Which Witch City Businesses And Organizations Were Voted As Salem's Best This Year?

SALEM, MA — The best businesses and civic organizations from the Witch City were feted at the Salem Chamber of Commerce's 101st Annual Celebrate Salem Awards Dinner at the Peabody Essex Museum.

City Council President Conrad Prosniewski, State Senator Joan Lovely, State Representative Manny Cruz, and Linda Roscoe Hartigan, Director and CEO of the Peabody Essex Museum, delivered remarks followed by the award presentations.

This year's award nominees were selected by members of the Salem Chamber of Commerce, with winners chosen through a public voting process that saw more than 2,000 votes cast by members of the broader Salem community.

The 2024 award recipients include:

• Community Service Award: Northeast Animal Shelter
• Best New Business Award: The Babe
• Excellence in Retail Award: Timeless Life Treasures
• Long-Term Achievement Award: Northeast Arc
• Excellence in Hospitality Award: Karen Nascembeni, North Shore Music Theatre
• Business Person of the Year – Large Business: Diane Wolf, The Lobster Shanty, Front Street Coffeehouse & Wolf Next Door
• Business Person of the Year – Small Business: Jenni Stuart, Jenni Stuart Fine Jewelry

The Salem Chamber President's Award was presented to outgoing Executive Director Rinus Oosthoek, who will retire at the end of May. The Chamber announced that Assistant Director Jeff Swartz will step into the executive director role following Oosthoek's retirement.

Salem Chamber President and Salem Pantry Executive Director Robyn Burns served as emcee for the evening. Burns reaffirmed the Chamber’s commitment to inclusivity, diversity, and advocacy. She highlighted the Chamber's recent legislative statement opposing what it called "discriminatory executive orders issued by the Trump administration," emphasizing support for immigrant communities, LGBTQ+ youth, and transgender individuals.

"Valuing diversity and inclusivity is central to who we are in Salem," Burns said. "We must continue to stand by those whose dignity, safety, and rights are under threat."

Susan J. Schrader, a local ceramic artist and member of the Salem Art Association, created this year's awards.

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