KITCHEN & BATH
Time Will Tell
This year, the Portland Group celebrates ninety years of business excellence.
B Y K A I T LY N M U R R AY | P H O T O G R A P H Y B Y C H R I S VA C C A R O
Back when the Portland Group was
founded by Irving Rose and Benjamin Fox in 1930,
homeowners did not pick out their fixtures. Plumbers
would come into the store and pick out the standard
sink, tub or other hardware and install them in a home
without involving the homeowners or getting their
input. On top of that, there were little to no options
when it came to what fixtures were available. And so,
upon the opening of its first brick and motor retail
showroom, the Portland Group proved itself as a
trailblazer of the modern kitchen and bath industry.
Over the course of the next ninety years, the business
has been passed down from generation to generation (now
owned and operated by Michael Fox and Benjamin Rose)
and has evolved into one of New England’s leading
wholesalers of plumbing, heating and air conditioning.
Nationally recognized, the Portland Group is renowned
for its vision in promoting innovative products that create
new opportunities. Its accomplishments are built on a
foundation of strong industry and client relationships as
well as their commitment to changing with the times, all
the while simultaneously remaining loyal to the traditions
that have made them successful. Today, the possibilities
are endless at each of the company’s fourteen wholesale
and seven retail (one Splash and six Spritzo) establishments
in New England.
Two notable retail branches include the recently
renovated 10,000 square-foot flagship location, Splash,
in Newton, Massachusetts, and the continually evolving
Spritzo showroom in Providence, Rhode Island. Each
has a wide array of fixtures, finishes and accents
spanning every price point and every individual taste.
Catering to both design professionals and retail
customers, Spritzo and Splash feature the latest and
greatest in bath and kitchen design from the industry’s
top brands in traditional, transitional and contemporary
styles. This on-site variety combined with the companies’
knowledgeable expertise, excellent customer service
and innate ability to keep up with the latest innovations
is what sets Spritzo / Splash — and the Portland Group
— apart and will continue to do so in the ninety years
to come, as well. ◆
SPRITZO, 333-330 Harris Ave., Providence,
401-519-5385, splashspritzo.com
44 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY’S NEST |
2020
“When people walk into our
showroom, they’re wowed by
what they see and assume
that they can’t really afford
us, which is not true. Our
wonderful team will work
with you and provide you
with endless options at every
price point, for every style,”
says Donna Zinckmoore,
Director of Retail Operations
at Spritzo Providence.