SALEM, N.H. — A new restaurant concept, a 12-court pickleball complex and a proposed day care center are among the items the Salem Planning Board will review Tuesday night.
At 7 p.m. in the Town Hall, 33 Geremonty Drive, planners will review a site plan application to renovate 4,000 square feet of commercial space at 125 South Broadway into a Wonder restaurant.
The proposed 17-seat establishment would occupy part of a 28,551-square-foot retail plaza home to Barnes & Noble, Supercuts, Wrap City and Findeisen’s Ice Cream, in the space formerly occupied by Top Fitness Store.
Wonder’s business model centers on partnerships with nationally known chefs and restaurants, offering a variety of cuisines. Customers primarily order through the company’s mobile app, though third-party delivery services such as Uber Eats and DoorDash would also be supported.
Plans include a small dine-in area, a waiting space and dedicated pickup areas for customers and delivery drivers.
The restaurant would operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to midnight, with staffing levels ranging from about six employees during lunch to 12 and 13 during peak evening hours. No exterior changes are proposed, though the applicant is seeking a parking variance to allow fewer spaces than typically required.
Approximately 4,800 square feet of adjacent space would remain available for a future tenant.
The board will also consider a proposal from PR Sports Hooksett, LLC to redevelop 179 Main St. into a 25,100-square-foot pickleball facility. Plans call for six indoor courts, six outdoor courts, a juice bar and a training area.
Applicants say the project would repurpose a site that has largely been unused in recent years, bringing it back into public use. The property was previously home to a furniture warehouse and Paul Garabedian and Sons, Inc., a construction company.
No significant exterior building change are proposed, though outdoor courts would be added as would landscaping to help screen the facility from neighboring properties and the roadway.
The pickleball project is also requesting a parking variance to permit fewer spaces than required under zoning regulations.
A continued public hearing will also be held for Wellco Learning, LLC, which is seeking to convert the former Rite Aid building at 142 Main St. into an approximately 11,000-square-foot daycare facility serving up to 142 students with 30 staff members. The facility, owned by Kerry and Jeff Welton, would operate as a Goddard School franchise.
The application was continued from February after board members raised concerns about traffic congestion and site circulation, particularly during drop-off and pick-up periods. Project representatives have said staggered scheduling would spread traffic throughout the day, and that events would be held outside peak hours.
An updated traffic study dated March 11 found the day care would not have a significant impact on traffic operations. Engineering firm Stonefield also submitted responses addressing staff and board comments.
The proposal is expected to return to the board for site plan approval following the public hearing. Site plan and variance approvals are also expected for Wonder and the Pickleball project.