PEABODY — Mills 58, already the trendiest place in the city for up-and-coming businesses, is taking it to the next level.
Already home to approximately 75 businesses, including the popular The Eatery food court, Mills 58 is taking up where it left off last year with a series of pop-up open markets, the first one being a Valentine’s Day-themed event Saturday, Feb. 6, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. The event will be staged on the third floor of Building B. Social distancing and facial masks are mandatory.
“We are looking to pick up after two successful events in November and December last year,” said Mills 58 General Manager Julie Daigle. “November was really busy, while December was a little quieter, perhaps because people were busy with Christmas, but we are hoping that things will begin to loosen up and people can get out a little more, get back to something closer to pre-pandemic days. We look forward to driving some activity to Mills 58 giving people something to do while supporting our existing tenants.”
Fourteen local vendors have committed to participate in the Feb. 6 marketplace, including Serenity Sage, Tal’s Honey, Vibes for the Soul, Pyla Signs, KT Creative Goods, Beccstar Designs, Michelle Paints Things, Pam’s Young Living, Alaia Halo, Put Your Art Out, Kaity’s Colors, KC Designs and Wine Shop at Home.
The series is being organized and planned by Serenity Sage owner Lesley Keegan. Her company offers a variety of products including smudge sticks and crystals, jewelry, candles, home goods, pottery, and herbal infusion, skincare and aromatherapy products.
For those of you wondering what smudging is, Keegan said smudging is an ancient tradition used by many cultures to clear out negative energy and manifest the energy. It can also remove bacteria from the air and can even elevate serotonin levels, which balances mood and helps with sleep. Keegan operates the business out of her Melrose home, using plants and herbs grown in her greenhouse along with recycled products. Her products can be purchased online at www.serenitysage.com and are also available at 25 brick-and-mortar retail stores across the country.
Keegan, a Marblehead native, said that plans are in the works for adding food vendors at future markets.
“Going forward, we want to add some vendors who offer complimentary food products to The Eatery, but basically, the plan is to feature a bunch of different artists and vendors who simply want a table,” Keegan said. “So far we have 14 different vendors and hope to add one more who will offer things for Valentine’s Day, like flowers and gift-type things. Our goal is always to try to get a variety of vendors at every event.”
“Lesley does a fantastic job of selecting a great group of vendors,” said Daigle.
The Eatery food court will be open during regular business hours. It features something to satisfy every culinary palette.
“We’re more than an eatery, we’re a marketplace where people can come and buy jellies and flowers and home-baked and home-made items, said Mill 58 owner Ed Greeley. “You can eat anywhere you want, but none of them have anything like what we offer in terms of variety and atmosphere. It’s a total experience.”
The Eatery offers homemade pasta, a seafood bar with baked haddock, clams and fried scallops, vegetarian selections, coal-fired, brick oven pizza, a grill station with gourmet burgers, steak and turkey tips, specialty coffees (ground on-premises), smoothies, and, of course, assorted desserts and sweets, including gelato.
Mills 58 will also be holding marketplaces on Feb. 20, March 6 and March 20, all from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Keegan said tables are still available for all three events and can be reserved on her company’s website.
Daigle said The Eatery recently obtained a beer and wine license and is in the process of securing an entertainment license.
“We are currently in the process of building out a new bar and also renovating the existing lounge into a restaurant so we can offer seating, hopefully by the spring,” Daigle said. “Our entertainment license was before the City Council this past week and we need to get by one more hearing in a couple of weeks before we hope it will be granted.
Daigle said the license will permit live entertainment and music along with a DJ as well as televisions once the lounge area renovation is complete.
