Storefront Stories

Behind every storefront, there’s a story.

Think about the local shops and restaurants you’ve missed most – the places and people that have become part of your life. Like the barista who knows you by name. The restaurant where you celebrate every family birthday. The boutique owner who always has time to chat and give treats to your dog. These businesses are what make MarketStreet feel like home, and the sense of connection they bring feels more valuable than ever.

Now, as they reopen their doors, we’re highlighting some of our neighbors through a new series, #storefrontstories. Through photos and five-minute interviews, we’re showcasing and celebrating the people behind the businesses you love, who have persevered through uncertain times and continue to make MarketStreet so special.

Watch the stories unfold on here and on Instagram, @marketstreetlynnfield, and get excited to return to your favorites. Want to see a certain business featured? Let us know!

Lush Cosmetics

Evelyn Martinez & Kelly Gogas (Store Manager & Manager in Training)

Q. What do you love most about working for MarketStreet?

A. The best part about working at Lush is that we get to sell beautiful ethical products and interact with the kindest customers while doing so, and the best part about being a part of MarketStreet is the community that is fostered by the space and the people. The level of collaboration between retailers and the mall has made it easy to create a magical experience for our staff and guests. Also, dogs! We love meeting new four-legged friends.

Q. What’s one positive thing that came out of this time?

A. Being away from the shop and from each other for such a considerable amount of time taught us that kindness and empathy should always lead the way. This is a lesson that will keep guiding our interactions with our business, our community and each other as we continue to navigate the current world climate.

Q. What are you most excited to do now that you’re back?
A. We are most excited to connect with our community. We love people, and our interactions with others often brighten our day. We believe in happy people using happy soap and filling the world with perfume.

Q. What is one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?
A. We joke that our shampoo bars last longer than most relationships. One shampoo bar will last between 80 – 100 washes. Since inventing the shampoo bar in the late 80s, Lush has been able to save over 6 million plastic bottles globally.

MarketStreet Management Team

Victor Hernandez (Head of Maintenance)

Q. What do you love most about working for MarketStreet?

A. I love working outdoors, the diversity of people who visit the property, the community events, and the team that I work with. I’ve learned a lot since I started here; I learned how to deal with people, how teams can work together, and how this business really works.

Q. What’s one positive thing that came out of this time?

A. I learned the value of my team and how important they are to this property.

Q. What are you most excited to do now that you’re back?
A. Experience new businesses and spend time with my team and the entire community that spends time here.

Q. What is one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?
A. I’m really social. I like to meet new people every day and be part of a strong team and community. This place wasn’t the same without them. Now that we’re all back together, it feels like a missing puzzle piece has been put back in its place.

Otto Pizza

Anthony Allen (Owner)

Q. What do you love most about your work and being part of MarketStreet?
A. We love the open setting of MarketStreet, especially in summer when we can open up our patio seating. We appreciate the sense of community amongst MarketStreet tenants — many of which, like OTTO, are regional independent restaurants or retailers.

Q. What’s one positive thing that came out of this time?
A. The COVID crisis has obviously been extremely difficult for everyone, and has hit restaurants especially hard. It has been incredibly challenging to keep business alive during this time, but our teams have come together to address the challenges through a variety of adaptations and innovations — including ‘touchless’ delivery and pickup options, combo options to provide value to our customers at this time, and taking part in the Feeding the Frontline campaign, which allows customers to donate towards providing nourishment to those working so hard in hospitals, and healthcare facilities in our community.

Q. What are you most excited to do once you’re back?
A. We are just excited to be serving guests inside our doors again. We are thankful to still be here to do so. We look forward to seeing the smiling faces of guests we haven’t seen for a while.

Q. What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?
A. While we are known as a Portland, ME-based company, many don’t know that both of our owners are natural born Bay Staters, and I (Anthony) am a long-time North Shore resident. More than half of our employees, as well as our dough facility, are based in MA. We are also a 100% independently owned company that started as a tiny little slice shop — Mike and I scraped together enough money to open it in 2009, and we have grown to 15 locations in almost 11 years.

