After a long, tough winter due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many restaurants and businesses in Salem, Massachusetts will reopen their doors for the season on Thursday, April 1. Museums and attractions such as the Witch History Museum, Witch Dungeon Museum, The Witchery, Salem Art Gallery, and Witch Pix Costume Studio will welcome in-person visitors for the first time since November. Also opening on April 1 are retail outlets like the boutique lifestyle and brand shop Hauswitch and seasonal restaurant favorites like The Lobster Shanty. The Salem Trolley and Spellbound Tours will reopen along with many other tour operators in the city.

Other businesses have been open year-round but needed to operate differently than in past years to adjust to the safety protocols set by the state. The Hawthorne Hotel adjusted to new safety protocols by getting creative and moving tables into the elegant ballroom to expand dining from one of the hotel’s restaurants, Tavern on the Green.

Salem Night Tour and other retail outlets in Salem saw a decline in tour business during the winter as the COVID-19 cases started. However, the company is seeing more tours being booked and their retail outlets continue to increase sales this spring.
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Jolie Tea Company has sustained throughout COVID-19 with its online orders that have been coming in from across the country due to their loyal Salem tourists and residents. The Salem store reopened to the public in February offering a limited take-out menu as well as offering retail loose leaf tea sales and will fully reopen with outdoor dining in April.

Outdoor dining will also return to restaurants throughout Salem on April 1. Many restaurants will set up outdoor dining areas at their locations, some using private parking lots, the sidewalk, parking spaces, or other nearby public open space. Restaurants are using items such as jersey barriers, decking, planters, and tents to create dedicated exterior dining areas. Tap boards and other accommodations will be available to ensure outdoor dining and any adjacent sidewalks were accessible. A list of participating restaurants offering outdoor dining will be available at salem.org/outdoordining.

This press release was produced by Destination Salem.

Witch Dungeon Museum photo by John Andrews
Family Eating Pizza photo by Jared Charney
Salem Witch Museum and Trolley photos courtesy of Destination Salem