The family behind a New England-based traveling amusement park is branching out with a new restaurant and event space.
The Dean family—operators of Fiesta Shows at Salisbury Beach, Topsfield Fair, and The Big E—plans to open an as-of-yet unnamed eatery and event space at 311 Derby St in Salem’s Riverwalk area.
Formerly home to American Flatbread/Derby Lanes, the space will undergo significant renovations, including the removal of existing bowling lanes to make room for the event space.
Fiesta Shows CEO E.J. Dean told What Now Boston that the restaurant will serve pub-style comfort food and drinks, though this project represents a slight departure from Fiesta Show’s usual focus.
“The majority of our food operation is mobile by nature,” explained Dean. “We do have some permanent stuff, but this is a slightly new area that we’re branching into. We want to be smart about everything from the kitchen setup to the menu.”
The Dean family’s roots in the food industry date back to the 1920s at Salisbury Beach, with current permanent locations at Hampton Beach and West Springfield.
The new Salem establishment is expected to debut in late spring or early summer 2025.
“We are committed to the North Shore community,” Dean recently told Patch, “and we are excited to bring our latest venture to life in the form of a restaurant that embodies our values of quality, affordability, and service.”
