Check Out The Latest North Shore Business News

Have you noticed a new store while driving around the North Shore recently? Patch loves small business and we try to cover every new opening. Here is a look at some recent business openings and happenings on the North Shore.

Have you noticed a new shop and have been wondering what it is? Leave us a note in the comment section and we will check it out.

Beverly

Peapod Launches Virtual Grocery Store at Beverly Farms Train Station

A virtual grocery store is coming to Beverly Farms. Peapod.com, the nation’s leading Internet grocer, announced the launch of more than 100 virtual grocery stores at commuter rail stations in Boston, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Chicago. 

The first of its kind in the U.S., the virtual store technology features billboards of larger-than-life grocery aisles on the train platforms.

Cummings Center Hotel Plans Suspended [POLL]

Cummings Center officials have announced they will be suspending the plan to build a six-story hotel on the property, the Salem News reported.

The lack of a hotel industry partner, as well as a recent unfavorable market study that suggested there was not enough demand for the hotel right now, were the reasons cited for the suspension, an email sent to clients this week stated. While the possibility of a hotel hasn't been ruled out indefinitely, for the time being the project will be suspended until 2013.

Bizulu Opens Doors in Beverly

Beverly Mayor Bill Scanlon helped two Beverly natives, Patrick Gillis, founder, and Bizulu CEO Brendan Smith, officially cut the ribbon at Bizulu’s headquarters. 

Beverly's PARLEE Cycles Featured in New Joseph Gordon-Levitt Film

The staff of Beverly based PARLEE Cycles, a leading builder of high-end road bicycles, were in for a thrill at the multiplex.

They were there to see one of their handcrafted bicycles prominently featured in the new Sony Pictures action thriller Premium Rush, which stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises).

Mingo Gallery Under New Ownership

Mingo Gallery is now under the ownership of two Montserrat Alumni.

Salem

Wynott's Wands Ready for Halloween in Salem

Everything about Wynott's Wands is straight out of a Harry Potter novel.

From the store's cashier, decked out from head to toe like Albus Dumbledore, to the rows of magic wands at the ready, exact replicas of those found for sale in the book series' famed Diagon Alley.

TELL US: Are You Affected by Noise from Local Businesses?

A bench outside In a Pig's Eye was the center of conversation at a recent City Council meeting.

Ward 2 Council Michael Sosnowski told the city council residents nearby have complained of noise and people congregating.

During their discussion, councilors discussed the possibly of a bench that can be taken in at night and whether or not it's the bench that causes issues or the actual people.

What is the Salem Open Market?

We've had lots of questions about the SoWa Open Market and whether or not Salem will be getting an open market of its own.

Click above to find the answer, courtesy of Destination Salem.

'Avalanche' Comes to Front Street

Avalanche will officially join the Front Street business scene today at 2 p.m. at a ribbon-cutting with Mayor Kim Driscoll.

The business specializes in outerwear and activewear including fleece, according to the business Facebook page, and has a corporate office on Congress Street.

Witch City Consignment and Thrift Helping Animal Shelter

Here's a creative way a local business is helping out our local animal shelter.

Danvers

East Coast Alpine Sports Promotes An Active Lifestyle Combined With Family Fun

The award winning bike, ski and snowboard specialty shop will be featured at the annual Boston.com Ski and Snowboard Expo in Boston for the thrid consecutive year in November.

Nicastro's Drives Over The Bridge Into Danvers Square

By embracing burgeoning technology and the advantages of social media, Nicasto's Driving School of Gloucester is set to propel their business into the 21st century, and they are taking Danvers along for the ride.

News Store Closes After 38 Years

For nearly four decades, you could count on Danvers News Store in Danvers Square as a place to buy a newspaper, magazine or lottery ticket.

Bowling Alley Becomes Setting for 'Hallmark' Movie Scene

The Sunnyside Bowladrome became home to a scene from a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie recently.

The bowling alley on Water Street, near the Peabody line, was transformed into a scene from “The Makeover” where Elliot Doolittle (played by David Walton) hosts a “Doolittle for Congress” event where he invited the public to come “bowl with their candidate,” according to the movie’s publicist, Ellen Nesselrode-Jasa.

