PEABODY — In an ongoing campaign to breathe new life into what used to be a dilapidated, run-down, old leather mill, the Mills 58 complex on Pulaski Street is adding another dimension to its operations by borrowing a page from the past.
Live entertainment — 1950s style — will now be offered at the Eatery58 Marketplace, thanks to a unanimous vote of the City Council approving owner Martino Grill, LLC’s application for a live entertainment license. Grill owner Frank Martino, Sr. said the entertainment will be staged in the lounge area located at the back of the marketplace, which is currently being repurposed into a restaurant. He expects most nights to have three musicians with a vocalist and will also be installing several large-screen televisions for viewing.
“It’s really more of a restaurant than a lounge and we are trying to create this atmosphere where all age groups can come and visit and enjoy themselves,” Martino told council members during Thursday’s public hearing.
“The vibe we are trying to create is that of an indoor piazza or plaza or mini-Faneuil Hall. We will have low-key music, maybe some dancing, possibly as well, with the theme of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin, kind of the 1950s,” Martino said adding that menu items will include fine steaks, schrod and other fresh fish dishes and the restaurant will also have a sushi station when completed.
He is hoping to expand operations to include events, like anniversary parties and community fundraising events, as he currently offers at The Commons 1854 in Topsfield, including providing hot meals to the homeless.
“We did things there to raise money to help feed and relocate the homeless,” Martino said. “My door is always open for fundraisers. We have some homeless coming through and we always have a bag for them with a hot meal, more than just soup. I want the homeless people in this town to know they have an open door here and it’s safe.”
Martino said he has had great support from the Board of Health and that the board is telling him “what a wonderful job we are doing.” He knows a thing or two about safe practices, having had a background in bacteria and infectious control working at Greater Boston Cleaning, a company that serviced hospitals.
“I really know what I am doing here,” said Martino. “I can also tell you that we have never had any kind of town or police issues at The Commons and we are a family-run business with local employees.”
“I am a big fan of what you are doing down there (at Mills 58), Mr. Martino, thank you for coming back to our city,” said City Councilor Joel Saslaw. “You are very accommodating and friendly and you go down and you engage your customers to let them know what you are there for. I am happy to see that you came back to Peabody. You have a great business over there, the Commons in Topsfield. You have a great reputation. I will be supporting this in what you are doing and in your investment.”
Mills 58 General Manager Julie Daigle, who recently announced her candidacy for Ward 4 city councilor, said Mills 58 is moving ahead with plans to build 36 one-, two- and three-bedroom loft-style apartments at the Mills, launching an online petition at https://www.ipetitions.com/petition/mills-58-apartment-living?fbclid=IwAR3YeaRAolsEw_fYgMpzXtFgG0Q9qtJItRK2o3BCQocMai6E-waMan_QJ8wjust this week.
“We are just waiting for the Industrial and Community subcommittee to schedule a hearing and hopefully that will happen soon,” Daigle said. “We already have had a neighborhood meeting with about three dozen neighbors who support our plans and we also have an online petition that’s been up for only two days which is getting signatures, so we are hoping to get 1,000 people to sign it.”
“We believe in an attempt to better sustain the already-established business that has been severely impacted by this pandemic, and to further enhance Mills 58 as a landmark destination, the next best use would be to add apartment-style living,” the petition states. “Adding more like-businesses would have a negative effect on our existing tenants. Adding residential would provide more local commerce — more haircuts at the salon, more pizza and coffee sold at the Eatery58 Marketplace, more antiques purchased and overall a more sustainable community.”
