A new youth-focused space called The REC: Commons opened on Lancaster Drive NE in East Salem on Friday, Aug. 21, bringing a coffee shop, conference rooms and youth programming to the corridor near McKay High School.

The Salem Area Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the opening. Chamber CEO Tom Hoffert's organization called the space a place where young people can connect and build meaningful relationships, with a focus on mentorship and creating opportunities for youth.

The REC: Commons describes itself as a coffee shop with conference room space and youth programs. Its exact model, whether nonprofit, for-profit or a hybrid, has not been publicly detailed. A specific street address has not been confirmed beyond its location on Lancaster Drive NE near McKay High School.

The opening comes at a notable time for that section of Lancaster Drive.

As we reported Aug. 25, the corridor has been dealing with vacancies after Rite Aid's closure. The REC: Commons fills a different niche, but its arrival signals continued investment in the East Salem stretch.

The space appears to be part of a broader family of venues. The Chamber's announcement also pointed residents toward The REC and The REC: Grange, a related Salem location that calls itself "mission-driven" and "meeting-friendly."

According to The REC: Grange's social media, its profits fund Valor Mentoring for local youth. The precise relationship between The REC: Commons and Valor Mentoring has not been confirmed.

The Chamber's Facebook video about the ribbon-cutting drew roughly 2,000 views.

No public hours, programming schedules or enrollment details for The REC: Commons have been posted yet. Residents can follow updates on the organization's Facebook page.

The space's next public milestones, including youth program start dates and regular hours, have not been announced.