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AT THE FOREFRONT OF COMMERCE FOR ALMOST 400 YEARS.
As the first and formerly wealthiest seaport in the New World, Salem has a rich heritage which it continues to build on with modern day flare. Bursting with creativity, commerce and culture, today’s Salem is home to technology firms, creative agencies, architects, film production companies and many other diverse and creative small and mid-size business who have found the city’s bustling retail businesses, seemingly unlimited number of restaurants, breweries and hotels ideal for employees and visiting clients and customers alike. Complimented by a vibrant local community, which includes life-long residents, university students and academics, and commuters who take advantage of Salem’s commuter rail and high-speed ferry service, Salem’s got a lot to offer without the cost, traffic, and congestion of larger Massachusetts cities.
GREAT SPACES
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Salem is home to technology firms, creative agencies, architects, film production companies and many other diverse and creative small and mid-size business who have found the city’s bustling retail businesses, seemingly unlimited number of restaurants, breweries and hotels ideal for employees and visiting clients and customers alike.
EASILY ACCESSIBLE
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Easy to get to by train, car, boat or broom. Those not ready to call Salem home will find it to be the most commutable city on the North Shore – just 16 miles North of Boston and easily accessible by commuter rail year-round as well as seasonal high-speed ferry service to Long Wharf, Boston.
WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY
Business Owners
Commuters
Community Members
what you’ll find
More than one million visitors flock to Salem each year, bringing in millions of tourist dollars annually. Salem is fortunate to be home to numerous attractions that draw visitors from down the street and from across the oceans. At one time the tourism season was relegated to the fall with the industry focused on business during the month of October and Salem’s annual Haunted Happenings calendar of events. Slowly the tourism season expanded, including late September and early November, bookending Haunted Happenings. Now, tourism season is year-round with high concentrations of visitors coming to Salem from May to November to take advantage of the New England spring season, Salem’s summertime waterfront activities, and flowing into the fall and Halloween. Over the past few years, Salem has seen an uptick in visitors throughout the winter months, a trend that will likely continue as the diversity of visitor amenities, activities, and attractions continue to expand, making Salem a year-round destination.
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Founded in 1626, Salem is rich in history, with many opportunities to learn and immerse yourself in it. Whether you are interested in Salem’s maritime and merchant history, captivated by the hysteria of the witch trials and its victims, or find modern history more appealing, such as learning about the City’s role in the judicial system or as the birthplace of Parker Brothers (now Hasbro), there are historical sites throughout Salem that appeal to all, bringing visitors from all over the world.
To learn more about Salem’s history and historical sites, please check out the following organizations:
Destination Salem: www.salem.org
Salem Maritime National Historic Site: https://www.nps.gov/sama/index.htm
Salem Historical Commission: https://www.salem.com/historical-commission
Salem Historical Society: http://www.salemhistorical.org/
Historic Salem Inc.: www.historicalsalem.org
Expand Your Horizons
Attractions like the Peabody Essex Museum, the House of Seven Gables, and the Salem Witch Museum present visitors with opportunities to learn about local history and culture. Coupled with historical walking tours, food and drink tours, and art-finding strolls through the open-air Punto Urban Art Museum and Artists’ Row, the City’s artist incubator space, there are countless experiences throughout the community to learn and appreciate Salem’s history and culture.
To learn more about opportunities and places where you can expand your horizons, please check out the following websites:
Salem Public Art Commission: https://www.salem.com/public-art-commission
Creative North Shore: https://www.creativenorthshore.com/
Destination Salem: www.salem.org
Enjoy Nature
Salem is an urban city that is a suburb of the Boston metro area. A compact city of 8 square miles, Salem is a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly community with easy access to outdoor spaces – miles of oceanfront walkways and public beaches, acres of parkland that offers both passive and active recreation, and winding trails through protected conservation land. The opportunity to be outside and access these natural areas that are sprinkled throughout the City – in and around the downtown, nestled among the residential neighborhoods, and even adjacent to Salem’s industrial corridor.
Access to nature and the outdoors brings many benefits and contributes to a well-balanced community. The bustling urban core of Salem is balanced with the pristine vistas over the harbor; the thickly settled neighborhoods are interspersed with parks and playgrounds; the expansive, historic Salem Common is a community space and place of tranquility located in the heart of the lively city. This dichotomy between urban living and the space to enjoy nature makes Salem unique and provides the opportunity for a healthy, balanced lifestyle.
To learn more about how to get out and enjoy nature in Salem, check out the following sites:
Salem Parks and Recreation Department: https://www.salemrec.com/info/default.aspx
Salem Sound Coastwatch: https://www.salemsound.org/
Destination Salem: www.salem.org
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Salem welcomes visitors from around the globe throughout the year. Salem’s many types of accommodations attract visitors of all types. Three large hotels located in the downtown, coupled with inns and bed and breakfasts sprinkled throughout the City, provide a variety places for visitors to choose from as they come to town. While Salem is a popular destination in the fall, drawing visitors from around the globe to its Haunted Happenings festivities, over the past few years Salem has transformed into a year-round destination. With hundreds of rooms to choose from, there is a place for everyone.
