The content on this page has been moved and updated. Please visit the following link: What It Used To Be In Cranston, RI
Cranston. RI
As a supplement to What It Used To Be In Warwick, RI, here is a small sample of what it used to be in nearby Cranston. The list will be expanded and updated.
Atwood Avenue
120 - Citizens Bank (since 1994) used to be Old Stone Bank from 1974 to 1994.
200 - Stop & Shop has been at this location since early 1959. It had previously been Ruggeri's Atwood Super Market from at least 1955 to late 1958
250 - Rite Aid used to be an A & P Food Store in the 60's and into the early 70's. It became Douglas Drug by early 1973 and later converted to Brooks Pharmacy in the 90's and Rite Aid in the 00's.
270 - Ocean Pride Seafood used to be Martucci's Restaurant in the 80's, Mario's Restaurant by the end of the decade and Captain's Catch Seafood starting in the early 90's and operating into the 00's. Before Martucci's, it was West Hill Restaurant (earlier West Hill Grill) from at least 1954 to 1974 and Rossi's Family Restaurant from 1974 through the rest of the decade..
300 - Honey Dew Donuts used to be a Mister Donut from 1965 until the 90's.
355- Torn down by early 2018 to build O'Reilly Auto Parts, the former El Tapatio Restaurant was built as a Sambo's Restaurant in 1978 until closing in 1981. Other restaurants it has been include: Casey's, Stella's (mid-to-late 80's), Challenges Sports Pub (opened in June 1988 to 1994), Stuffles Bar and Grill (mid-to-late 90's), $3 Sports Bar and Eat With The Fishes.
372 - Now torn down, this used to be Dairy Maid from at least the 50's until the early 70's , then Igloo in the early-to-mid 70's and Dairy Dip by the mid 70's. Alpine Auto Wash of Cranston was here in the 80's into the 90's.
400 - China Dynasty Restaurant (since the early 80's) used to be a Lums Restaurant from 1970 into the early 80's. Hort House Nursery & Garden Center was at this location prior to Lums.
435 - Shore's Food Market (since 2013) used to be Ruggieri's Market from 1959 (moved from 200 Atwood) until 2013.
500 - Nino's Pizza has operated at this location since moving from 441 Atwood Ave. in about 1971.
Broad Street
1548 - Dollar General was built in 2015 at the location that after being Pewsey's in the 1930's, became an A & P grocery store from 1938 to about 1968, when it became Grab-It Food Market in late 1968. In 1970, it became IGA Shop-Rite Market and in 1973 changed to Columbia Market. By 1975, it was Rhode Island Exotics Aquarium going through the rest of the 70's and the 80's and Baseball Card Factory was here through the 90's.
1678 - J.P. Spoonem's Restaurant (since 1981) used to be Jerry's Chemist Shop pharmacy from December 1952 to about 1979.
1764 - Torn down to make way for CVS Pharmacy in the early 2010's, this used to be Liggett Drug going back to at least the mid 1930's. It then became Adams Drugs in 1964 and was later converted to Brooks Pharmacy and Rite Aid Pharmacy.
1768 - Torn down to make way for CVS Pharmacy in the early 2010's. this used to be a First National Super Market that opened in 1947. It then became NHD Hardware in the 80's and Rocky's Ace Hardware in 1999 (seen below in 2002).
2180 - Follow Your Arrow Nutrition used to be Lindsay's Market from 1933 to the early-to-mid 2010's.
2195 - Basta Italian Restaurant (since late 1989 and remodeled in 2013) used to be Driftwood Restaurant going back to 1949.
2200 - Cork & Brew & Spirits Too used to be Cameron's Pharmacy after it expanded in the early 70's. Cameron's was earlier known as Pawtuxet Pharmacy after being rebuilt in the early 1900's and was called Cameron's Pawtuxet Pharmacy by 1940.
2202 - Sweet Indulgence used to be Seven Seas Restaurant until Cameron's Pharmacy expanded into this location in the early 70's. The restaurant went back to the 1930's and was earlier called Rice's Pawtuxet Falls Grill and then Rice's Restaurant in the 1920's and earlier in the 30's.
2206 - Heidi Hope Photography used to be the main location of Cameron's Pharmacy until expanding (see 2200 and 2202 Broad St. above) to where the main entrance of Cameron's was now located on the corner of Broad and Aborn Streets (there was also an entrance at the back of the building).
Budlong Road
115 - Rhode Island Dental Arts is at the location that used to be an A & W Root Beer Drive-In from April 1963 until the mid-to-late 70's. It later became Di Mao's Restaurant in the late 70's and by the mid 80's into the 90's, it was the Copper Penny Restaurant (also as Alibi's in the early 90's).
Cranston Street
900 - Dunkin' Donuts (since the mid 80's) used to be the location of Eagle Creamery from about the mid-to-late 70's to the mid 80's. The Hearthstone store was at this location in the 1930's, becoming Cranston Cleansers by the early 40's. Veteran's Cleansing & Tailoring was later at this location in the 50's until the early 70's. Below: Dunkin' Donuts in early 1990 before being rebuilt.
969 - At the location of Sunset Tint & Sign used to be Arlington Creamery & Lunchonette from at least the 1940's until the mid 80's. It had earlier been Nickerson's Ice Cream in the 1930's and early 40's.
1015 - ALDI Grocery used to be a Stop & Shop going back to April 1959. By the mid-to-late 70's, it was NHD Hardware until the late 90's.
1087 - Gershkoff Auto Body is at the location that used to be Original Marcello's Restaurant (established in 1934 and moved to this location in 1948) until closing after a fire took down the building in January 1982.
1173 - The former So Fresh & So Clean car wash used to be the location of Tick Tock Lounge from about 1951 to 1987 before being torn down. It was rebuilt in the late 80's as a Grease Monkey oil change location.
1200 - Now used for parking, this used to be Puritan Chrysler-Plymouth from 1985 to 2007.
1400 - Now an automobile repair service, this used to be Johnny D's Service Station (Mobil) and even earlier back to the 1930's, it was Y D Service Station (Socony). Below: Photos from 1987 and 1991.
1681 - Knightsville Medical (since the late 90's) became Cardi's Furniture in 1947 after several years as Cardi's general/5 cents to a dollar/hardware store and remained here all the way into the 90's, including expanding their store in 1982.
1710 - Antonio's Trattoria Restaurant (since 1973) used to be Easy's Café (earlier Easy Bar) from at least 1950 until 1972. Below: The intersection of Park Ave. and Cranston St. in 1985 and 2017. Antonio's can be seen on the right along with the sign for the Knightsville Service Center (then an Arco Station).
Dyer Avenue
357 - Dina Manufacturing (since 1997) used to be Coffee's Café & Restaurant for at least 40 years until 1997.
397 - Mutual Gas Station used to be Simone's Service Station (American/Amoco).
441 - The Car Lot used to be Dyer Avenue Wholesale Gas Outlet from about the early 60's until about 1990. It was earlier Connetta's Filling Station in the 30's through the 50's.. Below: Photos from 1986 and 1990.
454 - Dyer Avenue Motors used to be Dyer Avenue Esso Service Center, becoming Center Auto Sales by the mid 70's.
470 - This used to be What Cheer Fruitland in the 60's until the early 70's.
548 - Rite Aid used to be Adams Drug/Brooks Pharmacy going back to about the late 60's. Dyer Avenue Greenhouses was previously at this location,
Elmwood Avenue
1282 - Ocean State Mobil used to be a Sunoco service station from at least the 50's until the early 90's when it changed to Citgo.
1400 - First Years Learning Center used to be Public Car Wash from February 1962 to the early-to-mid 70's. It then became Marine Optical Co. and was Rodell Mfg. Jewelry by the end of the decade/
1415 - Price Rite used to be an Almacs Super Market from about the early 80's until 1994. It then became a Valueland Super Market in 1997 until closing all its stores one year later.
1441 - Ocean State Job Lot used to be a Kmart Department Store from August 1982
into the 00's. In between, it was National Wholesale Liquidators.
1450 - AMF Cranston Lanes was called the Cranston Bowl when it opened in 1960.
