Medford Chamber throwing 'one big party' to celebrate 100 years
The Medford Chamber of Commerce will celebrate its centennial by celebrating local businesses. And, the community is invited.
And, all are invited
The Medford Chamber of Commerce has withstood the test of time, and so have many of the businesses that today form its foundation. So, the Chamber is throwing what Executive Director Laura O'Neill says is going to be "one big party" to celebrate 100 years of business. And, the community is invited.
The Chamber turns 100 this year and is hosting a casino night at The Great American Beer Hall on April 28. A ticket gets you play-money to use at the blackjack table and roulette wheel, food, and chances to win prizes.
“We looked at a lot of different ways to celebrate this milestone, and we decided that the best thing to do is just one big party,” O’Neill said during an interview at the Chamber's office at 1 Shipyard Way. “Skip the accolades, the timelines, the speeches. As much as we love looking at old pictures and watching these time-lapse videos, we really want it to be about the people who are here now, because we wouldn’t be celebrating a hundred if these businesses weren’t still here.”
It’s not so much about the chamber as it is about the members, she said. There are establishments in Medford that have been in business for 100 years, many for over 50 years, and some for only one year, O’Neill said, and the idea is to celebrate all of them.
On its website, the Chamber has a page devoted to the 100th anniversary, and there you can see old photos of Medford Square as part of a video celebrating 100 years of businesses in the city, and there's a timeline of how things have changed.
Two local nonprofits, the Kiwanis Club of Medford and the Medford Rotary Club, celebrated their centennials recently, and La Cascia's Bakery & Deli at 418 Main Street turns 100 this year.
La Cascia's, 100 years on
Gotta Know Medford stopped in at La Cascia's on a recent Saturday to see how things are going 100 years on. What was originally a scali bread bakery and delivery service became a bakery and convenience store and is now a combination deli, pizzeria, caterer, and bakery, featuring homemade Italian specialties and many different desserts and pastries.
Fred and Sonia Moscaritolo have owned La Cascia's since 1991, when they bought it from the La Cascia family. The facility still has some of the original tile flooring, and photos of the business in days past hang over an entryway.
While the times are difficult at the moment because of the economy, they said, the business is doing well. They have many regular customers, they said, and they have a following of people who come from out of state to visit Medford and make it a point to stop in at La Cascia's.
And, the restaurant review show Wicked Bites TV filmed a segment at La Cascia's recently and also streamed a portion live on Facebook. You can see the video posted to YouTube, and the full segment will air on NESN.
One big party
For Casino Night, O'Neill said, half the space will have professional casino tables.
“The other half is open, and just high-top tables and people telling their Medford stories," she said.
“We wanted a casino night because we’ve heard from people sometimes if you’re not a traditional networker, it’s hard to interact,” O'Neill said.
She said she hopes people will just hang out and have a good time, connect with people they know and meet others for the first time. You can spend some time at the casino tables and then have pizza and appetizers, and there will be a cash bar.
"Included with your ticket is play money that allows you to win real prizes," O'Neill said.
The grand prize is a Medford package that includes dinner and four tickets to the Chevalier for "The Price is Right – Live On Stage." Second prize is a Dave’s Hot Chicken corporate lunch for 15 people. And, third is a beauty basket with beauty services worth over $500.
As part of the 100th anniversary, O’Neill said, the Chamber also rolled out a new website that will make it easier for members to connect with each other and will make it easier for people who live in, work in, or visit Medford to find stores, restaurants, events, and services.
“We’re trying to make it easier for everyone to shop local,” O’Neill said.
That's the thing many people don't realize about the importance of a local chamber of commerce, she said. The chamber is an advocate for all businesses and for the city as a whole, O'Neill said. It connects people with businesses and businesses with people, and it works to address the common issues facing all the establishments in the city, she said.
The Medford Chamber of Commerce Casino Night is April 28, from 5 to 9 p.m., at The Great American Beer Hall. Tickets can be purchased online. For information, visit https://www.medfordchamberma.com/, email loneill@medfordchamberma.com, or call 781-396-1277.
