Chamber Celebrates Salem Businesses During Awards Gala

SALEM, MA — Salem businesses and business owners were honored for their contributions to the city and its residents at the Salem Chamber of Commerce's Celebrate Awards Dinner at the Peabody Essex Museum Wednesday.

Nearly 1,500 people from the community voted after nominees were nominated through their peers at the Chamber.

The 2021 Excellence in Retail Award went to Coffee Time Bake Shop. The Salem Main Streets won the 2021 Community Service Award and Lulu's Bakery & Pantry was awarded the Best New Business Award.

The Hawthorne Hotel won the Long-Term Achievement Award. In the final two categories that were awarded, Odd Meter Coffee won the Resiliency & Sustainability Award, and Ashley Tina, Good Witch of Salem, won the Businessperson of the Year Award.

"We are flattered with this recognition from the Salem Chamber of Commerce, the business
community, and beyond," Claire Kallelis, who accepted the Long-Term Achievement Award on behalf of the historic Hawthorne Hotel, said. "It meant so much to be nominated in a category of businesses that have been going strong for so long, and this is a great lead-in for the Hawthorne Hotel's centennial anniversary in 2025."

Salem Chamber of Commerce Celebrate Salem Award Nominees:

2021 Businessperson of the Year: Businessperson of the year is awarded to a Chamber member who has demonstrated excellence in business practices throughout the year and has demonstrated a sincere commitment to Salem.

· Ashley Tina, Good Witch of Salem

· Betsy Merry, Merry Fox Realty

· David Pabich, Salem Renewal

· Karen Davis, Coon’s Card & Gift Shop

· Mike Sperling, Sperling Interactive

· Ryan Miller, Salem Waterfront Hotel

2021 Resiliency and Sustainability Award: Awarded to the business or person that best exemplifies green business practices and/or climate change adaptation.

· Dick & Diane Pabich, Salem Inn

· Halstead Salem Station

· Janelle Rolke, Keep Salem Beautiful

· Odd Meter Coffee

· Rob Lutts, Cabot Wealth Management

· Salem Alliance For the Environment

2021 New Business of the Year: Awarded to the best new business that opened in Salem in 2021.

· Curly Girl Candy Shop

· Lulu’s Bakery and Pantry

· Salem’s Retreat

· Seagrass

· The Chocolate Pantry

· VRtical Media

2021 Long-Term Achievement Award: Given to a business that has achieved 10 or more years of success in the community.

· Adriatic Restaurant & Bar

· Crosby’s Marketplace

· Hawthorne Hotel

· Rockafellas

· Salem Witch Museum

· Winer Bros. Paint & Hardware

2021 Community Service Award: Awarded to a member or organization with an outstanding record of community service and volunteer participation.

· Bill Henning

· Boys & Girls Club of Greater Salem

· LEAP for Education

· Mack Park Food Farm (City of Salem)

· Root North Shore

· Salem Main Streets

2021 Excellence in Retailing Award: The Excellence in Retailing Award showcases the outstanding achievements of Salem retailers and will be awarded to the retailer that applies superior knowledge, creativity, and industry know-how to develop innovative strategies, and contributes to the growth of the Salem retail sector.

· Caramel French Patisserie

· Coffee Time Bake Shop

· Die With Your Boots On

· Frank Webb Showroom

· Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry & Helios Floral

· Pamplemousse

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)