Salem Becomes Home To First Kelly's Roast Beef Restaurant Outside MA

SALEM, NH — Several local dignitaries were on hand Tuesday for the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Salem's new Kelly's Roast Beef, Seafood and Sandwiches. Members of Kelly's management team also attended the festivities.

The restaurant, at 181 South Broadway, is Kelly's first location outside of Massachusetts.

Kelly's, which began at Revere Beach in 1951, is famous for its legendary roast beef sandwich, and also features other sandwiches, seafood, salads, fries and onion rings.

Among those attending Tuesday's event were: Neil Newcomb, CEO of Kelly's Roast Beef Franchising, Anthony Librot, COO and CFO of AAM 15 Management, which will manage the Salem Kelly's restaurant, and representatives from the Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce, Salem Board of Selectmen, Salem Fire Department and Salem Police Department.

Though Kelly's originally opened as a hot dog stand at Revere Beach, its signature sandwich soon resulted from a canceled wedding.

According to legend, Kelly's founders Frank McCarthy and Raymond Carey found themselves looking for a use for the roast beef that had been purchased for the event.

The pair took the roast beef back to the hot dog stand and served it on a grilled hamburger bun, and the signature sandwich was born.

The Salem restaurant becomes Kelly's fifth location. Its restaurants in Massachusetts are at Revere Beach and in Saugus, Medford and Danvers. The company said that, according to estimates, it serves more than a million sandwiches per year.

According to its website, Kelly's also has restaurants coming soon in University Park, Florida and South Pasadena, Florida.