1616 - This used to be Uncle Sam's Discotheque from about 1973 until closing in late 1974. It then became B.T. Bogarts Nightclub & Pub for the rest of the decade. By the early 80's, it was JR's Pub and by the mid 80's, it had become Riviera Pub until about the mid-to-late 00's.
1669 - Opened in October 1962, as an International House of Pancakes Restaurant, this became Alice's Kitchen in 1969. It has also been Kimmie's Restaurant (late 70's), Purple Onion Restaurant (early 80's) and Barbara's Ristorante Italiano (early-to-mid 80's into the 90's).
Fletcher Avenue
69 - Eastland Food Products used to be a Big G Supermarket from about 1967 to 1970. It later became Lipman Foods and Native Poultry.
Gansett Avenue
146 - Ichiban Restaurant (since 2005) used to be Marcello's (later Vincent Marcello's) Restaurant from at least 1955 when it was renovated, until about the early 90's.
183 - The area now used as a parking lot for the Cranston YMCA, this used to be an Arnold Palmer 19-hole putting course from 1963 to at least 1966.
192 - Young Sing Restaurant used to be Boston Submarine Sandwich Shop (aka Boston Sub) from 1958 to about 2010.
Garden City Drive
5 - Citizens Bank used to be Jennings Bros. Service Station from 1948 to 1988 (rebuilt in 1966). The station was originally called Garden City Atlantic and remained as an Atlantic station until being converted to Arco in 1970.
Hillside Road (All businesses part of Garden City Shopping Plaza)
57 - This used to be a Woolworth store from April 1954 until moving to 190 Hillside Rd.in about 1964. It then became a Singer Sewing Center until 1971, when it changed to Fab-U-Sew. By the mid-to-late 70's and into the 80's, Donnelly's Clothing at 51 Hillside used this store for additional space.
79 - This used to be Industrial National Bank (changed to Fleet Bank in the early-to-mid 80's) from the late 60's (was earlier at 69 Hillside from the 50's) until the mid 80's. The bank would relocate to 201 Hillside. Earlier here from 1953 until moving to 185 Sockanosett Cross Rd. in August 1965 was Garden City Lanes.
80 - Jos. A. Bank used to be Gladding's Department Store, which opened in April 1957. It became Shepard's Department Store in the early 70's and then Child World from June 1974 until moving to Bald Hill Road in the late 80's.
100 - This has been a Newport Creamery Restaurant since June 1954.
150 - The Container Store (was formerly Linens N' Things from about 1993 to 2009) and Cohoes Fashions (156 Hillside) used to be an Outlet Department Store from 1963 to 1982. In 1984, the Outlet building was transformed into Cohoes Commons, a mini shopping mall that included Cohoes along with a few smaller stores. Cohoes left in 1989, then returned in 1994 to just about the same location, though slightly smaller.
182 - This used to be Ladd's Music Center from about 1970 until moving to Airport Plaza in Warwick in the early-to-mid 80's.
190 - L.A. Fitness was rebuilt in the former location of a Woolworth Department Store that was here from about 1964 (Woolworth had been originally been at 57 Hillside going back to April 1954) all the way until 1997, when it was one of the last three RI Woolworth stores to close. Borders Books moved into this spot in 1999 until closing in 2011.
210 - This used to be an Almacs Super Market from about 1963 (Almacs had been at 95 Hillside going back to 1949) until moving to 151 Sockanosset Cross Road in 1988, It later became Office Warehouse in 1991. Below: Woolworth's and Almacs in Garden City from 1985.
Narragansett Boulevard
1043 - This has been Edgewood Market since 1958. Going back to the mid 40's into the 50's, this was Marson's Market and even before that in the late 30's, it was Narragansett Boulevard Market
1150 - Johnson & Wales Harbor View Residence Hall used to be Colony Motor Hotel from December 1960 until changing to Colonial Hilton Inn in October 1969. It was later renamed Cranston Hilton in the mid 70's. The hotel was purchased by Johnson & Wales in 1980 and would soon become Johnson & Wales Hospitality Center.
New London Avenue
1 - A three-unit strip mall built in 1999 sits at the location that used to be Duncan Fyffe Restaurant from 1967 to 1997 and torn down in early 1999. Prior to Duncan Fyffe, it was a Howard Johnson's Restaurant from 1937 to 1967.
1171 - Ninety Nine Restaurant (since August 1996) used to be Meshanicut Green Restaurant from at least 1938 until 1984. It then became Acorns On The Green in 1986 and September's by 1990.
Niantic Avenue
225 - Lang's Bowlarama still operates at the same location as it did on October 2, 1960 when it opened its doors for the first time and featured 40 lanes with.AMF automatic pinsetters and pindicators.
Oaklawn Avenue
693 - Tomaselli's Restaurant & Catering (since 1998) used to be Uncle Gino's Pizza from 1976 to 1997. In the early-to-mid 70's, it was Two Guys From Italy Pizza.
741 - Moon House Restaurant used to be China Pearl Restaurant from 1968 into the early 00's.
763 - Garden Hills Fruit & Deli used to be a Kentucky Fried Chicken from 1967 into the early 80's. It started as Abby's Grille in April 1961 and reopened as Li'l Rascal Steak House in April 1966. After KFC, it later became Family Farms grocery and Bayburn Paint in the 80's.
870 - This used to be the location of Oaklawn Foodliner (IGA) from about the early-to-mid 50's to the early 80's. Later here in the mid 80's into the 90's was Oaklawn Meat Market.
908 - This used to be a Shell Service Station (see below) from about the early-to-mid 60's into the 90's.Prior to that, Callery's Spa had been at this location. Below: Shell service station in 1984
930 - Campanella's Restaurant used to be Oaklawn Pharmacy from May 1958 until merging with CVS Pharmacy in 1996.
1009 - Wein-O-Rama Restaurant has operated at this same location since 1962.
1170 - Tire Warehouse used to be a Ponderosa Steak House from about the mid 70's into the 90's.
1195 - CVS Pharmacy was built at the location that used to be Oaklawn Esso from about 1950 and then converted to Oaklawn Exxon in 1972 until the mid-to-late 90's. The station had dated back to at least the 1930's under different names and was rebuilt around the late 60's.
1210 - Haruki Japanese Restaurant (since the late 90's) used to be Vittorio's Restaurant in the 80's until about the mid 90's. Before Vittorio's, it was Freddie's Pizza Drive-In for at least a decade.
1224 - This was the home of Miss Cranston Diner from about the late 40's until closing after a fire in March 2014 (torn down in 2015). In early, 2015, the restaurant relocated to the Oaklawn Center plaza at 1150 Oaklawn Ave.
1260 - This has been a Del's Lemonade for over 60 years (has also been listed at 1274 Oaklawn Ave.).
1288 - Dunkin Donuts (since about 2002) used to be Phred's Drugs from the late 70's until moving to 1300 Oaklawn Ave in the early 00's.
1400 - Marshall's Shopping Center used to be the location of the Cranston Drive-In Theater from about the late 40's until making way for the new plaza in 1979.
1455 - Uncle Tony's Pizza & Pasta (since 1981) used to be the location of Multi National Carpet in the mid-to-late 70's.
Park Avenue
266 - TNH Service Station dates all the way back to 1937, when it opened as Park Service Socony (Mobil) station. By the mid 50's, it was McCormick's Tydol Service and then converted to Mason's Flying A Service by 1957. It later became a Getty station (Interstate Getty by the late 70's) that was converted to Lukoil in 2009, BP in 2011 and became an independent by 2014.
283 - Dunkin Donuts (since the late 80's) used to be the location of George's Atlantic service station from 1951 until becoming Parente's Atlantic by the mid 50's. It was then converted to Parente's Arco about 1970 for the rest of the decade. By the early 80's, it became Parkview Arco, then Parkview Gulf by 1983 and Parkview Service by 1985.
295 - This used to be The Cozy House Restaurant from at least 1950 until 1985 and later torn down.
300 - A small plaza including Del's Lemonade is now at the location that used to be an Esso/Exxon service station from August 1959 (opened as Edgewood Esso Servicecenter) until the mid-to-late 70's.
350 - Ocean State Kidz Club used to be a Major Video store from about the mid 80's to late 90's. It then became Blockbuster Video until about the late 00's.
661 - Legion Bowl has operated here since the late 40's.
