SALEM — On a bustling stretch of Pickering Wharf, where tourists drift between harbor views and historic streets, Amazing Pizza & More offers something more than handcrafted slices and homemade pasta.
It serves as a safe and welcoming environment for people to learn and grow professionally.
At the heart of that effort is a partnership with Northeast Arc, a nonprofit that provides services for people with disabilities across the region. Together, the restaurant and the organization are transforming a typical workplace into a training ground where interns gain real-world experience in one of the North Shore’s busiest industries.
For interns like Erin Ingram, of Peabody, and Chase Hunter, of Marblehead, that opportunity has been both practical and enjoyable.
“My favorite part of working here is probably baking cookies,” Ingram said, describing the process of rolling dough, flattening it, and watching it rise in the oven. “I love that part, and I like filling the salad dressings, too.”
“I definitely love it here,” she said.
Hunter, who has worked at Amazing Pizza for 12 years, said the environment at the restaurant has been a positive one. “It’s good! I really like it here,” he said, adding that he enjoys assembling boxes and preparing food items.
Owner and chef Jacqui Field, who has spent decades in the restaurant business, said the collaboration grew naturally from both personal and professional values.
“We’re all just people,” she said. “We all have different strengths and ways of learning. My goal is to give everyone a safe, happy place to grow.”
The internship program, which typically runs about six months, introduces participants to restaurant work gradually. Tasks begin with cleaning, organizing, and learning safety protocols and expand to customer service, food preparation, and front-of-house responsibilities.
“It’s a slow build,” said Job Coach Michael Blunt, who also serves as a support employment program manager with Northeast Arc. “We introduce skills step by step, at the intern’s pace, so they feel confident rather than overwhelmed.”
That steady progression is something both interns have experienced firsthand.
“I’m the best at doing the boxes and making the cookies,” Hunter said with a laugh.
Hunter said he has enjoyed learning how to prioritize tasks.
“One of the best things I learned working here was, now, I always check first to see what’s the most important, if linens are first, or if making cookies is first, checking stock of what’s the most full and what’s the most empty. That’s what I learned the most. ‘What’s the most important to start with?’” he said.
For Ingram, the growth has included stepping out from behind the scenes and interacting more with customers, a shift that reflects the program’s emphasis on building confidence over time.
She said the most important skill she has learned while working at Amazing Pizza is “communication between staff and with customers.”
Restaurants are fast-moving environments, and for many participants, the chance to learn in a supportive setting can make the difference between struggling and succeeding, all while making this approach intentional.
“It’s about building confidence,” Field said. “Once they feel comfortable, they grow quickly.”
For some participants, the program leads directly to a job offer. That was the case for Ingram, who impressed staff so much during her internship that she was hired before completing it.
“She was learning, growing, and working so well that we didn’t want to lose her,” Field said.
The broader goal, however, extends beyond any single restaurant. Northeast Arc operates multiple training sites — including cafes and retail spaces — designed to prepare individuals for jobs throughout the community.
Participants have gone on to work at major chains like Starbucks, in offices such as the Department of Developmental Services, and in roles ranging from housekeeping to administrative work.
“The idea is to get people out front in the community,” Blunt said. “They’re not hidden away, they’re visible, contributing, and part of everyday life.”
A key component of the program is job coaching. Coaches assist with everything from transportation and scheduling to workplace expectations and communication. Over time, that support is gradually reduced as participants gain independence.
“We’re there for whatever they need,” Blunt said. “From clocking in to understanding workplace rights, it’s individualized support.”
That individualized approach is a hallmark of Northeast Arc, which offers services across a person’s lifespan, from early intervention for infants to independent living programs for adults.
Inside Amazing Pizza, inclusion is woven into daily routines. Field emphasizes communication — calling out “behind” in the kitchen, maintaining safety standards, and working as a coordinated team.
“It’s how we prevent mistakes and keep everyone safe,” Field said. “Communication is everything.”
Customers have taken notice. Regulars often return not just for the food, made with imported Italian ingredients and recipes honed over decades, but for the welcoming atmosphere.
“They love seeing it,” Field said of the internship program. “They get to know our staff, and they see the growth.”
For Ingram and Hunter, that visibility is part of what makes the experience meaningful, being not just trainees, but also contributors.
“I love everything,” Ingram said simply when asked about the menu and her time at the restaurant.
For Field, the partnership is part of her longstanding mission: that businesses can and should play a role in community inclusion.
On any given day, the restaurant hums with activity — phones ringing, pizzas sliding into ovens, and staff moving between tables. Amid that rhythm, interns are not set apart but integrated into the flow.
“They’re part of the team,” Field said. “That’s what matters.”
In a city known for its history, Amazing Pizza is helping shape a different kind of legacy, one built not just on food, but on opportunity.
