September 21: plan your arrival

Initial move-in is Monday, September 21. Tia Cole is the main lead for Old Town Hall. Arrange your arrival slot in the Old Town Hall WhatsApp group before traveling, including if you start later in the season. Tia and the team will coordinate unloading around History Alive’s 1:30 PM show. The building’s broader access window is for the activation team; it is not permission to arrive at any hour.

If you are running late, post in the Old Town Hall WhatsApp group with your business name and estimated arrival. If you cannot access the group, text 978-224-8856. Wait for staff directions before unloading.

Loading route: Essex Street / Pedestrian Mall side

GPS: 32 Derby Square, Salem MA 01970. Follow the route below only at your agreed arrival time and with staff clearance. The north entrance is on the Essex Street / Pedestrian Mall side; the Derby Square end is south.

Hazard lights on; walking speed; pedestrians and tour groups have priority. Stop whenever the path is not clear. If you have a passenger, have them guide you on foot. Bring a sturdy cart or dolly and check doorway clearance before moving large equipment.

Loading is temporary; there is no general vendor parking around Old Town Hall or in Derby Square. Keep fire lanes, the ramp, doors and south-side exit staircase clear. Move to legal municipal parking after unloading. Any special parking arrangement requires separate building approval and a displayed pass; do not assume you have one.

1. From Washington Street, turn onto Front Street, then left onto Central Street. Take the first left onto Holyoke Court, the small brick passage behind Front Street Coffeehouse.
2. At Old Town Hall, turn right after the row of trees and continue around to the north / Essex Street ramp and front doors. Follow staff to the far-side unloading point and pull fully in, leaving room for vehicles and pedestrians to pass.
3. Check in and confirm your assigned space, unload and wheel your setup inside. Do not use the map as permission to block an entrance or choose an unassigned space.
4. To exit, continue around the building with two left turns, return along Holyoke Court and turn left onto Central Street. Park legally and return on foot to finish setting up.

Food permits: apply and share your status

If your food-permit application or vendor paperwork is still outstanding, complete it now and share your status with Tia in the Old Town Hall WhatsApp group. The requested September 14 target has passed; tell the team promptly about any missing information or delay.

Apply online through the City of Salem Board of Health permit page if you have not already applied for this year’s Old Town Hall operation. Have your business/contact information, menu, food preparation plan, equipment details and any documents requested by the City ready.

Obtain the required Board of Health approval before serving food. Submitting an application does not grant approval.

1. Identify Old Town Hall and use your confirmed operating dates. If dates are still being finalized, coordinate with Tia before entering them.
2. Share your business name, application number and current status in the WhatsApp group. If you have already applied, do not submit a duplicate.

Plan your indoor food setup

Old Town Hall does not have a commercial kitchen. Plan your menu, off-site preparation and on-site service around your approved setup.

No open flames, propane, butane or Sterno inside. Electric cooking and heating equipment need advance approval and a confirmed power allocation. Outdoor cooking is a separate approval process; do not assume it is included.

Use floor-protection mats beneath food preparation, hot-holding, refrigeration and equipment that may drip or spill.

Confirm equipment, power & water

Power is always a challenge at Old Town Hall. If you have any major new equipment or power needs this year, please let us know ASAP. Post in the Old Town Hall WhatsApp group so Tia and the team can plan before move-in.

Share a photo, make and model number of equipment that needs power, along with its wattage/amperage if available. Include refrigeration and hot-holding needs, and flag any changes to equipment details you have already provided. Use only your assigned outlets and check with staff before adding or changing equipment.

Water is available in the basement. See the handwashing update below before planning your setup.

Vendors are responsible for removing all wastewater, grease and food waste from their operations. Plan for collection and removal as part of your setup and daily closing routine.

Wi-Fi & card payments

Vendor/staff Wi-Fi: Old Town Hall. Ask Tia or check the Old Town Hall WhatsApp group for the password. Keep these access details within the vendor/staff group; do not share them with the public.

Public Wi-Fi: City of Salem. No password is required, but you must complete the verification step when connecting.

Connect and test your card reader before opening. Keep a cellular connection or hotspot available as a backup.

Daily arrival & setup

Vendors have two hours before public opening to set up. For a noon opening, access begins at 10 AM; for an 11 AM opening, access begins at 9 AM. If you need more time or earlier access, arrange it with Tia in the Old Town Hall WhatsApp group in advance.

For daily pedestrian access, use the Essex Street / Pedestrian Mall side entrance unless staff direct you elsewhere. This does not permit vehicle access or change the two-hour preparation window. Ask the manager for help with access; do not operate door controls, prop doors with stones or bricks, or adjust window hardware.

Check in with the manager on duty when you arrive each day. Tia covers most days, with Samantha as backup. If you are unsure who is covering Old Town Hall, ask in the WhatsApp group.

