Salt Flower and Tilted Orbit Arcade Celebrate Openings in The Mill District with Two Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies October 16

Community invited to celebrate two new locally owned businesses on Friday, October 16

AMHERST, MA – The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will celebrate the continued growth of The Mill District with two ribbon cutting ceremonies on Friday, October 16, welcoming Salt Flower and Tilted Orbit Arcade to the vibrant North Amherst destination.

The afternoon will begin at 3:00 p.m. at Salt Flower, 83 Cowls Road, followed by a second ceremony at 3:30 p.m. at Tilted Orbit Arcade, 113 Cowls Road. Community members are invited to join local business leaders, friends, and neighbors in celebrating both businesses and exploring more of what the growing district has to offer.

Salt Flower is a flower shop and design studio owned by Laura Mae Pfeffer. The shop opened earlier this fall, offering fresh bouquets alongside a curated selection of vases, skincare, and floral-infused gifts. Before opening her brick-and-mortar location in Amherst, Pfeffer spent eight years creating custom floral designs for weddings and events across New England as Until We Wed Flower Co., a service she continues to offer alongside the retail store. At the ribbon cutting ceremony, Salt Flower will celebrate with complimentary small bouquets, floral tea, and cupcakes from neighboring business Carefree Cakery.

“I wanted Salt Flower to be a place where anyone can walk in and find something beautiful, for themselves or for someone they love,” said Laura Mae Pfeffer, Owner of Salt Flower. “Whether you’re grabbing a single stem or a gift, you should leave feeling like it was a little occasion. I’m so grateful for the welcome we’ve received, and I’m excited to be part of this community.”

Just steps away, Tilted Orbit Arcade will bring a new entertainment experience to The Mill District. The venue is built as a community gathering space, with one of the largest pinball collections in the Valley, plus classic games, a golf simulator, and snacks and beverages. Owner Amy McDonough has transformed the historic Cow Barn into a destination for players of all ages and experience levels. Tilted Orbit will celebrate its grand opening the next day, Saturday, October 17.

“This started with friends coming over to my house to play pinball, and somehow they kept bringing more friends. Tilted Orbit is the version of that with enough room for everyone,” said Amy McDonough, Owner of Tilted Orbit Arcade. “Whether you’ve been chasing high scores for years or you’ve never touched a flipper, you belong here, and we’re so glad to be doing it in The Mill District.”

The back-to-back ceremonies also give attendees an opportunity to experience everything the Mill District has to offer. In addition to Salt Flower and Tilted Orbit Arcade, visitors can enjoy locally owned restaurants, cafés, specialty food shops, boutiques, services, public art, outdoor gathering spaces, and a variety of community events.

“What makes this day particularly exciting is that we aren’t celebrating just one new business; we’re welcoming two very different concepts that each add something special to the Amherst Area,” said Jacob Robinson, Executive Director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce. “Salt Flower brings creativity and a highly personal retail experience, while Tilted Orbit Arcade creates a new way for people to gather, play, and connect. Together, they are a great example of the entrepreneurial energy we’re seeing throughout The Mill District.”

“Salt Flower and Tilted Orbit are perfect examples of what we’ve always wanted in The Mill District — experiential independent businesses that build community,” said Cinda Jones, President of W.D. Cowls Inc. “Join us at 6 p.m. on Thursday, October 22nd as the celebration of a flower shop and outer space continues with our final movie of the year: Little Shop of Horrors. Under the white tent.”

Both ribbon cutting ceremonies are free and open to the public, with RSVPs encouraged through the event page here.

Event Details

Salt Flower Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Friday, October 16, 2026 at 3:00 p.m.

Salt Flower
83 Cowls Road
Amherst, MA 01002

Tilted Orbit Arcade Ribbon Cutting Ceremony
Friday, October 16, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.

Tilted Orbit Arcade
113 Cowls Road
Amherst, MA 01002

Hosted by: Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce
In partnership with: The Mill District