Pink Parkway + Southern Tide

Maggie Svirk (Owner) and Lennie Murphy (Manager)

Q. What do you love most about working for MarketStreet?

A. I love that Market Street is an outdoor shopping center, especially during the Spring and Summer months – it is a gorgeous place to be! The Lynnfield, and surrounding North Shore communities, are a tight-knit group that love to eat, drink, and shop here and we love forming lasting relationships with all of our local customers. Plus, our fellow retailers are a great bonus, especially the restaurants for post-work dining and drinks!

Q. What’s one positive thing that came out of this time? 

A. One positive thing that came out of this time was that we found new and creative ways to reach our customers. It created a challenge, but we were up for it! We were able to expand our market by creating an e-commerce website for both stores which allowed us to offer curbside pickup and ship throughout the nation. We now have customers from Utah, California, Hawaii, and all over the US! Our local customers have also been a HUGE support and have shown us an outpouring of small business love – we are so thankful!

Q. What are you most excited to do now that you’re back?

A. One thing we are most excited for is hosting parties and events again! Whether we are throwing a big Anniversary party, or just having munchkins or mimosas in-store, we miss being able to host a good party! The Lilly Pulitzer and Southern Tide brands are known as being bubbly, adventurous and always down for a good time, so we love to add a fun twist to shopping!

Q. What is one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A. We offer custom Southern Tide apparel! If you are looking to make custom gear for your company, group, or sports team, we are happy to help! You can get your favorite Southern Tide gear with your own custom design on it!

One interesting fact about Pink Parkway is that both of our fitting rooms are hand painted by a Lilly Pulitzer print designer. She brought the four primary colors and was able to create a beautiful masterpiece in just hours- a real tribute to the ingenuity of the brand! One of our fitting rooms even has the full story of how the brand came to be such a fashion influence hand painted on the wall!

Master O Karate Academy

Herman Ocasio (Sensei + Owner)

Q. What do you love most about your work and being part of MarketStreet?

A. It’s a community of people who share the same focus and love for people. We are one family!

Q. What’s one positive thing that came out of this time?

A. We grew more intimate with our audience by offering virtual karate classes and helped provide a sense of hope for those in these past few months.

Q. What are you most excited to do now that you’re back?

A. Pizza and birthday parties in the studio!

Q. What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A. We love people and help people of all ages and of all backgrounds. We have a shared focus, culture and its unbelievable benefits!

Lahey Health Hub

Kristy Cahill, MD

Q. What do you love most about your work and being part of MarketStreet?

A. I absolutely love the relationships that are built in medicine and, specifically, in the practice of primary care. Practicing primary care in MarketStreet has the additional bonus of being part of a greater community outside of the office. I am so lucky to work with amazing colleagues at Lahey Health Hub and am even more privileged to have the support and collegiality that exists in MarketStreet as a whole.

Q. What’s one positive thing that came out of this time?

A. I have been profoundly impressed with how quickly everyone has embraced the massive changes in healthcare over the past 3 months. My coworkers and patients have remained connectly deeply in the absence of physical interaction and have continued to remain forward thinking and optimistic.

Q. What are you most excited to do now that you’re back?

A. I am most excited to be a part of redesigning the safe delivery of healthcare and develop our “new normal” that is patient focused and innovative.

Q. What’s one interesting fact about you or your business that you want your customers to know?

A. Lahey Health Hub has successfully obtained free Crocs for almost every team member during the healthcare worker promotion (it took a LOT of computers!).

MarketStreet Management Team

Brian Paglia (Operations Director)

Q. What do you love most about your work and being part of MarketStreet?

A. The team.

Q. What’s one positive thing that came out of this time?

A. My appreciation for what housekeeping really does at MarketStreet.

Q. What are you most excited to do now that businesses are reopening?

A. To go out and have dinner with my wife at Temazcal or Legal C Bar.

Q. What’s one interesting fact about you that you want your customers to know?

A. Everything I do is for my family. In a way, my family has given a lot to MarketStreet by supporting me and helping me shape where this place is today. That’s why I’m so passionate about how things are done here, so that everyone can be successful. and my family can see that success.