People shop in downtown Salem in the winter. (Caleb Wolfe/Salem Reporter).
Downtown Salem seems like a ghost town with retailers and restaurants closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
But there’s activity beneath the quiet as downtown businesses find ways to serve customers. Now, the Salem Main Street Association, a group promoting downtown businesses, has put together a guide to help customers navigate the changing hours and services of restaurants, retailers and others.
The COVID-19 Salem Shopping & Dining Guide has information on 35 downtown businesses including what hours they’re open, if they do delivery or takeout and how to get in touch with them.
“People coming downtown think everything is closed because everything looks like it’s closed,” said Hazel Patton, the association’s interim executive director.
Jim Vu, treasurer and one of the founders of the association, said that he hopes the list will connect downtown businesses with customers to help them stay afloat. For many, he said their business is their only source of income.
“They still have bills to pay,” he said.
Contact reporter Jake Thomas at 503-575-1251 or [email protected] or @jakethomas2009.
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