Salem City Council approves Warren Museum operating hours trial
City Council · Meeting of March 26, 2026
Salem City Council approves trial hours for paranormal museum. After extensive public testimony from neighborhood residents and business owners, the City Council voted to allow the Haunted Warren Museum at 259 Essex Street to operate on a 90-day trial basis with hours until 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and midnight Friday and Saturday, starting after certificate of occupancy; Council President Alice Rose Merkl presided.
Councillor Andrew Smith (Ward 2) sponsored the motion as a compromise from the applicant's original request for 2 a.m. closing, while Councillor Lydia King (Ward 5) and Councillor Conrad Prosniewski aligned with neighborhood residents in opposition. An amendment by Councillor Andrew Varela (Ward 7) to increase trial hours failed on a 3-8 vote. The council also appropriated $60,000 for Mansell Field restoration and granted utility installation orders to National Grid and Verizon.
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Source: the City Council meeting of March 26, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.
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