The Watertown Development Company is keeping its promise of filling empty buildings downtown.

Anne Mack, owner of Hot Mama Mack’s, and Jason Mack, an AFLAC Insurance Agent, are the newest businesses to have chosen to locate downtown.

For the last 10 years, Jason has been working at another location in Watertown, and Anne has been assisting him out of their home.

The two businesses will now occupy all of the space previously known as Off the Clock Chophouse at 206 East Kemp Avenue.

Anne and Jason’s businesses join others who have recently located downtown because of the WDC’s downtown revitalization program, including Phillip Matthews’ State Farm Agency, and Sunshine & Co. boutique.

“We are excited to have them locate downtown. They will make a great addition to the mix of retailers located there,” said Chris Schilken, Executive Director for the Watertown Development Company. “What we’re most excited about is that Anne’s business is serving a dual purpose,” said Schilken, “She’s filling an empty space downtown and answering a question that most working parents dread to hear almost every day around 3:00 pm, which is, ‘What’s for dinner??’ “.

Whether the question comes in a message or it pops into your head during the workday, most parents automatically cringe, because it’s one of the most stressful times of the day.

Anne is making it her mission to help you.  “I know there is a need for healthier, real food, but people are too busy to figure out how to make that work. I have always loved cooking for people, it just makes me happy,” Anne said in a recent interview.

Born and raised in Watertown, Anne is the daughter of local longtime resident and dentist, Dr. Jim Saylor. Her passion for cooking and baking was sparked when she was just 10 years old. Over the years, she has worked in a few other positions, from being a nurse, to a full-time mom, to working alongside her husband at AFLAC. While she was doing that, she was also making salsa.  She started giving her salsa away to friends and family. Over time, it became so popular that she decided she should start selling it. That’s when she came up with the idea to start her own business.

Hot Mama Mack’s business is two-fold; she prepares mild, medium, and hot salsa, and she also prepares ready-made meals that people can take home, heat, and eat, or freeze for another day. Her meals are available for pickup 11:00 am – 6:00 pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Depending on the type of meal prepared, prices will vary slightly; from $10-12 dollars for a two-person meal and $15-20 for a family size meal.

She will do her best to customize for allergies and dietary preferences.

Both places are open and ready for business. You can find the meals and order what Anne will be preparing for the week on her Facebook page at “hot mama macks.”