Open on time and stay through closing

Food service starts at the posted public opening time. Complete setup and preparation beforehand so you are ready to take orders and serve customers when the food court opens. Use the two-hour setup window to get ready.

Hours have changed from last year. Use this year’s dated schedule and weekly updates when planning your arrival and staffing. Thursday and Friday normally open at noon; Saturday, Sunday and October 12 open at 11 AM. See the season schedule for exceptions.

We understand that things come up, and we appreciate everyone staying until closing. Leaving early affects the other vendors and our visitors. Contact the team before packing up early.

Work together in the shared building

Creative Collective manages the food court, and History Alive programs the hall. Keep your agreed footprint, entrances, ramp, shared walkways and the south-door exit staircase clear. Do not run cords through storm windows. Leave the broken window far left of the stage facing the Pedestrian Mall closed; ask the manager about ventilation.

Keep your space attended, tidy and ready for visitors. No smoking or incense at vendor spaces. Deal with spills promptly and tell the team if an issue affects a shared route.

Check the weekly programming update and follow the team’s directions for room handoffs and busy periods.

The building receives morning cleaning, with extra visits on weekends and October 29–31. This does not replace cleaning your own space or removing vendor waste. Report restroom, spill or supply problems to the manager on duty; do not assume a cleaner is on site.

Restrooms, breaks & help

Old Town Hall has accessible restrooms downstairs at the Derby Square end. They are open while the team is in the building, provided the facilities are functioning. Ask the manager on duty for directions. Other options are listed in the Destination Salem restroom locator and app.

Plan breaks with your own team whenever possible. If needed, the manager on duty can briefly watch your booth. This is short-term help; food handling and service should remain with your vendor team. Do not rely on the manager to prepare, handle or serve food.

For a brief break or other help, ask the manager on duty or post in the Old Town Hall WhatsApp group with your business/booth name and request. If you cannot access the group, text 978-224-8856. Confirm coverage before leaving your space.

Reach the Marketplace team

Tia Cole is the main lead for Old Town Hall, with Samantha providing backup. Check in with the manager on duty each day. Sue and Kelly are usually on site early on Saturdays and Sundays managing Derby Square. Coordinate food-court and building issues through the Old Town Hall team; shared-programming arrangements involve History Alive.

Join the Old Town Hall WhatsApp group and turn on notifications. The group brings together vendors, staff and the 360 photobooth team. Use it to coordinate arrival times, unloading directions and routine venue questions with Tia so the team can keep track of the conversation. Use the invitation sent to you, or ask the team for help joining.

If you cannot access WhatsApp, text 978-224-8856. Include Old Town Hall, your business/booth name and request. Add your market date when relevant. John has the final say on Marketplace decisions.

For an emergency, call 911. For non-emergency police assistance, call Salem Police, 978-744-1212. Do not wait for a vendor-chat reply in an emergency.

Delays or closures are very rare. We will email before arrival if a change is needed; once on site, follow staff instructions.

Close for the day without dismantling your booth

Your booth and display may remain for your booked run. Follow the manager on duty’s closing instructions.

Clean your work area and remove all wastewater, grease, food waste and other waste from your operation; vendors remain responsible for these removals. Do not pour waste into building drains or leave it for the professional cleaner. Coordinate any restocking or equipment-removal vehicle access with staff.

For building trash that the manager directs you to place in the designated bin, anything that will not fit must be in a City orange overflow bag. Ask the manager for bags and the approved placement. Do not leave loose bags beside bins, move locked bins or place trash in front of Old Town Hall. The building team handles curbside collection; keep all exits and shared routes clear.

Check out with the manager on duty before leaving each night. The Marketplace team is responsible for locking up the building.

Overnight storage & power

Food and products may remain on site during your booked run. Refrigerators and other equipment approved by the team may remain powered overnight. Confirm your equipment and power arrangement with the manager before leaving.

We strongly recommend taking highly perishable items home each night. Overnight power cannot be guaranteed. The Marketplace team cannot take responsibility for food or product loss caused by an overnight power outage.

Arrange final move-out

Complete final move-out during the week after November 1, at a time agreed with Tia. Building access ends Saturday, November 7 at 11:59 PM; arrange an earlier staffed appointment and finish before that cutoff. This does not authorize late-night or unstaffed access. If your booking ends earlier, coordinate departure at the end of your booked run.

Wait for staff directions before retrieving a vehicle or using the unloading point. Bring your cart or dolly, remove your inventory, displays and equipment, and leave the assigned space clean. Ask the team to check the area before you leave.

Before your next operating day

Reopen Vendor 411, read the latest venue update and vendor email, and keep app notifications enabled. Share any changes with your helpers.