To learn more about Salem’s accommodations, please visit the following links:
Destination Salem: https://www.salem.org/stay/
Salem Chamber of Commerce: www.salem-chamber.org
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A vibrant mixed used downtown with active ground floor businesses that include restaurants and retail shops that make the downtown a destination for dining and shopping. Magic wands and witches’ robes, custom fragrances and vintage dresses, gourmet cheese, wine, and chocolate, souvenirs, and home décor crafted by local artisans -, Salem has a shop to meet not only day-to-day needs, but also any special occasion. The retail community is comprised of dozens of Salem-based or other local area entrepreneurs. These local business owners are truly invested in Salem and committed to providing a diverse range of items and products to meet the needs of the Salem community and visitors alike.
Salem’s Downtown Retail Atmosphere is Always Improving
Significant improvements have been made to the downtown customer and visitor experience through way finding signs, redesign of the Essex Street pedestrian mall, continued application of design guidelines and storefront improvements to create a cohesive vision for the district, and regular events that bring locals and visitors alike out to shop. Salem’s successful dining scene and strong events program together support retailers and increase local shopping.
Salem’s Population Trends
Salem has a large and growing 20 to 34 years old population; 26% of Salem residents are in this cohort compared to 18% for the region and Essex County and 22% for the Boston area. Furthermore, the share of this age group in Salem increased slightly from 24% in 2010 to almost 26% in 2015, consistent with retailers’ observations that Salem is attracting more young families.
Salem’s household incomes continue to increase with the median household income increasing 38% between 2000 and 2015, an average of approximately 2.3% each year.
Business Support and Assistance
The City, in conjunction with its partners at the Chamber of Commerce, Salem Main Streets, The Enterprise Center, Salem Partnership, Creative Collective, and the North Shore Community Development Coalition, work together to support Salem’s retailers. Together, the organizations are able to offer trainings and technical assistance to the retail community that is important in helping stores compete and survive with the growing local and online competition.
To learn more about Salem’s retail business community and support organizations, please see the following links:
City of Salem’s Small Business Assistance Programs: https://www.salem.com/business-and-economic-development/pages/small-business-financial-assistance-programs
Destination Salem: www.salem.org
Salem Chamber of Commerce: www.salem-chamber.org
Salem Main Streets: www.salemmainstreets.org
The Enterprise Center: https://enterprisectr.org/
The Salem Partnership: www.salempartnership.org
North Shore Community Development Coalition: http://northshorecdc.org/programs/small-business-development/
The Creative Collective: https://www.creativecollectivema.com/
The Small Business Development Center: http://sbdc.salemstate.edu/
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Are you looking to relax after a long day at work, a place to take clients when they come to town, or a gathering spot for your staff? Salem is a regional entertainment destination with a variety of live music venues ranging from intimate coffee shops featuring acoustic music, to an open-air concert shell overlooking the harbor that attracts bands of all genres. Salem’s calendar of special events and annual festivals complement the lively entertainment scene.
Salem’s eclectic music scene presents the opportunity to try new sounds or simply celebrate your favorite style. The live music opportunities through the City contribute to the community’s multi-cultural vibe, invigorating Salem, and making it not only a great place to do business, but also a great place to stay and play.
With the lively music and entertainment scene, downtown Salem is bustling from morning until late in the night; the city does not shut down at 5pm when offices close but stays open and active into the evening. The City and its partners have worked hard to activate the downtown ‘after hours’; working with local businesses to stay open later, creating opportunities for outdoor entertainment, and promoting festivals and events to draw people, provide entertainment, and support the business community.
For more information on where to find live music in Salem, please visit the following links:
Destination Salem: www.salem.org
Salem Main Streets: www.salemmainstreets.org
Salem Chamber of Commerce: www.salem-chamber.org
Creative North Shore: https://www.creativenorthshore.com/
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Salem has established itself as a North Shore dining destination is home to dozens of restaurants from fast, casual take-out, to family-friendly restaurants, to fine dining. Recognition of downtown Salem as a dining destination continues to increase with active publicity, news releases, marketing, and social media. Whether you’re in the mood for fish tacos with a harbor view, authentic Dominican food steps away from the Punto Art Museum, or a craft cocktail and tapas on a downtown hotel rooftop deck. Largely owned by locals, the restaurants are a direct reflection of Salem’s eclectic community.
To learn more about Salem’s restaurants, please see the following links:
Destination Salem: https://www.salem.org/eat/
Salem Chamber of Commerce: www.salem-chamber.org