Salem Downtown Dining Experience returns for seventh year
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SALEM - The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce's sponsored Downtown Dining Experience is scheduled for 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15. To date, this event has raised over $150,000 for United Way Services of Northern Columbiana County agencies to help people in Salem and the surrounding communities.
The Downtown Dining Experience is an event in which participating restaurants are encouraged to provide a sampling of items off their menus to ticketholders. Groups of 15 to 20 people are organized to visit all participating businesses in 15-minute increments.
This year, there are 13 stops with 14 participants.
Affordable Catering will be inside Kast Iron Soda Works; Jalisco will be in A Touch of Gracious Living. New this year, Kravitz Deli, located on Penn Avenue and the Grizzly Bean Coffee House will be hosted in the Salem chamber. The O.G. and Ezio's Italian Restaurant are located on Broadway Avenue, Totally 80's Ice Ice Cream Shoppe and Coaches Burger Bar are in the Courtyard Square. Salty Mama's Snacking Boards will be hosted in Troll's Jewelry. And then there is Heggy's, Kast Iron Soda Works, LiBs, Mike's Penn Ave. Grille and Ricky's English Pub.
Tickets are $45 and can be purchased at the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce by 4 p.m. the day of the event. At the beginning of the event, each ticket holder is presented with a program highlighting the menu from every participant and a QR code where they can vote for the participant with the Best Presentation, Best Savory, Best Sweet along with voting for their Favorite Stop as well as who may have offered their Favorite Food or Most Unusual item.
Every ticket holder will be entered into a drawing to win a diamond necklace donated by Troll's Jewelry. Each ticket has a stub that must be completed and returned to the chamber by 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 15. Troll's Jewelry, located at 581 E. State St., is a family owned, locally operated jeweler that has been serving Salem for over 87 years and is a long-standing member of the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce. This year's pick is a 14K White and Yellow Gold, adorned with two bowties to form a diamond necklace. The bowties have 16 brilliant round diamonds for a .33tcw. This necklace is made by Venetti and is valued at $1,500.
"United Way is truly grateful to Troll's Jewelry for donating a piece of diamond jewelry each year to Downtown Dining. Seeing joy on the winner's face is a highlight of the event. This year's necklace is stunning, and we thank Troll's for their participation," said United Way Executive Director George W.S. Hays. Troll's will be open for extended hours during the Downtown Dining Experience for ticket holders to shop.
In lieu of raffle baskets at each stop, participants have an opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win cash prizes from $100, $200 and $500.
The cash prizes are being donated by the agencies of United Way Services of Northern Columbiana County.
Another aspect to the event is Salem City's DORA for the Downtown Dining Experience. Patrons will be allowed to legally walk around in the designated DORA boundary area with an alcoholic beverage that has been served by the permit holders who have opted to participate in the Salem DORA for 2026. The alcoholic beverages must be served in special designated cups identified with a SALEM DORA label.
The Downtown Dining Experience helps kick off United Way's 2027 campaign. Funds raised from the event will be distributed to the following United Way of Northern Columbiana County agencies: A.I.D., Inc. (Action, Information, Direction), Scouting America - Buckeye Council, Camp Fire Tayanoka, Catholic Charities Regional Agency, Columbiana Meals On Wheels, Family & Community Services of Columbiana County, Inc., Family Recovery Center, Girl Scouts of North East Ohio, Help Network of Northeast Ohio, Project MKC, Quota Club of Salem, Inc. Salem Area Speech and Hearing Clinic, R.S.V.P. (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), Salem Worlds War Memorial Building, and Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley.
Hays said, "We very much appreciate the Salem Area Chamber of Commerce sponsoring Downtown Dining to benefit United Way. This annual event is much anticipated by our supporters as they enjoy an evening of great food from Salem's finest restaurants and fellowship among friends."
Salem Chamber Executive Director Alicia Johnston echoed Hay's sentiment by stating, "The Salem Chamber is a proud supporter of the United Way of Northern Columbiana County. We cannot thank our Chamber Members enough in the Salem area and surrounding communities. This is a wonderful event and fantastic fundraiser for a very worthy cause. Amazing food and good friends all while enjoying what downtown Salem has to offer. We look forward to seeing you at our annual event."