#StayLocalMA (#StayLocal2021) is an innovative and collaborative regional approach to explore, dine, and shop locally. Creative Collective created The Stay Local MA Campaign to support your favorite small businesses throughout the community – both in-store and online and keep your money local.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of most communities and on the North Shore that couldn’t be more true,” said John Andrews (he/him), President and Founder of Creative Collective.
Lawrence is a bustling and vibrant city along the Merrimack River. Over the last few years, the city has been earning a creative, exciting reputation as centers and organizations continue to invest in and engage downtown community. This eclectic, multicultural city has so much to offer, and we’ve put together a list of some of the places in Lawrence that we’ve come to love.
Here are our picks for how you can #StayLocal this Holiday Season in Lawrence.
We are excited to grow this guide and learn more about shopping experiences in Lawrence. If you’re a retail shop or small business owner in Lawrence with a storefront, email us at info@creativecollectivema.com to be included!
Here are a couple #shoplocal destinations that we already love:
- The Galleries at Essex Art Center – 56 Island St #1: Bring home work from local artists!
- Canal Street Antique Mall – 181 Canal St # 7 – 40,000+ Sq. Ft. with 135 high-quality, permanent dealers in two beautiful old mill buildings.
- El Taller – 275 Essex St: Cafe and Bookstore
Lawrence’s multicultural identity means that there is fantastic food to be had. Here are some of our favorites from north of the river:
Breweries:
Spicket River Brewery – 56 Island St.
Food:
- Tacos Lupita – 505 Broadway: no-nonsense counter-serve joint offers a modest menu of familiar Mexican favorites
- El Taller – 275 Essex St: Cafe and Bookstore
- Tavern on Merrimack – 275 Merrimack St: Bar and Grille
- Japu Restaurant – 4 Union St: Peruvian Cuisine & Sushi Experience
- Lu’s Café and Bakery – 2 Lawrence St: Vietnamese specialties, Vietnamese coffee, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, soups, salads
- Vaka – 337 Essex St: tapas style menu features a delectable array of Dominican-Japanese fusion cuisine
Lawrence is a rising cultural center that is home to several arts based community organizations inspiring the next generation of young artists and thinkers. Here are some of our favorite places to check out and follow north of the river:
- Essex Art Center – 56 Island St #1: nonprofit art studio, school, and gallery space
- One Broadway Collaborative – 1 Broadway Unit 11C: Performance venue and rehearsal space with concerts, space rental, workshops, mentorship programs, networking, and collaborative events. Check out the events calendar.
- Elevated Thought – 15 Union St #120: art and social justice nonprofit service Lawrence youth and community
- Quity Regus Academy of Performing Arts – 447 Essex St: Youth ballet and dance school
- Exposed Brick Literary Magazine – 202b Bailey St: Curated collection of quality writing and design.
Are you a Salem-based small business who would like to be included in this list? Send us a message at info@creativecollectivema.com with the subject line “#StayLocal2021 in Salem.”
Creative Collective’s #NonprofitNovember to highlight nonprofits, foundations, and community organizations North of Boston
This November, Creative Collective is launching #NonprofitNovember, a social media campaign geared towards bringing awareness to local nonprofits and encouraging the public to support. Nonprofit and community organizations foster civic engagement, leadership, and growth for cities, and the role they occupy as cultural touchstones and educational hubs in North Shore communities is difficult to miss.