675 - This used to be a CVS Pharmacy from 1969 until being torn down in 2009. Before CVS, it was Galen Drug from 1963 to 1969.
751 - Lunch Box Restaurant used Park Avenue Fish & Chips from about 1960 to 1985. It then became Pag's Place by 1989.
817 - This used to be an A & P Food Store from June 1938 to the early 60's. Benny's (in the same building) would later also be at this address for additional space.
819 - Benny's Home & Auto Stores was at this location from about 1939 until Benny's closed all of its stores in late 2017. It was listed early on at 821 Park Ave.
827 - City Hall Diner used to be John's New York System Restaurant from 1971 to about 2016. It started as Park Avenue Lunch in 1928. After that, It was Civic Center Light Lunch and Variety Store by 1930, Whitehead's Variety Store from 1932 to at least 1937, Bucky's Smoke Shop in 1939, Auburn Stationary Co. by 1940, Martins Variety Store by 1943, The P & M Store in 1944, The Cranston Herald office from 1944 to 1954, Perry's Spa from 1954 to 1956, Godfrey's Grill from 1957 to 1958, Mike's Grille from 1958 to 1963 and Park Grille from 1963 to 1971.
834 - Chinese American Mini Market used to be an Original Ricotti's sandwich shop (opened in July 1981).
848 - Park Theater used to be the historic Park Cinema (built in 1924), which operated as a movie theater until 2001.
880 - Park Avenue Auto Service used to be Bergreen's Shell Service (opened in April 1960) and later became City Hall Shell service station until about the early-to-mid 80's.
1010 - Walgreens Pharmacy is at the location that used to be Mount Pleasant Hardware from about 1968 to 1975 and then Armen's Hardware into the 90's. Also at this address along with the hardware stores from about 1970 to 1981 was a Riccotti's Sandwich Shop.
1059 - T's Restaurant (since 1986) used to be Bridal Sweet bridal shop in the early-to-mid 80's.
1079 - This has been Stadium Fish & Chip going back to about 1967. Before that it, was Auburn Fish & Chip Shoppe from at least the 40's until the mid 60's.
1085 - Saccoccio & Associates used to be Penn TV & Furniture for over 40 years from at least 1950 into the 90's.
1090 - Autozone used to be Food Town Market from about 1956 until 1982. It then became ADAP Discount Auto Parts in 1983.
1099 - Premier Martial Arts used to be Olerio's Restaurant from the early 80's to mid 00's. It later became Feast Or Famine Restaurant in 2006 and Thai Lanna Restaurant in the late 00's,
1101 - Park Place Nail and Spa (since 2012) used to be a Carvel Ice Cream store from the early 80's to about the late 00's. In between, it was Planet Wireless. Before the three-unit plaza (1099-1103 Park Ave.) that has stood here since about 1980 was built, Vilmoray Restaurant was at this location in the 50's, then Maria's Restaurant in the 60's and early 70's and The Arbi Inn during the early-to-mid 70's.
1155 - Providence Lacquer & Supply used to be Stadium Bowling Alley (duckpin bowling) from at least 1941 until changing to Speedway Bowling Alley by the late 50's until about 1964. It then became Harry Ey Co. food distributors by the late 60's and Barry Sales Co. auto supply by the mid 70's. By 1983, this was listed as both Barry Sales and Providence Lacquer.
1215 - Webster Bank (since the mid 00's) used to be a Burger Chef Restaurant from 1960 until the early 80's, It later became Char-Brander Restaurant in the mid 80's and Hong Kong Restaurant from the mid-to-late 80's to the mid-to-late 90's before becoming a bank (First Federal Savings) in the late 90's.
1225 - The Cranston YMCA has been in operation here since opening in June 1959.
1232 - Milk & More used to be Park Market from about 1948 until becoming Bo-Peep Meat Market from 1959 to 1978. It then became Meats Inc. until 1982 and Abe's Meat & Deli from 1982 into the 90's. Also here was a fruit store that had many different names, including Leo's, Pagano's, Haven, Park Open Air Market, Amato's and Mangiarelli Fruitland.
1334 - Bess Eaton Donuts (since the mid 80's) used to be Quick Stop Restaurant & Pizza from about 1977 to 1984. Before becoming a restaurant, this was a Mobil Service Station that opened in September 1957 as Stabile's Service Station (ads proclaimed "Go Mobil with Stabile"). It continued as a Mobil station through the early-to-mid 70's.
1353 -Bestway Food Mart used to be a Texaco Service Station (Sal Zincones, Dino's and Joe's) from the mid 60's to the late 70's. It then became an Xtra Mart Food Mart (with Sunoco) from the early 80's to the early 00's. It later became Diamond Fuels Food Mart. Photo: Sunoco Xtra Mart in March 1987.
1359 - At this location from about 1964 to the late 60's was Cranston Kartway Park, featuring go-kart rides and a snack bar serving clam cakes and chowder as well as southern fried chicken.
1360 - This used to be Jerry's IGA from early 1974 (moved from 1680 Cranston St.) until about 1977, later becoming Gennaro's Market and Bob's Park Avenue Market.
1463 - Marchetti's Restaurant (since 1982) used to be Old Diamond Café Restaurant going back to at least the late 50's (listed at 1461 Park Ave. at that time).
1472 - This used to be a Fotomat film development booth from about 1977 to the early 90's. After Fotomat closed, it became the short-lived, but still remembered Condom Hut from July 1992 to June 1993.
1482 - Athena's Breakfast & Lunch in Knightsville used to be Helen's N.Y. System Restaurant from the 60's into the 90's (see below photo from 1987). It has also been Park Plaza Grille and High Stakes Restaurant.
1486 - This used to be a Cumberland Farms Dairy Store (see below) until the late 80's.
Phenix Avenue
243 - This used to be Countryside Light Lunch Restaurant from the 60's into the 90's. Earlier, from at least the late 50's, it was Phenix Spa Restaurant.
Plainfield Street
1394 - Located in the neighborhood known as Thornton, 7-Eleven was built in 2003 (originally as Cranston Food Mart Plus) at the location of the former Village Rendezvous restaurant (see photo), which operated from at least 1937 all the way until about the early 00's before being torn down. Photo Credit: Cranston Historical Society.
Pontiac Avenue
460 - Sam's Food Stores used to be Cook's Atlantic Service Station from at least 1946 into the 50's. From 1957 to about 1977, it was Bud Lord's Atlantic Service (converted to Bud Lord's Arco in 1970). It continued as an Arco station until converted to Shell in 1985, By the late 80's into the 90's, the station was vacant.
480 - SRL Mart (with Citgo and Dunkin Donuts) used to be the location of Don's Richfield Service Station from 1961 to 1963. It then became T & S Automotive before being torn down in 1966. After being rebuilt, this was Auburn Sunoco until about 1977, when it became Carl's Sunoco. It remained a Sunoco station until being converted to Mobil in 1992.
527 - Pontiac Food Mart used to be a Cumberland Farms convenience store from the early 70's into the 90's. It later became Pontiac Express.
531 - Tony's Pizza Palace (since 2018) used to be Providence Public Market from 1946 to 1953. It then became Eden Park Super Market from 1953 to 1963, Sunnybrook Farms from 1963 to 1973, Sir Speedy Printing in 1974, Organic Gourmet in the late 70's and First Church of Christ Scientist (Christian Reading Room) in the 80's and 90's. It later became Scampi's Of Course! Restaurant by the mid 00's and International Used Appliances from 2011 to 2017.
533 - Now used for additional space by The Time Capsule, this used to be Ye Colony Bakery from about the early-to-mid 60's until becoming Bob Carol's Bakery in the early 70's until the early 90's. It then became Camire's Athletic Soles by 1994 and was later Sea Mist Floral.
537 - The Time Capsule comic books used to be White Rose Market from the early 40's until about the early-to-mid 70's. It was previously Mrs. Keene's Bakery from 1939 to the early 40's and after White Rose it later became Cranston Floor Covering during the 70's and going into the 90's.
539 - Also part of Time Capsule, this address used to be split into two businesses. One was a long-time barber shop from at least the 40's as Joe's Barber Shop, continuing into the 70's as Ralph's Barber Shop and going through the 80's and into the 90's as Vinnie's Barber Shop.
