“On any given summer night, cars can be seen weaving in and out of parking spots in downtown Salem as groups walk and laugh along the street. Business bustles inside restaurants.
But as the sun goes down, things get quiet.
Most nights, there aren’t more than a handful of non-bar food options open past 8 p.m.
While spots to unwind after dark may be sparse, downtown still has at least a dozen bars, restaurants, a club, a couple of designated live entertainment venues and one late-night convenience store to check out.
And more are coming. New businesses are opening while existing ones continue to rebuild and expand their hours as staffing shortages allow.
But Salem residents say downtown still needs more: More music, more comedy and more places to eat and drink. They want their city to be a destination apart from Portland and Eugene.”
Published on Salem Statesman Journal on August 29, 2022.