FIIINALLLLY! Rivalry Salem will open their doors. Yes this new Sports Bar & Kitchen at Hampton Inn Salem will be open for the weekend.

Last night #TheBaldOne and a group of our most dedicated #SalemHashTaggers attended their Friend & Family Night. The place looks good. It’s new, it’s shiny, and last night #BlueEyes, #WeddingPlanner, #TheCrownPrince, #JustJoey, #LovelyBeks, #VeryMerryBerry, and #ElderBerry, and #RyanEats were all treated to an almost endless feast as the Rivalry kitchen and floor teams worked hard. Rea was our server, and she was without a doubt, a true rock star.

The food? Oh the food. Wings, smash burgers, calamari, pizza, garlic knots, fish & chips, a bloomin’ onion, hot dogs, pork belly, a Reuben sandwich, tater tots, and fries, all were ordered, delivered, and devoured without shame. A few beers and a pistachiio martini or two also made it to the table.

Thanks to Rob, Zac, Chris, and the team for a great time. There is not a doubt that all of us will be back. maybe even as a group again.

Take some time this weekend and check out Rivalry Salem, and let us know what you think.

https://www.rivalrysalem.com/

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What have we here? Was ist das? ¿qué es?

Just now we stopped in to check on the progress of the build-out at Rivalry Salem at the Hampton Inn Salem on the corner of Washington and Dodge Streets. We spoke with Zak who told us that “things are looking good and they expect to be ready for mid-November.” The bones of the bar, dining room, lounge, and kitchen are there, and the finishing work will be starting soon.

The photos show the sliding garage door style windows along Washington Street. These will provide some fine people watching views. There will be lots of TVs, including a few of the floating style, a dugout section in the dining room, and a huge picture of Jason Varitek shoving his catchers mitt into the face of some dude that once played for a baseball team in New York… the names escape us at the moment.

We look forward to welcoming Rivalry Salem to town, and will probably pop into their sister spot Stanzy’s Country Ranch in Peabody Square soon.

https://www.rivalrysalem.com/

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Hampton Inn Salem posted this a couple of days ago. We share it today in case you missed it. Rivalry Salem is coming in the spring.

It is a local. north shore ownership group that currently runs a place in Peabody. We will leave it at that and let them make their own announcement.

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We are very sorry to see Stella’s Salem go. As the new year came and passed they tried to hang on but were unable.

The reality is that restaurants come and go frequently. We can argue the why’s all day and it wouldn’t change the fact that it’s a tough business in an active but crowded market. As one spot leaves us three other hospitality spots are preparing to open for the spring or summer,

Some say the location is not a good one. Others say it’s bad luck. We don’t see it as either of those. Strega was there for 10+ years and became a destination night spot in Salem. The brand new 110-Room Hampton Inn Salem is soon to open right around the corner on Dodge Street next door to a new retail marijuana establishment. The timing may be right for the right concept.

Is another restaurant what you would like to see there? A supper/dance club? Do you remember Freddy Thibaults’s pool hall that once operated there?

What should it be?

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