The Cannery Is Back On

For years, the old Truitt Brothers Cannery on Northeast Front Street has sat quiet. A massive 13-acre riverfront property in the heart of Salem, just waiting.

But that wait might finally be over.

Aaron Stickney, co-founder of New Jersey-based SilverSphere Capital, sat down (vitually) with What's Happening Salem this week to share his plans for The Cannery, and his vision for what Salem could become.

He's under contract with the Truitt family and expects to close in May. Demolition starts shortly after. Groundbreaking: October 2026.

"Salem's going to come back and I think it just takes someone," Stickney said. "We'll be the first and we're taking the risk to do it, and then you're going to see a dramatic change happen."

Here's what's planned:

Phase 1 includes 383 residential units and 50,000 square feet of retail. Six storefronts will face Front Street. Along the river, you'll find a winery, restaurant, open market, and a full grocery store. The historic 1914 building near the Willamette gets preserved and turned into a wine tasting room. Two riverfront piers become a food hall and a market.

Phase 2 adds another 400 units and up to 60,000 more square feet of retail, replacing the soccer stadium idea from the original plans. "We realize the community didn't want that," Stickney said. "We're sensitive to it."

The parking situation? Fully automated. Pull in, leave your keys, take a ticket. The system handles the rest. No valet, no attendant, your car shows up when you want it.

Stickney isn't sugarcoating Salem's current moment. "The city's dying. It just needs to be re-energized." But he's seen this story before, in the Carolinas, Florida, Detroit, New York. Depressed areas that turned around when someone decided to go first.

He wants to be that someone here.

"We put a lot of money into analyzing emerging markets, and Salem came up as one of the next," he said. "We're making a stake and willing to take the risk to be the first to do something different, in hopes that it will bring other people in, which is only going to help our project."

The design is getting a refresh too. The previous Mansard roofline, which Stickney described as feeling more "south of France than Pacific Northwest", is out. New renderings from OTC Pacific Northwest are in progress, with a modern farmhouse aesthetic built around brick, timber, cobblestone walkways, and materials salvaged from the original cannery.

"We're at the end of Market Street, we're the bookmark," he said. "When you get there, we want it to be notable. We want people from Vancouver and Seattle coming down just to spend a day because of what we created."

Stay tuned. We'll keep following this one closely.

Come hungry for Pupusas Chileros, one of the standout food vendors at the Salem Saturday Market. For the past four years, this small, Latina owned business has been serving pupusas made with love while also sharing something deeper. As an ASD family, they use their platform to spread autism awareness and connect with others who share similar experiences. Their son, Christian, who is non verbal, is at the heart of it all, bringing joy and purpose to everything they do.

First-time visitors can start with the classic pork and cheese pupusas, while popular favorites include the birria pupusas and birria egg rolls. They are also launching fun new items like pink pupusas made with beet juice, heart-shaped tortas called Que Chilero!, and a birria ramen combo with a birria egg roll. And fittingly, chilero means cool or amazing in Guatemala. With a food trailer set to debut at the market this summer, Pupusas Chileros is a spot worth checking out.

Custom motorcycles, tattoo artists, hot rods, and live music all under one roof. The Cherry City Classic returns for a full weekend of engines, art, and high-octane entertainment.

The indoor bike show takes over Columbia Hall while live motorcycle racing roars next door at the Salem Speedway. Day passes, race passes, and VIP tickets are available, and kids 10 and under enter the bike show free with an adult.

Lights, acrobatics, and glowing circus spectacle. The all-new Jordan World GLOW Circus brings a three-ring show filled with LED lights, aerial stunts, and gravity-defying performances to the Salem Armory.

Expect international circus acts, high-energy music, and plenty of family-friendly thrills. Early bird tickets for the first 100 guests start at just $9.88

Showtimes:
Sat 4:00PM & 7:30PM
Sun 1:00PM & 5:00PM

Cherry blossoms, taiko drums, and Japanese cultural performances fill the Capitol for this annual spring celebration.

Cherry Blossom Day features music, martial arts demonstrations, a kimono fashion show, tea ceremonies, and a Bon Dance honoring Japanese culture and the blooming trees around the Capitol Mall.

With performances, cultural booths, and free parking on Saturday, it is a beautiful way to welcome spring.

Irish music, glowing violin bows, aerial performers, and a stage full of Celtic energy. The Celtic Light Orchestra returns to the Grand Theater for a one-of-a-kind St. Patrick’s celebration.

Led by fiddle virtuoso Katie Jane Lubiens, the orchestra performs lively jigs and reels with their signature LED “Glow Bowz” while dancers and aerialists bring the spectacle to life. Guests can even arrive early to learn a céilí dance before the show.

This show sells out every year, so grab tickets early if you want a seat.

Bass, lasers, and a packed dance floor. Project PLURR returns to The BAD Space with an all-female DJ lineup celebrating International Women’s Day.

Hosted by the Rave River family, the night features multiple DJs spinning bass-heavy electronic sets while raising funds for the Latino Community Association. Expect big sound, plenty of dancing, plus a full bar and food available all night.

Driving cumbia rhythms with a rock edge. Machetres brings their Cumbia y Rock sound to Xicha Brewing Norte for a lively night of Latin music.

Expect infectious grooves, energetic melodies, and plenty of reasons to get out of your seat and dance.

Sharp jokes, huge online buzz, and a fast-rising comic on the big stage. René Vaca brings his standup tour to the Elsinore after building a massive following online and breaking out at Netflix’s 2024 Introducing showcase. If you like relatable comedy with plenty of charisma, this is one to keep on your radar.

Loud guitars, local bands, and a night that should get rowdy fast. Never Sunny, Bazooka Sharkz, and friends take over the Grand Ballroom for an all-ages evening of live rock. Keep this one in mind, it’ll be a wild night!

White outfits, hilarious shirt confessions, and a packed Spring Break dance floor. The White Lies Party takes over Mexiyaki with live music from Destino Afirmado and sounds by DJ Inferno and DJ Belix. Half the tickets are already gone, so this is one to lock in early. Make it a great spring break with Rhythm & Flow!

K-Pop remixes, costumes, and a kid-friendly rave on the dance floor. GOLDEN turns the Historic Grand Theater into a high-energy party for kids and families who love music, movement, and pop fun. If your family loves K-Pop Demon Hunters or your littles just love to dance, this is one to plan ahead for.

Learn a timeless skill and leave with something you made yourself. This free leather wallet workshop teaches basic stitching techniques while guiding participants through creating a wallet or card holder of their own. Space is limited, so this is a good one to sign up for early.

More than 1,000 fans showed up for the home opener, and the Salem Capitals are looking to keep that energy rolling. The Capitals face the Vancouver Bears at the Armory as the rivalry continues and the season heats up. Make a note now if you want to be part of another loud hometown crowd next weekend.

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Thanks for keeping up with Salem this week!

Spotted something interesting in town? Drop us a note at [email protected] We love hearing from you.

See you next Thursday,

Ernie