I while back I wrote a post regarding some of the disappearing businesses from Salem’s down town area. As a follow up I’d like to talk about some of the new businesses emerging and expanding.
Perhaps I was correct when I stated “now is the time to pick up retail space in the pedestrian mall.” When Cool Jewls moved out of their corner spot in the mall, Salem’s Vintage Photography saw an opportunity and moved right in. The prime location will surely boost their bottom line. Acupuncture Solutions is also moving from their current home next to Cinema Salem to a more prominent spot just down from Essex N.Y. Deli & Pizza.
Another move from inside the Museum Place mall and expansion into a more prominent location in the pedestrian Mall was Signatures. The womens clothiers storefront and interior looks much more clean and sophisticated. Now if they could get their website out of the early 90’s they would achieve a total transformation.
Fool’s Mansion closed its doors which is sad to see, now the goth kids will have to be content with Hot Topic. Update: According to the current owner a couple has agreed to purchase the shop and continue carrying its current clothing lines hopefully re-opening in April. The papers may be passed as early as next week. On the other end of Essex Street however, Salem’s own manwitch Christian Day is set to open up his new venture Hex. Salem’s latest witch shop, in a fantastic location between Harrison’s Comics and Laura Lanes Skin Care.
Also hitting the ground running is Salem Wine Imports (seems like we mention them often around here) with a variety of offerings. The newly reopened Spirit’s is packing in the customers at their bar and still working out their dining issues. The old Bella Luna space has been built out and opened as Sixty2 on Wharf it looks to be a sweet summer spot.
The pedestrian mall will also be seeing an other new shop next month when Witch City Ink opens up across from Pamplemousse. Witch City Ink will be Salem’s first down town tattoo shop since the 1940’s. It’s owner a Salem resident was a driving force behind this art form becoming legal once again in Massachusetts, and prides himself in his clean shops and exceptional artists.
It’s nice to report on Salem businesses opening up and doing well. Keep your eyes open for more reviews of the shops mentioned here and a few in depth inteviews with the people that make it happen.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Dave // Feb 21, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Not sure exactly how “Downtown” Salem is defined… but the Purple Scorpion has been on Derby Street across from Captain Dusty’s since 1997, and I believe they have been actively tattooing in that location since it became legal in 2000. Calling Witch City Tattoo the first downtown tattoo shop since the 1940s might be a little bit of a stretch. With that said, I have a lot of respect for Natan’s work, and look forward to checking out his new shop on Essex street.
2 admin // Feb 21, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Dave,
Thanks for your comment. According to the Salem City Directory the Purple Scorpion is in the Historic Derby Street Neighborhood (aka the wharf neighborhood) and not in the down town neighborhood. I believe you are correct however, that they were the first tattoo shop since it was re-legalized in 2000. I was told by an old timer at the Y that there was a shop not too far from the old train station but he couldn’t remember it being there much after WWII.
Leave a Comment