Here’s a look at the businesses that are moving in and out of Methuen.
NOW OPEN
* Vision Optical: Open at 301D Merrimack St. Eye exams, contact lenses and eyewear, and more.
* KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot: Opened at The Loop on June 23. KPot is a South Korean food concept. Tables consist of stovetops to heat the broth and grill fresh veggies/meats/seafood. There’s even a “sauce bar” where each diner chooses what works for their taste buds, as well as a slew of mouth-watering hot appetizers. No hotpot experience? No problem – staff will show you the way! To start, the Methuen location is dine-in only, but there will be takeout available. Hours are Sunday-Thursday, noon-10pm and Friday/Saturday, noon-11pm.
*School Street Foods: Opened June 6 at the former Methuen House of Pizza, 289 Merrimack St. “A modern take on traditional Latin-American pastry.” Specialty: pastelitos. Original location is in Lynnfield. Schoolstreetfoods.com.
*Froggy’s Play School: 280 Merrimack St., Methuen. Year-round programs are designed to allow children to mature at their own rate through indoor and outdoor activities. Open to infants through school-age children. Other locations include a school in Haverhill and a party center in Salem, NH.
*Aroma Joe’s: Newly built location at 65 Haverhill St., is now open. Methuen’s original AJ’s is located inside Merrimack Health Methuen (formerly Holy Family Hospital).
*RIKKO Kitchen: Now open and offering Latin fusion at 176 Pelham St.
*KidStrong: Gym time for children that aims to build strength, confidence and a sense of teamwork. Now open at The Loop. Methuen.kidstrong.com.
NEW OWNER
*Mario’s Pizza and More: The pizza and roast beef shop at 689 Prospect St. – formerly known as LoConte’s and which old-timers might remember as Vinny’s Star Haven Pizza – has new owners.
ANNIVERSARIES
*Methuen Community Studios: For the past 30 years, MCS (formerly Methuen Community Television) has offered local programming that impacts residents. We tune in for everything from sports and cooking shows to candidate debates and the latest news. MCS also shares the wealth, by teaching classes on everything from using equipment to producing shows. Their Agean Drive location offers a podcast studio and meeting space. Cheers to MCS and thanks for all you do!
*Methuen Credit Union: Celebrating 70 years in business! Learn about their banking business at 248 Broadway.
IN THE WORKS
*Hampstead Manor: Renovations continue at the fixture at the end of Hampstead Street, near Route 97. The transformation will result in a steakhouse and martini bar. They continue to go through the city inspection process, per city officials in late June.
*Take 5 oil-change shop: 465 Broadway, in the long-vacant lot next to Rostron’s, has a building-permit application pending.
BEYOND THE BORDER
*Whole Foods Market, at Tuscan Village in Salem, N.H., is now open.
*DeColores Christian Books & Gifts, at 34 N. Broadway, Salem, N.H., marked 33 years in business. “Every customer who walked through our doors, every employee who served with joy, every family who chose to support a local Christian business, and every prayer offered along the way has been part of this story,” they posted on Facebook. “From the bottom of our hearts — thank you.”
*Staples, Party City partnership: Staples recently welcomed Party City to its Salem location at 176 S. Broadway, Suite 5. The balloon and party-goods store has teamed with Staples’ print and marketing services, aiming to personalize your celebration with a single stop. It’s a comeback for Party City, which filed for bankruptcy in 2023 and 2024. The new partnership is taking place at more than 700 locations nationwide and at Staples.com.
*Haverhill Beef announced that they’ll be moving from Merrimack Street into the former Chicken Connection spot at 242 Broadway, Haverhill.
*Rockingham Grand Casino: The current 19,000-square-foot Salem Casino at the Mall at Rockingham Park temporarily closed March 9 at 1am as it works to complete its 160,000-square-foot, two-floor space. There will be “approximately 825 historical racing machines, 32 gaming tables, a sports bar and other dining venues, retail sports betting, event spaces for entertainment and gathering,” and more, per casino officials. Aiming for a mid-2027 opening. New name: Rockingham Grand Casino!
