Best Maternity Clothing (BONS & Readers’ Choice)

The Barking Cat – Best Pet Boutique (Readers’ Choice)

Mud Puddle Toys – Best Toy Shop (BONS & Readers’ Choice)

NEST

Tri-City Sales – Best Kitchen Appliances (Readers’ Choice)

Landry & Arcari – Best Rugs (BONS & Readers’ Choice)

LIVE

Admiral Concierge – Best Concierge (Readers’ Choice)

Green Clean – Best Cleaning Service (BONS & Readers’ Choice)

So when you think about going somewhere for food and more, no need to give a second thought. Salem has it all in a convenient package. Don’t take our word for it. Take the word of lots of people on the North Shore.

Salem Assists With Small Business Loan

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Jan 212014

Creating jobs and revitalizing the city’s downtown and eligible neighborhoods is the focal point of the City of Salem’s Small Business Loan Program. Mayor Kimberley Driscoll has recently announced that the City is now accepting applications for financial assistance to small business owners and entrepreneurs through this program, which is funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program.

“The small business loan program has been very successful in helping new and growing businesses to thrive and continues to be an engine for job growth in Salem,” said Mayor Driscoll.

The program provides low-interest loans to qualified entrepreneurs to cover the gap between the amount of financing needed for an economic development project and the amount that conventional lenders can finance.

While there is no maximum amount, typical loans do not exceed $50,000. Applicants meet with the Economic Development staff prior to applying to determine an appropriate loan amount suitable for the program.

Funds are available for acquisition, construction, or rehabilitation of real property and for financing related to the purchase of equipment, fixtures, inventory, leasehold improvements and working capital. Terms and conditions vary.

The city offers three types of loan assistance to eligible businesses and property owners—Microenterprise Assistance, Commercial Revitalization, and Special Economic Development:

Microenterprise Assistance – Microenterprise Assistance Loans benefit low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs by providing low-interest loans to foster their microenterprise business (5 or fewer full-time employees, including the owner).
Commercial Revitalization – Commercial Revitalization Loans assist eligible small business owners in Salem by providing low-interest loans for exterior improvements to their business and/or to help correct code violations.
Special Economic Development – Special Economic Development Loans assist eligible small business owners in Salem by providing low-interest loans in exchange for the creation and/or retention of jobs for low- and moderate-income persons.

Any business owner or property owner located in Salem may apply for the program. Commercial Revitalization Loans are only available to businesses located in certain areas. A business owner that is leasing space must have lease authority or obtain authorization from the building owner to make improvements to the property.

For an application and more information go to www.salem.com or pick up an application at the Department of Planning & Community Development, 120 Washington Street, 3rd Floor or call (978) 619-5685.

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