Also once here was an A & P grocery store back in 1930. By 1950, it was Peggy-Helen Yarn Shoppe. Some of the businesses here after that included Universal Cleansers and Lind's Bakery in the 50's, Low's Restaurant and Tastee Foods Restaurant in the 60's, Robbins Photography and Nadeau Photography in the 70's, Cranston Antiques & Collectibles in the 80's and early 90's, Hydroponic Gardening by 1995 and Occasions by Gini by 2005.
541 - Eden Park Cleaners (since the mid 70's) used to be Pearle Cleansers from 1955 to 1961 and Parke Cleansers from 1961 to the mid 70's.
548 - Located adjacent to the supermarket and now part of Dave's Marketplace, this used to be Tony's Pizza Palace from the early 70's until 2016. Before Tony's, it was James Coiffeurs.
550 - Dave's Marketplace (since 2017) used to be a Star Market (originally United Star Market) from October 1958 to 1990, when it was converted to Almacs until 1995. It became a Hi-Lo Supermarket in 2000 and was later converted to Seabra Foods in 2003 until 2015.
564 - This used to be the location of Budlong Manufacturing Co, from at least the 1920's to about 1988. A Brooks Pharmacy (and other businesses) was built here in 1989 at 570 Pontiac Ave, although the side entrance of Brooks was listed here at 564 Pontiac. It was later converted to Rite Aid Pharmacy.
899 - A Plus Auto Service used to be Dyer & Szlatenyi's Flying A Service Station starting in 1956. It then became Serpa's Flying A Service in late 1960 until being converted to Serpa's Getty Service in about 1970 through 1985, when it was called Pontiac Ave. Getty. It continued as a Getty until being converted to BP in 2009. By the early-to-mid 2010's, it had become strictly an auto repair shop.
949 - Maria's Pizza & Wings has been operating at this location since about 1973 following Beefland. Many years earlier, this was the location of Saravo's Garden Market.
951 - A & B Mart Convenience Store used to be a Cumberland Farms store from about the early-to-mid 70's until the early 90's. Below: Signs for Cumberland Farms and Maria's Pizza in 1987.
1177 - Burger King has operated at this location since about 1983.
Puritan Avenue
116 - Kid's Kingdom daycare used to be Village Café from at least 1943 until changing to Village Inn by 1962 until about 1976, when it became Firefighter Pub. In the 80's and into the 90's, it became Angel's Restaurant. Going back from the mid 30's to late 40's, it was West End Republican Club and then Five Points Inn.
Reservoir Avenue
445 - St. Jude Home Care is at the location that used to be Courtland Drapery from 1958 (moved from 428 Reservoir Ave.) and operated all the way into the 90's.
455 - The former Rico's Hairworks (mid-to-late 70's to the early-to-mid 2010's) used to be The Hut Restaurant in the 50's and into the early-to-mid 60's. It then became Gallo Studios until the mid 70's.
460 - Aaron's (since the 00's) used to be a Pier 1 Imports store beginning in the early-to-mid 70's, It then became a Pier 1 Imports Clearance store in 1999 after a new store opened in Garden City.
508 - Advantax & Insurance used to be Ellbey's luncheonette & grill from 1949 and going through the 50's. By the early 60's, it was Olivo's Restaurant until about 1967. It then became Teddy's Restaurant through the 70's and was Deltah's in the early 80's. Mr. Tux then opened here about 1983 and operated for over 25 years until 2009, when it became Men's Warehouse until about 2015.
529 -This used to be Richard's Drive-In Restaurant from about 1956 to the early 60's. It became Child's Jr. Restaurant about 1963 and by 1965, Hurd & Goldberg had expanded across the street into this location with their used car annex until moving in 1990. Photo: Richard's Drive-In Restaurant in 1956. Credit: Providence Journal
540 - A small plaza was built at the location that used to be Hurd and Goldberg (later Hurd Chrysler Plymouth in the 70's and Hurd Buick-GMC in the 80's) auto dealership from 1935 until moving to its current location in Johnston in 1990.
567 - Mega Plaza including Rent-A-Center used to be Tony Goodrich's Television City in the 60's through the 70's. By the mid 80's, it had become a small plaza featuring DePetrillo's Bakery, Movies N' More and Bagels East .
570 - Uncle Sushi & Grill used to be a Walt's Roast Beef Restaurant from the mid-to-late 60's until moving to its present location at 680 Reservoir Ave. in the early-to-mid 70's. Before Walt's, this was Dari-Delite ice cream going back to at least 1953. After Walt's, it was briefly Nathan's Steak & Roast and then became Mario's Steak & Roast Beef by 1973 until the late 70's. After that, the restaurant changed names several times in the next few years, including Jodony's Italian Sandwiches, Connie's Italian Sandwiches, Muttis Pizza and Argos Pizza & Seafood by 1990. In the 90's, it was Hail Caesar and then Earl's Sandwich Hut into the 00's.
599 - The former ADAP Auto Parts (1996 to about the mid 00's) used to be Thall's Pharmacy from about 1957 into the 90's after moving from 602 Reservoir Ave.
606 - The Big Cheese and Pub (since 1968) was known as The Pizza Hot until about the mid 70's. Earlier, it was Goldie's Surf Shop from about 1965 to 1968.
615 - J.D. Byrider (since the late 90's) used to be Reservoir Esso Service Station from 1961 until become Sal Zincone's Service Station (converted to Exxon in 1972) until the early 80's. It then became National Car Rental by 1984 until about the mid 90's.
623 - Villiari's Martial Arts used to be Cathay Den Restaurant for over 30 years from October 1960 until shortly before becoming Silver Palace Restaurant by 1992. Silver Palace operated until at least the early 00's.
624 - The former Papa Gino's Pizzeria in the Park N Shop Center used to be a Rhode Island Hospital Trust branch from 1955 to about 1974. It reopened as Peoples Bank in January 1975 until being converted to Shawmut Bank of Rhode Island in March 1990. Shawmut then closed this office and moved up the street to 1140 Reservoir Ave in August 1990.
630 - Dunkin Donuts has been at this location in the Park N Shop Center for over 60 years since the late 50's. It was originally Regents Sundial Shoe Store from December 1955 until closing after being damaged by a fire in October 1956.
645 - Washington Trust used to be a Kentucky Beef Restaurant in the early 70's. After a short time as Lovitt's, it would later become an Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips Restaurant around the mid 70's until being converted to a bank (First Bank & Trust) in the early 80's.
659 - Cumberland Farms (since the late 80's and rebuilt in 2014) used to be the location of Lindy's Bali Restaurant from at least the late 30's until the mid 60's. A Gulf service station then operated here from 1966 until becoming Dairy Mart (still with Gulf products) in about 1983. Photo: Dairy Mart in 1985
660 - Burger King has been at this location for at least 50 years.
680 - Walt's Roast Beef Restaurant (since 1972) used to be Goodlight Fish & Chips, which opened in May 1970. It then became Alfie's Fish & Chips shortly thereafter.
681 - Although it has been rebuilt, CVS Pharmacy has been at this address since about 1976. Cranston Floor had previously operated at this address from at least the mid 50's to the mid 70's.
691 - This used to be a Wendy's Restaurant from the early 80's to the mid 00's before being torn down and the land is now used for parking for CVS Pharmacy.
716 - California Taco Shop (since 2016) used to be George's Grill (New York System) from about 1968 to 2013. It then became Sombrero Mexican Grill from 2013 to 2016. Before George's, it was Smack's Restaurant from 1951 to 1968.
721 - R.I. Rehabilitation Center (since about the late 90's) used to be Sandager Ford from 1930 to 1956. It then became Rossi & Oliver Ford in early 1957, Rossi Ford in 1958, Al Mitchell's Reservoir Ford Sales in late 1959, Al Mitchell Ford in 1961, Mitchell Toyota in 1971, Gassett Toyota by 1977 and Miranda Toyota from about 1982 to the early 90's.
725 - Orthopedic Associates used to be a Big "G" Super Market (earlier Great Scott Food Market beginning in 1954) from about the early 60's to late 1976. It later became Seventh Avenue Clothing and Fleet National Bank.
787 - Dairy Twirl has been at this location since about 1956.
800 - Rainbow Bakery has been at this location since 1964.
822 - KFC has been at this location since about 1969.
