From Plates to People: Cecilia Ritter on Building Downtown

In this episode of Heavy Lifts, Nat Borchers and AJ Nash sit down with Cecilia Ritter, owner of Wild Pear, longtime downtown Salem business leader, and community builder with a gift for mixing warmth, grit, and vision.Cecilia shares her journey of running a beloved local restaurant, the challenges of navigating downtown Salem’s ups and downs, and the joy of seeing community come alive around food and shared spaces. From the behind-the-scenes of entrepreneurship to the philosophy of giving back where you live, this episode dives into the real story of building a business and a community at the same time.We talk about what it means to stick it out downtown, why hospitality is more than just food on a plate, and how Salem’s small businesses can shape the future of the city.What you’ll hear in this episode:- Cecilia’s journey building Wild Pear and growing roots in Salem- The realities (and rewards) of running a business downtown- Why community building starts with generosity and hospitality- The role of small businesses in Salem’s revitalization- Lessons from decades of entrepreneurship and leadership🎧 New episodes drop every Friday at 9 AM on YouTube & Spotify.📍 Heavy Lifts is for people who see what could be and are willing to make it real.