5 Star Review By Kelly Thomas
I fell in love with this place the moment I walked in. At the time I had no idea the building was a former mausoleum (funeral home), but the architecture makes complete sense once you know the history. The stained glass windows create soft, unusual lighting that makes the giant open interior feel simultaneously cozy and dramatic. Not manufactured character. Actual history and lived-in community energy. Any place with recognizable regulars is a good sign. IKE Box has them. I've attended Recovery Dharma meetings here pre-COVID and now I convene my LifeRing Secular Recovery meeting here every Monday at 5:30pm. Because we're there every single week, management gave us a discounted room rate, which is genuinely appreciated and says everything about the culture of this place. Over the years I've hosted a lot of gatherings here. The large upstairs room is excellent for groups. There was a smaller cozy upstairs room I absolutely loved before it became an office, which I haven't fully forgiven. Downstairs the Bay Room and the community room both work well depending on size and vibe. The community room is free if you grab it first, which is one of Salem's better kept secrets. Beyond the meeting rooms there are tucked away cubbies for quiet work, outdoor seating when Salem weather cooperates, and a huge central space with a stage and a piano sitting there quietly reminding me I should have stuck with lessons. Local artists rotate through the walls and most of the work is for sale, which makes the building feel connected to Salem rather than just operating inside it. The menu is focused but good. Sisters Coffee, bagels, locally made pastries, quiche, soup, and smoothies you can now spike with protein powder. The tea selection is excellent, around 10 to 12 options with at least half caffeine free, which matters when you're there after 5pm with a hard 3pm caffeine cutoff. I'm currently off sugar and gluten, so the pastry case is something I admire from a respectful distance, so if there's nose prints on it, wasn't me (supposedly). If you DO overdo the cookies and need immediate cardio intervention, the YMCA is right next door. Membership required. Logistics worth knowing: - Parking next to the building is metered but cheap - After 4pm the carpool spaces across the street are free - Bus routes are nearby The best part about spending money here: IKE Box is the social enterprise storefront for Isaac's Room, a local nonprofit providing job training, internships, transitional housing, and mentorship to at-risk and foster youth ages 16 to 21. Your afternoon tea funds that mission. That makes a good cup of tea taste even better. It's more than a coffee shop. It's part of Salem's social fabric.