823 - The former Donut Bazar used to be a Mister Donut from April 1978 into the 90's. Earlier from at least the 50's into the 70's, it was Bruce Pharmacy.
860 - Rhode Island Credit Union (since 2015) was constructed on the former location of Bickford's Family Restaurant (mid-to-late 70's to the mid-to-late 00's).
957 - The future Macera's Italian Restaurant (as of July 2019) and former Galaxie Restaurant (1993 to 2016) used to be Cape Cod Restaurant from about 1969 to 1991. In between, it was Le's Restaurant from 1992 to 1993..
1012 - Olneyville N.Y. System Restaurant started as Maxwell's Restaurant around 1976 and changed to Mario & Anna's Restaurant and Olneyville Wieners before becoming The Wiener Man from about 1982 into the 90's.
1045 - The former Kenny's Place (renamed from Scrambler's in 2017 after being closed due to a 2016 fire and operated until 2019) used to be an IHOP Restaurant from 1970 into the 00's. As of February 2020, El Tapatio Restaurant is close to opening at this location.
1073 - Spain restaurant (since 1994 and rebuilt at that time) used to be the location of Rustler Steak House in the mid-to-late 70's and then Bonanza Steakhouse. It later became Pub Dennis Restaurant through much of the 80's to about 1990 and then was said to be Palisades Park in the early 90's.
1076 - Taco Bell has been in this location since about the mid 80's and rebuilt in 2006.
1099 - A McDonald's restaurant has operated at this location since May 1972.
1112 - The former Pizza Hut used to be a James McManus Eating Place starting in the mid-to-late 70's, becoming Pizza Casino by the mid 80's and Pizza Hut by the late 80's.
1177 - Denny's Restaurant (since 2016) used to be a Friendly's Restaurant from about 1983 until closing 30 years later in 2013.
1255 - Seven Stars Bakery (since November 2019) used to be Columbus National Bank from 1963 to about 1984, when it changed to Rhode Island Hospital Trust Bank until 1991. It then became Ivolino's Italian and Kosher-style deli in early 1992. It later became The Village Bean by the mid 90's, Efendi Mediterranean Grill by the early 00's, Cilantro Mexican Grill in 2013 and Carolina Barbecue Co. in 2017.
1275 - Chelo's Hometown Bar & Grille (since about 1972) used to be Ted's Big Boy Restaurant from April 1965 to early 70's.
1285 - Dollar Tree used to be Brodsky's Toys from the early-to-mid 60's until about the mid 70's. It later became the Sofa Shoppe in 1975, Leapman's Furniture, Fashion Gallery and then Rainbow Shops into the 90's.
1301 - The Imaging Institute used to be Adams Drugs from the mid-to-late 60's through the 70's. It would later become Phred's Drugs III during the 80's and Garden City Drugs into the 90's. Before Adams Drugs, this was a Radio Shack store (opened in November 1961 with Liberace on hand to sign autographs).
Rolfe Square
56 - Citizens Bank has operated at this location since all the way back to August 1947.
65 - This has been Durfee's Hardware (since 1930) for almost 90 years!
72 - The former Phu Lam Market used to be a Woolworth store from December 1953 until the early 70's, when it became Nayco 5 & 10 for close to 35 years until closing in late 2006. After that it became 99 Marketplace until changing the name to Phu Lam Market in 2009.
77 - Now multiple businesses, this used to be a First National Super Market beginning in January 1941. It then became Soprano's Market in March 1968 through the 70's and a Rite Aid Pharmacy in the 80's.
85 - This used to be the location of The Country Store department store from March 1946 until being burnt down by a fire in May 1963.
88 - Now part of Jerusalem Meat Market (expanded into here from 88 1/2 Rolfe during the 2010's), this used to be Kool Korner Ice Cream from at least the mid 40's until the mid 90's. It was replaced by Rolfe Square Cafe & Grill in 1997.
88 1/2 - Jerusalem Meat Market used to be Marty's Kosher Meat Market from the mid 70's into the 90's. Before Marty's, it was Pluto's clothing in the early-to-mid 70's.
90 - King's Garden Restaurant (since about 1982) used to be China Inn Restaurant from 1954 to 1982. Before China Inn, this was The Spot-Lite market, which specialized in fresh native chicken.
Sabra Street
100 - Located off of Niantic Ave, the popular Twin Oaks Restaurant has been in operation since 1933. The restaurant was rebuilt in 1981 after the original building burned down after a fire in 1980.
Sockanosett Cross Road (Garden City)
151 - This used to be Garden City Cinema from December 1967 to April 1986. It was torn down in May 1987. The cinema opened as one 1.074 seat theater with a showing of Walt Disney's Jungle Book. In 1972, the cinema was split into two theatres.
185 - This used to be Garden City Lanes (duckpin bowling) from August 1965 (moved from 79 Hillside Rd.) until the summer of 1985 and torn down in 1987.
Traverse Road (Garden City)
11 - This used to be Kelly's Sporting Goods from August 1970 (moved from 1669 Elmwood Ave.) until moving to 125 Sockanosett Cross Road in 1985.
Cranston. RI
As a supplement to What It Used To Be In Warwick, RI, here is a small sample of what it used to be in nearby Cranston. The list will be expanded and updated.
120 - Citizens Bank (since 1994) used to be Old Stone Bank from 1974 to 1994.
200 - Stop & Shop has been at this location since early 1959. It had previously been Ruggeri's Atwood Super Market from at least 1955 to late 1958
250 - Rite Aid used to be an A & P Food Store in the 60's and into the early 70's. It became Douglas Drug by early 1973 and later converted to Brooks Pharmacy in the 90's and Rite Aid in the 00's.
270 - Ocean Pride Seafood used to be Martucci's Restaurant in the 80's, Mario's Restaurant by the end of the decade and Captain's Catch Seafood starting in the early 90's and operating into the 00's. Before Martucci's, it was West Hill Restaurant (earlier West Hill Grill) from at least 1954 to 1974 and Rossi's Family Restaurant from 1974 through the rest of the decade..
300 - Honey Dew Donuts used to be a Mister Donut from 1965 until the 90's.
372 - Now torn down, this used to be Dairy Maid from at least the 50's until the early 70's , then Igloo in the early-to-mid 70's and Dairy Dip by the mid 70's. Alpine Auto Wash of Cranston was here in the 80's into the 90's.
400 - China Dynasty Restaurant (since the early 80's) used to be a Lums Restaurant from 1970 into the early 80's. Hort House Nursery & Garden Center was at this location prior to Lums.
435 - Shore's Food Market (since 2013) used to be Ruggieri's Market from 1959 (moved from 200 Atwood) until 2013.
500 - Nino's Pizza has operated at this location since moving from 441 Atwood Ave. in about 1971.
Broad Street
1548 - Dollar General was built in 2015 at the location that after being Pewsey's in the 1930's, became an A & P grocery store from 1938 to about 1968, when it became Grab-It Food Market in late 1968. In 1970, it became IGA Shop-Rite Market and in 1973 changed to Columbia Market. By 1975, it was Rhode Island Exotics Aquarium going through the rest of the 70's and the 80's and Baseball Card Factory was here through the 90's.
1678 - J.P. Spoonem's Restaurant (since 1981) used to be Jerry's Chemist Shop pharmacy from December 1952 to about 1979.
1764 - Torn down to make way for CVS Pharmacy in the early 2010's, this used to be Liggett Drug going back to at least the mid 1930's. It then became Adams Drugs in 1964 and was later converted to Brooks Pharmacy and Rite Aid Pharmacy.
1768 - Torn down to make way for CVS Pharmacy in the early 2010's. this used to be a First National Super Market that opened in 1947. It then became NHD Hardware in the 80's and Rocky's Ace Hardware in 1999 (seen below in 2002).
2195 - Basta Italian Restaurant (since late 1989 and remodeled in 2013) used to be Driftwood Restaurant going back to 1949.
2200 - Cork & Brew & Spirits Too used to be Cameron's Pharmacy after it expanded in the early 70's. Cameron's was earlier known as Pawtuxet Pharmacy after being rebuilt in the early 1900's and was called Cameron's Pawtuxet Pharmacy by 1940.
