Maybe it was where you got your first paycheck . Or where you begged your mom for a shiny new toy or a pair of snazzy slacks . From supermarkets to department stores , here are some beloved Rhode Island institutions no longer standing but with us in spirit — and with us when telling folks to “ Take a right where Benny ’ s used to be .”
Almacs Almacs Supermarkets were a Rhody staple serving southern New England neighborhoods before filing for bankruptcy and closing their doors in 1995 . According to the New York Times , the supermarkets had about $ 100 million in debt to be restructured , with $ 166 million in assets and $ 150 million in liabilities . The locations have since been replaced by shopping malls and stores like Shaw ’ s , CVS , Seabra Foods and Ocean State Job Lot .
Cherry and Webb The spot to browse for women ’ s dresses , shoes and cosmetics , Cherry and Webb was founded in 1888 and provided New England residents with stylish necessities until 2000 . After the women ’ s retail chain stopped accepting gift certificates and made all sales final with no returns , it was
clear that Cherry and Webb , too , was going through financial scuffles . Stores were located in Lincoln Mall , East Providence , the Midland Mall in Warwick and on Bellevue Avenue in Newport .
Benny ’ s The most recent and heartbreaking closure is that of Benny ’ s , a family-owned retail company where countless children bought their first bikes and parents shopped for toys , snow shovels , gardening supplies , tools , trinkets and anything else under the sun for ninety-three years . In December 2017 , the Bromberg family closed all thirty-one Benny ’ s locations in southern New England . One of the most iconic Benny ’ s locations , on Branch Avenue in Providence ( and the first building location of Rhode Island Monthly in 1988 ), was reconfigured and now houses a Chipotle , Jersey Mike ’ s and a Lifespan urgent care center . The only remnant of the store is the lone “ B ” on the side of the building facing Route I-95 . — Edelinda Baptista
Sources : artinruins . com , retrori . blogspot . com , nytimes . com , thesunchronicle . com , wpri . com
CityState : Current
Four Spring ESSEntialS
Benny ’ s stocks all your seasonal needs .
From left : Howard Bromberg , Judy Rosenstein , Arnold Bromberg .
Benny ’ s Beats On
It ’ s still our favorite store to buy everything from a storage bin to a bicycle . By Jenna Pelletier
1 Garden supplies
A trowel , shovel and gloves are a must for digging up dirt .
“ I pledge the best possible quality and service at most reasonable prices ,” read the ad Benjamin Bromberg took out in the Providence Journal in 1924 to announce his new store , Benny ’ s .
The eastern European immigrant — who had no more than a sixth grade education — opened the automotive supply shop on Fountain Street in Providence with his wife , Flora . As business picked up , they added locations in East Providence , Cranston , Taunton , Massachusetts , and Danielson , Connecticut .
Nearly 100 years later , Benny ’ s remains a Rhode Island fixture . Today , the chain has thirty-two stores in Southern New England , all owned and operated by Bromberg ’ s grandchildren : Judy Rosenstein , Howard Bromberg and Arnold Bromberg . They took over from their father , Malcolm , who was born the same year the company was founded . He ran Benny ’ s from when his father died in 1965 until shortly before he died in 2014 at the age of ninety .
“ We learned from our dad by osmosis ,” Howard says .
While Judy , the chain ’ s toy buyer , spent about a decade as a researcher at Miriam Hospital , Arnold , who focuses on sales and marketing , and Howard , who runs operations , have spent their entire careers in the family business .
22 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MARCH 2017
They ’ ve stayed true to their grandfather ’ s vision in many ways , but Benny ’ s is no longer just the automotive-only store he founded . The family has added new things , including more toys and seasonal items such as grills and snow removal tools .
“ We are always tweaking what ’ s on our shelves to get the right mix ,” Arnold says . “ We still do a lot of automotive , but we ’ re also a seasonal store , a general merchandise store , a toy store and a convenience store , too .”
Most Rhode Island residents live no more than a twenty-minute drive from one of the state ’ s thirteen Benny ’ s locations , says Howard . The Brombergs don ’ t like to drive very far either , and that ’ s part of the reason why they haven ’ t expanded further . “ It ’ s an extension of the Rhode Island culture where no one likes to travel much more than forty-five minutes ,” Arnold says .
Another quirk , at least in 2017 : The chain doesn ’ t offer online sales . But its layaway program has remained popular even in the age of easy credit . Some people treat it as a storage service , a way to keep a grill or a set of tires bought on sale out of the way until they plan to use them . Many parents have taken advantage of this service to store gifts , like a bicycle . “ One thing we hear all the time is , my first bike came from Benny ’ s ,” Judy says . “ And we are very proud of that .” hellobennys . com
Grilling equipment 2 Nothing tastes better than meat and veggies cooked outdoors .
3 Lawn chairs
When you ’ ve got an extra dinner guest , simply slide one up to the table .
Snow removal tools 4 Because it ’ s March and you know it ’ s going to snow .
March 2017 : “ Benny ’ s Beats On ” This 2017 tribute to Benny ’ s would prove to be our last : The beloved discount chain closed all locations at the end of the year .
BeNNy ' s BeAts oN , JAMes JoNes . sPRiNg esseNtiAls , tHiNkstoCk .
May 2013 : “ The Aftermath ” Though the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy — a storm which caused the worst coastal damage the state had seen in more than fifty years — is likened to a war zone in the opening line of this 2013 article , the piece goes on to highlight how the Misquamicut community banded together to restore their home to its former glory .
PHOTOGRAPH ( ALMACS SIGN 2016 ORNAMENT ): COURTESY OF MY LITTLE TOWN .
RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l MARCH 2023 53