Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
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NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 34 JANUARY + FEBRUARY 2019 that had to be thrown away. "When we finally got back in, there was half-eaten hummus, half-drunk glasses of wine," Berdahn says. Palmers Restaurant & Tavern not only had a restaurant full of diners but was also prepping for three private functions that weekend, including two wedding rehearsal dinners that night. Of course, the restaurant industry wasn't the only one struggling in the wake of the disaster. e Andover real estate market has also taken a hit. For instance, banks wouldn't finance houses without gas, leaving both buyers and sellers in a frustrating limbo, says Deborah Lucci, team leader of the Deborah Lucci Team for William Raveis Realtors. "You could have a buyer that sold their house that is now displaced," she says. In addi- tion, landlords couldn't collect rent for apart- ments without heat and hot water. Lucci also says that inventory was up this fall over last year, reaching a whopping 55 percent over last year in November. More in- ventory means lower prices. Meanwhile, some sellers were forced to take their homes off the market, as gas lines continued to be repaired and oil-heated homes surged in popularity, thanks to gas-averse buyers. Other sellers delayed listing their homes at all. Despite the tough fall, Lucci says the Andover real estate market is stabilizing. But amidst the losses, setbacks, and frustrations, Andover businesses are soldiering on and leaning on each other for support, sharing information and resources, and cheering each other on. "e lifeblood of the community is the downtown," says Steve Leed, co-president of Royal Jewelers, a downtown business that celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2018. "e focus right now, and the rallying cry that we should have as a community, should be 'Andover: All You Need; Shop Local.'" Indeed, downtown Andover is a destination that has it all: great restaurants, men's and women's clothing, shoes, books, bakeries, salons, and more. "To me Andover is a real working downtown. It's a really vibrant downtown.… It's a full-service downtown," says Ann Or- mond, director of business, arts, and cultural development for the town of Andover. And its businesses and residents plan to keep work- ing—even harder than before, committing to coming back better and stronger than ever. Palmers, for instance, has used the down- time to clean, paint, upgrade, and refresh the restaurant, as well as revamp the menu to include items. More renewal will come to downtown in the form of an Andover Restaurant Week in late January, as well as the brand-new initia- tive First Fridays, which celebrates local art, culture, food, and shopping with free, family- friendly events on the first Friday of each month. For instance, February's First Friday / F A C E S + P L A C E S / event will feature free salsa lessons and music at Old Town Hall, Ormond says. ere's even a new business downtown in the wake of the disaster. e new eory Wine Bar + Listening Room gives visitors a chance to experience unique small-batch wines and live music from local jazz, funk, indie, folk, and other original acts. Owners Jenny Schneidewent and Chris Bachmann say their opening was delayed about two weeks because of the disaster, but they remained determined to move forward as local buzz for their business grew. "We're excited to finally open our doors and invite people in and become a part of the commu- nity" Bachmann says. Ormond says "resiliency" is a word she'd use to describe the feeling in Andover over the past couple of months. "I think the whole business community has been resilient and positive," she says. Berdahn has another word to describe her mood: grateful. She says she's been overwhelmed by people's kindness, pointing to the outpouring of support and en- couragement she's heard from loyal custom- ers, neighbors, and even former employees who've offered to lend a hand. "is has been such an opportunity for good people to shine, and they have," she says. at shine glows throughout Andover. But don't take our word for it; check it out for yourself. "We are here and open for business," Leed says. PHOTOGRAPH BY SARAH JORDAN MCCAFFERY The chef and owner of Palmers is John Ingalls. Below, and Ann Ormond director of business, arts, and cultural development for the town of Andover.