2202 - Sweet Indulgence used to be Seven Seas Restaurant until Cameron's Pharmacy expanded into this location in the early 70's. The restaurant went back to the 1930's and was earlier called Rice's Pawtuxet Falls Grill and then Rice's Restaurant in the 1920's and earlier in the 30's.
2206 - Heidi Hope Photography used to be the main location of Cameron's Pharmacy until expanding (see 2200 and 2202 Broad St. above) to where the main entrance of Cameron's was now located on the corner of Broad and Aborn Streets (there was also an entrance at the back of the building).
Budlong Road
115 - Rhode Island Dental Arts is at the location that used to be an A & W Root Beer Drive-In from April 1963 until the mid-to-late 70's. It later became Di Mao's Restaurant in the late 70's and by the mid 80's into the 90's, it was the Copper Penny Restaurant (also as Alibi's in the early 90's).
Cranston Street
900 - Dunkin' Donuts (since the mid 80's) used to be the location of Eagle Creamery from about the mid-to-late 70's to the mid 80's. The Hearthstone store was at this location in the 1930's, becoming Cranston Cleansers by the early 40's. Veteran's Cleansing & Tailoring was later at this location in the 50's until the early 70's. Below: Dunkin' Donuts in early 1990 before being rebuilt.
1015 - ALDI Grocery used to be a Stop & Shop going back to April 1959. By the mid-to-late 70's, it was NHD Hardware until the late 90's.
1087 - Gershkoff Auto Body is at the location that used to be Original Marcello's Restaurant (established in 1934 and moved to this location in 1948) until closing after a fire took down the building in January 1982.
1173 - The former So Fresh & So Clean car wash used to be the location of Tick Tock Lounge from about 1951 to 1987 before being torn down. It was rebuilt in the late 80's as a Grease Monkey oil change location.
1200 - Now used for parking, this used to be Puritan Chrysler-Plymouth from 1985 to 2007.
1400 - Now an automobile repair service, this used to be Johnny D's Service Station (Mobil) and even earlier back to the 1930's, it was Y D Service Station (Socony). Below: Photos from 1987 and 1991.
1681 - Knightsville Medical (since the late 90's) became Cardi's Furniture in 1947 after several years as Cardi's general/5 cents to a dollar/hardware store and remained here all the way into the 90's, including expanding their store in 1982.
1710 - Antonio's Trattoria Restaurant (since 1973) used to be Easy's Café (earlier Easy Bar) from at least 1950 until 1972. Below: The intersection of Park Ave. and Cranston St. in 1985 and 2017. Antonio's can be seen on the right along with the sign for the Knightsville Service Center (then an Arco Station).
Dyer Avenue
357 - Dina Manufacturing (since 1997) used to be Coffee's Café & Restaurant for at least 40 years until 1997.
397 - Mutual Gas Station used to be Simone's Service Station (American/Amoco).
441 - The Car Lot used to be Dyer Avenue Wholesale Gas Outlet from about the early 60's until about 1990. It was earlier Connetta's Filling Station in the 30's through the 50's.. Below: Photos from 1986 and 1990.
454 - Dyer Avenue Motors used to be Dyer Avenue Esso Service Center, becoming Center Auto Sales by the mid 70's.
470 - This used to be What Cheer Fruitland in the 60's until the early 70's.
548 - Rite Aid used to be Adams Drug/Brooks Pharmacy going back to about the late 60's. Dyer Avenue Greenhouses was previously at this location,
Elmwood Avenue
1282 - Ocean State Mobil used to be a Sunoco service station from at least the 50's until the early 90's when it changed to Citgo.
1400 - First Years Learning Center used to be Public Car Wash from February 1962 to the early-to-mid 70's. It then became Marine Optical Co. and was Rodell Mfg. Jewelry by the end of the decade/
1415 - Price Rite used to be an Almacs Super Market from about the early 80's until 1994. It then became a Valueland Super Market in 1997 until closing all its stores one year later.
1441 - Ocean State Job Lot used to be a Kmart Department Store from August 1982
into the 00's. In between, it was National Wholesale Liquidators.
1450 - AMF Cranston Lanes was called the Cranston Bowl when it opened in 1960.
1616 - This used to be Uncle Sam's Discotheque from about 1973 until closing in late 1974. It then became B.T. Bogarts Nightclub & Pub for the rest of the decade. By the early 80's, it was JR's Pub and by the mid 80's, it had become Riviera Pub until about the mid-to-late 00's.
Fletcher Avenue
69 - Eastland Food Products used to be a Big G Supermarket from about 1967 to 1970. It later became Lipman Foods and Native Poultry.
Gansett Avenue
146 - Ichiban Restaurant (since 2005) used to be Marcello's (later Vincent Marcello's) Restaurant from at least 1955 when it was renovated, until about the early 90's.
183 - The area now used as a parking lot for the Cranston YMCA, this used to be an Arnold Palmer 19-hole putting course from 1963 to at least 1966.
192 - Young Sing Restaurant used to be Boston Submarine Sandwich Shop (aka Boston Sub) from 1958 to about 2010.
Garden City Drive
5 - Citizens Bank used to be Jennings Bros. Service Station from 1948 to 1988 (rebuilt in 1966). The station was originally called Garden City Atlantic and remained as an Atlantic station until being converted to Arco in 1970.
Hillside Road (All businesses part of Garden City Shopping Plaza)
57 - This used to be a Woolworth store from April 1954 until moving to 190 Hillside Rd.in about 1964. It then became a Singer Sewing Center until 1971, when it changed to Fab-U-Sew. By the mid-to-late 70's and into the 80's, Donnelly's Clothing at 51 Hillside used this store for additional space.
79 - This used to be Industrial National Bank (changed to Fleet Bank in the early-to-mid 80's) from the late 60's (was earlier at 69 Hillside from the 50's) until the mid 80's. The bank would relocate to 201 Hillside. Earlier here from 1953 until moving to 185 Sockanosett Cross Rd. in August 1965 was Garden City Lanes.
80 - Jos. A. Bank used to be Gladding's Department Store, which opened in April 1957. It became Shepard's Department Store in the early 70's and then Child World from June 1974 until moving to Bald Hill Road in the late 80's.
100 - This has been a Newport Creamery Restaurant since June 1954.
150 - The Container Store (was formerly Linens N' Things from about 1993 to 2009) and Cohoes Fashions (156 Hillside) used to be an Outlet Department Store from 1963 to 1982. In 1984, the Outlet building was transformed into Cohoes Commons, a mini shopping mall that included Cohoes along with a few smaller stores. Cohoes left in 1989, then returned in 1994 to just about the same location, though slightly smaller.
182 - This used to be Ladd's Music Center from about 1970 until moving to Airport Plaza in Warwick in the early-to-mid 80's.
190 - L.A. Fitness was rebuilt in the former location of a Woolworth Department Store that was here from about 1964 (Woolworth had been originally been at 57 Hillside going back to April 1954) all the way until 1997, when it was one of the last three RI Woolworth stores to close. Borders Books moved into this spot in 1999 until closing in 2011.
210 - This used to be an Almacs Super Market from about 1963 (Almacs had been at 95 Hillside going back to 1949) until moving to 151 Sockanosset Cross Road in 1988, It later became Office Warehouse in 1991. Below: Woolworth's and Almacs in Garden City from 1985.
1043 - This has been Edgewood Market since 1958. Going back to the mid 40's into the 50's, this was Marson's Market and even before that in the late 30's, it was Narragansett Boulevard Market
1150 - Johnson & Wales Harbor View Residence Hall used to be Colony Motor Hotel from December 1960 until changing to Colonial Hilton Inn in October 1969. It was later renamed Cranston Hilton in the mid 70's. The hotel was purchased by Johnson & Wales in 1980 and would soon become Johnson & Wales Hospitality Center.
New London Avenue
1 - A three-unit strip mall built in 1999 sits at the location that used to be Duncan Fyffe Restaurant from 1967 to 1997 and torn down in early 1999. Prior to Duncan Fyffe, it was a Howard Johnson's Restaurant from 1937 to 1967.
1171 - Ninety Nine Restaurant (since August 1996) used to be Meshanicut Green Restaurant from at least 1938 until 1984. It then became Acorns On The Green in 1986 and September's by 1990.
