AMESBURY — Looking to return Amesbury Days to its roots and give local businesses a chance to thank their hardworking staff, the Chamber of Commerce teamed with The Water Street Café at Crave to bring back the Employee Appreciation Luncheon.
“We are just so excited to treat our employees to a lunch, and we’re excited to support Crave and also the Chamber of Commerce,” said Stone Ridge Properties owner Erica Puorro, while also picking up her employees’ lunches.
Business owners trickled into the Water Street eatery from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to pick up lunches they ordered and paid for as part of one of the city’s oldest traditions. Most bags contained lobster rolls, while others had salads or falafel wraps.
“Amesbury Days when it started 125 years ago, the intention was for the mill owners to thank their employees,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Sheila Beach said. “So for years, this had been a part of the Amesbury Days celebration.”
The event, originally run by Main Street Congregational Church, has been brought back by the Chamber after a few years on hiatus.
“It seemed like a good fit to coordinate it through the Chamber considering it has to do with thanking the employees,” Beach said.
Sean Toomey, owner of The Water Street Café at Crave, said he was fortunate everyone in the city knows they can come to him for these types of events.
“Well, I never say no. So everyone knows that if they ask me, I’m going to say yes. But on this one, I got lucked out that they asked me,” Toomey said.
With his kids marking the fourth generation of his family to live in Amesbury, Toomey said it has been incredible to see how the celebration of Amesbury Days has grown along with the city.
“Being a townie, it’s just amazing what’s happened to this community, how many people are here now, how many people really take advantage of what the Chamber does every year, what the Amesbury Days Committee does every year,” Toomey said.
He said he is proud to be part of bringing back the Employee Appreciation Luncheon.
Beach said they put in 42 orders for businesses, with Beach grabbing lunch for herself and her staff.
“I got a lobster roll. Stephanie got the falafel wrap,” she said.
Puorro, who grew up in the city, said it is always nostalgic to see old events return.
“It just reminds me of all the fun I had growing up here with Amesbury Days, and it brings a lot of people in the community together, the Block Party was awesome, there’s just so many fun things to do for all ages here,” Puorro said
Looking ahead, Puorro said she is looking forward to the Fourth of July fireworks at Woodsom Farm that will close out Amesbury Days.
“I hope the weather cooperates,” Puorro said
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.