Revived Saugus Chamber of Commerce thrives

SAUGUS – Representatives from more than a dozen Saugus businesses gathered at Soc’s Ice Cream on Tuesday evening for a networking event sponsored by the Saugus Chamber of Commerce.Hosted by Soc’s owner Peter Calakoutis, the event gave local business people the opportunity to discuss what’s happening in Saugus while enjoying some homemade coffee ice cream.”It gives us the chance for chamber members to see different members and their staff in their own businesses, and it brings the business community together in one location,” said Sean Grant, president of the Saugus Chamber of Commerce. “Soc’s has been here for 32 years and it’s an example of a business we want to bring foot traffic into and that we want to support and keep going because it makes Saugus what it is as a community.”Grant said the Saugus Chamber of Commerce plans to sponsor a networking social every month. All chamber members will have the opportunity to host an event, either at their business location or in the MEG Foundation building.The chamber recently increased its activity after losing momentum and slowing to a halt several years ago. Celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the reinstated Chamber of Commerce plans to advocate and promote businesses in Saugus so that it remains the hub of the North Shore.”As we’re celebrating our 40th year, we’re looking back and seeing what we can do to make the businesses more successful, and we want to focus on economic development and recruiting new members to the chamber,” Grant said. “This is what it’s all about. People getting together and sharing ideas so that we use the resources and activities that Saugus has that often go overlooked because they’re in our backyard.”The event attracted a wide range of businesses – some that are veterans to Saugus, like Saugusbank and Spud’s Restaurant & Pub, and some that are new, like Carsmetics Accident Repair. Regardless of industry, many managers and owners hope networking will increase exposure for their businesses, like Eric Rubin, executive director of Rubin & Thompson Assisted Living.”I only have one Saugus resident and I’d love to have more. People think there’s no assisted living facility in Saugus, since our building just looks like a house. No one seems to know about me,” Rubin said. “I’m even offering a 5 percent discount for Saugus families. Our services are so needed and people are leaving Saugus to go to other towns for assisted living because they don’t know I’m here.”Courtney Morse, manager of Philip Ciampa Salon, agreed and said the salon recently joined the chamber in hopes of increasing visibility.”We’ve been open for five years, but we want to give the salon more exposure. We had a slow start and we’re kind of tucked away,” Morse said. She added that Philip Ciampa Salon will hold a fifth anniversary party on Thursday, Sept. 8.Grant said business has been tough in this economic climate, but that Saugus and the Route 1 area has a lot of factors working in its favor.”Saugus is right in the center of a lot of things. It’s the first community you hit in Essex County, it’s a stone’s-throw away from Logan and on a good day, it’s a 10-minute ride from downtown Boston,” Grant said.Grant pointed out the high level of diversity found in Saugus and the number of businesses that have been here for years, including Prince Pizzeria, featuring a several-story high leaning tower with “PIZZA” in large red lettering down the side. Since 1961, Prince has been owned and operated by the Castraberti family, who helped form the initial Saugus Chamber of Commerce.According to Prince Pizzeria owner Steve Castraberti, the chamber originated from the Route 1 Businessmen’s Association, which was made up of independent restaurant and shop owners.Now, 40 years later, many of those businesses – like Prince Pizzeria – are still family run and face the same issues that led to the establishment of the chamber.”When you’re a small business owner, you feel very alone, but with a chamber you ha