Niantic Avenue
225 - Lang's Bowlarama still operates at the same location as it did on October 2, 1960 when it opened its doors for the first time and featured 40 lanes with.AMF automatic pinsetters and pindicators.
Oaklawn Avenue
693 - Tomaselli's Restaurant & Catering (since 1998) used to be Uncle Gino's Pizza from 1976 to 1997. In the early-to-mid 70's, it was Two Guys From Italy Pizza.
741 - Moon House Restaurant used to be China Pearl Restaurant from 1968 into the early 00's.
763 - Garden Hills Fruit & Deli used to be a Kentucky Fried Chicken from 1967 into the early 80's. It started as Abby's Grille in April 1961 and reopened as Li'l Rascal Steak House in April 1966. After KFC, it later became Family Farms grocery and Bayburn Paint in the 80's.
870 - This used to be the location of Oaklawn Foodliner (IGA) from about the early-to-mid 50's to the early 80's. Later here in the mid 80's into the 90's was Oaklawn Meat Market.
908 - This used to be a Shell Service Station (see below) from about the early-to-mid 60's into the 90's.Prior to that, Callery's Spa had been at this location. Below: Shell service station in 1984
930 - Campanella's Restaurant used to be Oaklawn Pharmacy from May 1958 until merging with CVS Pharmacy in 1996.
1009 - Wein-O-Rama Restaurant has operated at this same location since 1962.
1170 - Tire Warehouse used to be a Ponderosa Steak House from about the mid 70's into the 90's.
1195 - CVS Pharmacy was built at the location that used to be Oaklawn Esso from about 1950 and then converted to Oaklawn Exxon in 1972 until the mid-to-late 90's. The station had dated back to at least the 1930's under different names and was rebuilt around the late 60's.
1224 - This was the home of Miss Cranston Diner from about the late 40's until closing after a fire in March 2014 (torn down in 2015). In early, 2015, the restaurant relocated to the Oaklawn Center plaza at 1150 Oaklawn Ave.
1260 - This has been a Del's Lemonade for over 60 years (has also been listed at 1274 Oaklawn Ave.).
1288 - Dunkin Donuts (since about 2002) used to be Phred's Drugs from the late 70's until moving to 1300 Oaklawn Ave in the early 00's.
1400 - Marshall's Shopping Center used to be the location of the Cranston Drive-In Theater from about the late 40's until making way for the new plaza in 1979.
1455 - Uncle Tony's Pizza & Pasta (since 1981) used to be the location of Multi National Carpet in the mid-to-late 70's.
Park Avenue
266 - TNH Service Station dates all the way back to 1937, when it opened as Park Service Socony (Mobil) station. By the mid 50's, it was McCormick's Tydol Service and then converted to Mason's Flying A Service by 1957. It later became a Getty station (Interstate Getty by the late 70's) that was converted to Lukoil in 2009, BP in 2011 and became an independent by 2014.
283 - Dunkin Donuts (since the late 80's) used to be the location of George's Atlantic service station from 1951 until becoming Parente's Atlantic by the mid 50's. It was then converted to Parente's Arco about 1970 for the rest of the decade. By the early 80's, it became Parkview Arco, then Parkview Gulf by 1983 and Parkview Service by 1985.
295 - This used to be The Cozy House Restaurant from at least 1950 until 1985 and later torn down.
350 - Ocean State Kidz Club used to be a Major Video store from about the mid 80's to late 90's. It then became Blockbuster Video until about the late 00's.
661 - Legion Bowl has operated here since the late 40's.
675 - This used to be a CVS Pharmacy from 1969 until being torn down in 2009. Before CVS, it was Galen Drug from 1963 to 1969.
751 - Lunch Box Restaurant used Park Avenue Fish & Chips from about 1960 to 1985. It then became Pag's Place by 1989.
817 - This used to be an A & P Food Store from June 1938 to the early 60's. Benny's (in the same building) would later also be at this address for additional space.
819 - Benny's Home & Auto Stores was at this location from about 1939 until Benny's closed all of its stores in late 2017. It was listed early on at 821 Park Ave.
827 - City Hall Diner used to be John's New York System Restaurant from 1971 to about 2016. It started as Park Avenue Lunch in 1928. After that, It was Civic Center Light Lunch and Variety Store by 1930, Whitehead's Variety Store from 1932 to at least 1937, Bucky's Smoke Shop in 1939, Auburn Stationary Co. by 1940, Martins Variety Store by 1943, The P & M Store in 1944, The Cranston Herald office from 1944 to 1954, Perry's Spa from 1954 to 1956, Godfrey's Grill from 1957 to 1958, Mike's Grille from 1958 to 1963 and Park Grille from 1963 to 1971.
834 - Chinese American Mini Market used to be an Original Ricotti's sandwich shop (opened in July 1981).
848 - Park Theater used to be the historic Park Cinema (built in 1924), which operated as a movie theater until 2001.
880 - Park Avenue Auto Service used to be Bergreen's Shell Service (opened in April 1960) and later became City Hall Shell service station until about the early-to-mid 80's.
1010 - Walgreens Pharmacy is at the location that used to be Mount Pleasant Hardware from about 1968 to 1975 and then Armen's Hardware into the 90's. Also at this address along with the hardware stores from about 1970 to 1981 was a Riccotti's Sandwich Shop.
1059 - T's Restaurant (since 1986) used to be Bridal Sweet bridal shop in the early-to-mid 80's.
1079 - This has been Stadium Fish & Chip going back to about 1967. Before that it, was Auburn Fish & Chip Shoppe from at least the 40's until the mid 60's.
1085 - Saccoccio & Associates used to be Penn TV & Furniture for over 40 years from at least 1950 into the 90's.
1090 - Autozone used to be Food Town Market from about 1956 until 1982. It then became ADAP Discount Auto Parts in 1983.1099 - Premier Martial Arts used to be Olerio's Restaurant from the early 80's to mid 00's. It later became Feast Or Famine Restaurant in 2006 and Thai Lanna Restaurant in the late 00's,
1101 - Park Place Nail and Spa (since 2012) used to be a Carvel Ice Cream store from the early 80's to about the late 00's. In between, it was Planet Wireless. Before the three-unit plaza (1099-1103 Park Ave.) that has stood here since about 1980 was built, Vilmoray Restaurant was at this location in the 50's, then Maria's Restaurant in the 60's and early 70's and The Arbi Inn during the early-to-mid 70's.
1155 - Providence Lacquer & Supply used to be Stadium Bowling Alley (duckpin bowling) from at least 1941 until changing to Speedway Bowling Alley by the late 50's until about 1964. It then became Harry Ey Co. food distributors by the late 60's and Barry Sales Co. auto supply by the mid 70's. By 1983, this was listed as both Barry Sales and Providence Lacquer.
1215 - Webster Bank (since the mid 00's) used to be a Burger Chef Restaurant from 1960 until the early 80's, It later became Char-Brander Restaurant in the mid 80's and Hong Kong Restaurant from the mid-to-late 80's to the mid-to-late 90's before becoming a bank (First Federal Savings) in the late 90's.
1225 - The Cranston YMCA has been in operation here since opening in June 1959.
1232 - Milk & More used to be Park Market from about 1948 until becoming Bo-Peep Meat Market from 1959 to 1978. It then became Meats Inc. until 1982 and Abe's Meat & Deli from 1982 into the 90's. Also here was a fruit store that had many different names, including Leo's, Pagano's, Haven, Park Open Air Market, Amato's and Mangiarelli Fruitland.
1334 - Bess Eaton Donuts (since the mid 80's) used to be Quick Stop Restaurant & Pizza from about 1977 to 1984. Before becoming a restaurant, this was a Mobil Service Station that opened in September 1957 as Stabile's Service Station (ads proclaimed "Go Mobil with Stabile"). It continued as a Mobil station through the early-to-mid 70's.
1353 -Bestway Food Mart used to be a Texaco Service Station (Sal Zincones, Dino's and Joe's) from the mid 60's to the late 70's. It then became an Xtra Mart Food Mart (with Sunoco) from the early 80's to the early 00's. It later became Diamond Fuels Food Mart. Photo: Sunoco Xtra Mart in March 1987.
1360 - This used to be Jerry's IGA from early 1974 (moved from 1680 Cranston St.) until about 1977, later becoming Gennaro's Market and Bob's Park Avenue Market.
