PEABODY — Olio’s reopening party signified more than just the event space’s return to business after more than two years of pandemic forced closure.
Sarah Narcus, owner of Olio, hosted a party on Aug. 11 to celebrate the reopening of her business. Over 200 guests came to check out the space, support Narcus’ resilience, and dance the night away.
While the goal of the party was to celebrate the return of Olio, it also served as a way for the city to honor the perseverance of its community. In addition to guests who wanted a night out, local officials came out to Olio to support Narcus and her impact on the city.
Councilor-at-large Anne Manning-Martin, who was in attendance, praised Narcus for the work she and her mother, Ellen Basch, have done, which Manning-Martin said has helped invigorate downtown Peabody.
“I wanted to come out here and support them and it’s really also an event as Sarah pitched it as, it’s just “everyone come and celebrate, we’ve all been cooped up and locked down for so long,” Manning-Martin said. “She opened up this place for everyone to come and enjoy themselves and let their hair down and get 2023 off in a better direction.”
Narcus was grateful for the support of the local community.
“That’s just the city people — if you look at who was there who are just like my neighbors,” she said. “The hair salon across the street and the brewery next door and the library staff — what an amazing feeling that is.”
With all the support Narcus received, she was able to help support other local businesses. Eighteen other small businesses, many locally-owned, were at the event. Businesses ranged from caterers to entertainment to photo booths — all businesses that were impacted by the COVID shutdowns.
“I can’t say conclusively which industry was hit hardest by COVID but I would put weddings there at the very top,” she said. “This is just a group of people who have been through the ringer over the last two years and to see the pleasure of them all being able to do what they do best was also amazing.”
“When you see the community come together behind a business, behind a movement, I just felt so grateful last night for my Peabody community,” Narcus continued.
Emma Fringuelli can be reached at [email protected].
