Salem's Maitland Farm Owners To Open Derby Street Restaurant

SALEM, MA — A forthcoming Salem restaurant will bring a new twist on the concept of farm-to-table since the owners of the farm are the ones opening the restaurant.

The owners of Maitland Mountain Farm, the urban farm located on Cedar Crest Avenue, announced plans on social media to open Maitland Farm Kitchen and Spirits at 84 Derby Street. The location is the former home of the Jean Louis Pasta Shop.

Ward 7 City Councilor Andy Varela and Holly Maitland Varela will own and operate the restaurant.

"Andy and I have always dreamed of opening our own restaurant highlighting locally grown food from our farm and other New England farms," said a post on the farm's Facebook page. "We're so excited that we have the opportunity to do this right here in our community of Salem."

The post said that construction has already begun in the space and further updates would be soon forthcoming.

Maitland Moutain Farm opened in 2009 under the direction of Peter Maitland and his daughter, Holly. The farm began selling its bounty at the Salem Farmers' Market and expanded after Holly married Varela.

The farm grew into a 2.5-acre urban farm in a neighborhood of south Salem.

The farm sells produce, eggs, krauts, kimchis as well as more than 20 different pickled products, including "Holly's Spicy Pickles."

The farm also has a nursery with annuals, perennials, tropicals and herbs.

(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.)