Solstice Massage Has A Hands On Approach To the Military

Laura Broderick may have found the best way to give back to our honored active military men and women - literally.

“They get their massages complimentary - I don’t charge them,” the Danvers resident stated.

'Addiction to Extreme Recreational Businesses' Pushed Motorized Paraglider to Create Wipeout Course

The man arrested recently for flying a motorized parachute over Salem is the mastermind behind a public Wipeout course planned to be built in Danvers last this year.

Patrick Tarmey the same adrenaline quest that lead him to create Wipeout at first got him into motorized parachuting.

Hamilton-Wenham

Wenham Attorney Takes the Helm at Wenham Museum

Kristin Zampell Noon is the new executive director at Wenham Museum.
Noon was named the new director last month by the museum’s Board of Trustees and began the job on Monday. She takes over for Lindsay Diehl, who retired during the summer and said she wanted more time to take care of her elderly father.

Mike’s Auto has been given the go-ahead by the Zoning Board to sell used cars at its downtown Hamilton auto repair garage.

The board’s decision was made final in a written decision last month allowing eight used cars to be sold on the Bay Road property.

Myopia Hunt Horses and Hounds to Highlight Saturday's Downtown Harvest Festival

A parade of Foxhunters and hounds will highlight Saturday’s Harvest in the Village festival in downtown Hamilton.

The idea comes from Middleburg, Va. where a similar event in its downtown kicks off the holiday shopping season.

Peabody

Without much ado, city councilors agreed last month to let Trader Joe's obtain a package store license for its Route 114 location.

Councilors voted 9-1 to approve a special permit that allows the grocery store to seek or obtain an all-alcohol license for retail sales. Only Michael Garabedian voted against the petition, but did not explain his vote during the public hearing.

TELL US: Centennial Industrial Park for the Future?

From the time it opened in 1985, Centennial Industrial Park has been regarded as one of the crown jewels of Peabody, providing a home for some major industry businesses, well-paying local jobs and generating significant tax revenues for the city.

By all accounts, the business park is not what it once was, despite the presence still of some major employers and key tax-generating businesses for Peabody, such as the Analogic Corp., Boston Acoustics, Children's Hospital North and two hotels.

Local Mayors Urge Patrick to Force Amazon to Collect State Sales Tax

It's only fair -- that's the argument from advocates behind an effort to get giant online retailers, such as Amazon.com orOverstock.com, to collect the 6.25 percent state sales tax on purchases by Massachusetts customers.

The Massachusetts Main Street Fairness Coalition (MMSFC), an organization made up of retailers, local elected officials, labor unions, trade and business associations and individuals, says these online retailers are exploiting a legal loophole that allows them to not charge sales taxes unless they have a physical presence in that particular state.

What Should Go Here at 167 Washington St?

The property at 167 Washington St. has been vacant or only marginally used for several years -- the Comcast signs are still on the building -- despite being located in a busy intersection in Downtown Peabody.

Well, it turns out that new owner Gary Nadeau of Salem is trying to ink a deal with a financial institution, be it a bank or credit union, to take up residence at the corner of Washington and Foster streets.

The Container Store, which is slated to open at the Northshore Mall on Oct. 20, says it will be donating 10 percent of its sales over its opening weekend to the Boston Children's Museum.

The national chain, which only has two locations in Massachusetts other than the new Peabody store, says it will be adding about 80 jobs to the community and it's still looking for "neat people" to apply online. The company says it may be adding two more stores eventually to the Greater Boston market.

Wakefield

What Do You Get The Person Who Has Everything? An Action Figure Of Course

One of the area's longtime business owners has come up with a fun and unique new gift idea with some help from an increasingly emerging new technology.

Many in Wakefield know Bob Sardella as the owner of Sardella Sign and Graphics at 68 North Ave., which marks its 40th anniversary on Friday with an open house. However, those who pay a visit to Sardella's sign company, which he founded in 1971 soon after his graduation from Wakefield High School, will see that Tribute Action Figures has taken an increasingly prominent role in the business space.