Bringing Asia to the Witch City
A family-owned market on Washington Street, built by a neighbor who saw what Salem was missing.
A neighbor first, a shop owner second
Annie Lin is from Fujian, China and moved to the Boston area fifteen years ago. For more than eight years she’s owned Koto Grill & Sushi at 90 Washington Street — just a few doors down.
She kept hearing the same thing from customers and neighbors: there was nowhere local to buy Asian groceries. Getting a bag of sushi rice or a bottle of good soy sauce meant a twenty-minute drive — often longer with traffic.
Annie also noticed that downtown Salem draws huge foot traffic thanks to its witch shops, museums and monuments — but not nearly enough places to grab a quick bite. So she set out to fix both problems at once.
The Annie timeline
From Fujian to Boston
Annie moves to the Boston area and starts building a life — and a career — in New England restaurants.
Koto Grill & Sushi opens
Annie opens Koto at 90 Washington Street, becoming a fixture of downtown Salem’s dining scene.
Bubble tea comes to Salem
Koto’s bubble tea program launches — complete with our witchy “Bubble Tea, Salem MA” cup.
Annie Asian Mart opens
The long-awaited mart opens at 72 Washington Street, bringing Asian groceries, boba and grab-and-go eats to downtown.
Salem’s Asian pantry
A go-to for locals, students and visitors alike — and still the only Asian market in downtown Salem.
Why Salem shops with Annie
Close to home
No more long drives. Authentic Asian ingredients, right in downtown Salem.
Culture to share
A friendly place to discover new flavors — whether you grew up with them or not.
Made fresh
Every boba drink shaken to order, every grab-and-go bite made for today.
Family-owned
Part of Salem’s community of independent, family-run businesses.
Craving boba? Skip the line.
Order ahead for pickup or get it delivered anywhere in Salem.