1463 - Marchetti's Restaurant (since 1982) used to be Old Diamond Café Restaurant going back to at least the late 50's (listed at 1461 Park Ave. at that time).
1472 - This used to be a Fotomat film development booth from about 1977 to the early 90's. After Fotomat closed, it became the short-lived, but still remembered Condom Hut from July 1992 to June 1993.
1482 - Athena's Breakfast & Lunch in Knightsville used to be Helen's N.Y. System Restaurant from the 60's into the 90's (see below photo from 1987). It has also been Park Plaza Grille and High Stakes Restaurant.
1486 - This used to be a Cumberland Farms Dairy Store (see below) until the late 80's.
Phenix Avenue
243 - This used to be Countryside Light Lunch Restaurant from the 60's into the 90's. Earlier, from at least the late 50's, it was Phenix Spa Restaurant.
Plainfield Street
1394 - Located in the neighborhood known as Thornton, 7-Eleven was built in 2003 (originally as Cranston Food Mart Plus) at the location of the former Village Rendezvous restaurant (see photo), which operated from at least 1937 all the way until about the early 00's before being torn down. Photo Credit: Cranston Historical Society.
460 - Sam's Food Stores used to be Cook's Atlantic Service Station from at least 1946 into the 50's. From 1957 to about 1977, it was Bud Lord's Atlantic Service (converted to Bud Lord's Arco in 1970). It continued as an Arco station until converted to Shell in 1985, By the late 80's into the 90's, the station was vacant.
480 - SRL Mart (with Citgo and Dunkin Donuts) used to be the location of Don's Richfield Service Station from 1961 to 1963. It then became T & S Automotive before being torn down in 1966. After being rebuilt, this was Auburn Sunoco until about 1977, when it became Carl's Sunoco. It remained a Sunoco station until being converted to Mobil in 1992.
527 - Pontiac Food Mart used to be a Cumberland Farms convenience store from the early 70's into the 90's. It later became Pontiac Express.
531 - Tony's Pizza Palace (since 2018) used to be Providence Public Market from 1946 to 1953. It then became Eden Park Super Market from 1953 to 1963, Sunnybrook Farms from 1963 to 1973, Sir Speedy Printing in 1974, Organic Gourmet in the late 70's and First Church of Christ Scientist (Christian Reading Room) in the 80's and 90's. It later became Scampi's Of Course! Restaurant by the mid 00's and International Used Appliances from 2011 to 2017.
533 - Now used for additional space by The Time Capsule, this used to be Ye Colony Bakery from about the early-to-mid 60's until becoming Bob Carol's Bakery in the early 70's until the early 90's. It then became Camire's Athletic Soles by 1994 and was later Sea Mist Floral.
537 - The Time Capsule comic books used to be White Rose Market from the early 40's until about the early-to-mid 70's. It was previously Mrs. Keene's Bakery from 1939 to the early 40's and after White Rose it later became Cranston Floor Covering during the 70's and going into the 90's.
539 - Also part of Time Capsule, this address used to be split into two businesses. One was a long-time barber shop from at least the 40's as Joe's Barber Shop, continuing into the 70's as Ralph's Barber Shop and going through the 80's and into the 90's as Vinnie's Barber Shop.
Also once here was an A & P grocery store back in 1930. By 1950, it was Peggy-Helen Yarn Shoppe. Some of the businesses here after that included Universal Cleansers and Lind's Bakery in the 50's, Low's Restaurant and Tastee Foods Restaurant in the 60's, Robbins Photography and Nadeau Photography in the 70's, Cranston Antiques & Collectibles in the 80's and early 90's, Hydroponic Gardening by 1995 and Occasions by Gini by 2005.
541 - Eden Park Cleaners (since the mid 70's) used to be Pearle Cleansers from 1955 to 1961 and Parke Cleansers from 1961 to the mid 70's.
548 - Located adjacent to the supermarket and now part of Dave's Marketplace, this used to be Tony's Pizza Palace from the early 70's until 2016. Before Tony's, it was James Coiffeurs.
550 - Dave's Marketplace (since 2017) used to be a Star Market (originally United Star Market) from October 1958 to 1990, when it was converted to Almacs until 1995. It became a Hi-Lo Supermarket in 2000 and was later converted to Seabra Foods in 2003 until 2015.
564 - This used to be the location of Budlong Manufacturing Co, from at least the 1920's to about 1988. A Brooks Pharmacy (and other businesses) was built here in 1989 at 570 Pontiac Ave, although the side entrance of Brooks was listed here at 564 Pontiac. It was later converted to Rite Aid Pharmacy.
899 - A Plus Auto Service used to be Dyer & Szlatenyi's Flying A Service Station starting in 1956. It then became Serpa's Flying A Service in late 1960 until being converted to Serpa's Getty Service in about 1970 through 1985, when it was called Pontiac Ave. Getty. It continued as a Getty until being converted to BP in 2009. By the early-to-mid 2010's, it had become strictly an auto repair shop.
949 - Maria's Pizza & Wings has been operating at this location since about 1973 following Beefland. Many years earlier, this was the location of Saravo's Garden Market.
951 - A & B Mart Convenience Store used to be a Cumberland Farms store from about the early-to-mid 70's until the early 90's. Below: Signs for Cumberland Farms and Maria's Pizza in 1987.
Puritan Avenue
116 - Kid's Kingdom daycare used to be Village Café from at least 1943 until changing to Village Inn by 1962 until about 1976, when it became Firefighter Pub. In the 80's and into the 90's, it became Angel's Restaurant. Going back from the mid 30's to late 40's, it was West End Republican Club and then Five Points Inn.
Reservoir Avenue
445 - St. Jude Home Care is at the location that used to be Courtland Drapery from 1958 (moved from 428 Reservoir Ave.) and operated all the way into the 90's.
455 - The former Rico's Hairworks (mid-to-late 70's to the early-to-mid 2010's) used to be The Hut Restaurant in the 50's and into the early-to-mid 60's. It then became Gallo Studios until the mid 70's.
460 - Aaron's (since the 00's) used to be a Pier 1 Imports store beginning in the early-to-mid 70's, It then became a Pier 1 Imports Clearance store in 1999 after a new store opened in Garden City.
508 - Advantax & Insurance used to be Ellbey's luncheonette & grill from 1949 and going through the 50's. By the early 60's, it was Olivo's Restaurant until about 1967. It then became Teddy's Restaurant through the 70's and was Deltah's in the early 80's. Mr. Tux then opened here about 1983 and operated for over 25 years until 2009, when it became Men's Warehouse until about 2015.
529 -This used to be Richard's Drive-In Restaurant from about 1956 to the early 60's. It became Child's Jr. Restaurant about 1963 and by 1965, Hurd & Goldberg had expanded across the street into this location with their used car annex until moving in 1990. Photo: Richard's Drive-In Restaurant in 1956. Credit: Providence Journal
567 - Mega Plaza including Rent-A-Center used to be Tony Goodrich's Television City in the 60's through the 70's. By the mid 80's, it had become a small plaza featuring DePetrillo's Bakery, Movies N' More and Bagels East .
570 - Uncle Sushi & Grill used to be a Walt's Roast Beef Restaurant from the mid-to-late 60's until moving to its present location at 680 Reservoir Ave. in the early-to-mid 70's. Before Walt's, this was Dari-Delite ice cream going back to at least 1953. After Walt's, it was briefly Nathan's Steak & Roast and then became Mario's Steak & Roast Beef by 1973 until the late 70's. After that, the restaurant changed names several times in the next few years, including Jodony's Italian Sandwiches, Connie's Italian Sandwiches, Muttis Pizza and Argos Pizza & Seafood by 1990. In the 90's, it was Hail Caesar and then Earl's Sandwich Hut into the 00's.
599 - The former ADAP Auto Parts (1996 to about the mid 00's) used to be Thall's Pharmacy from about 1957 into the 90's after moving from 602 Reservoir Ave.
606 - The Big Cheese and Pub (since 1968) was known as The Pizza Hot until about the mid 70's. Earlier, it was Goldie's Surf Shop from about 1965 to 1968.
615 - J.D. Byrider (since the late 90's) used to be Reservoir Esso Service Station from 1961 until become Sal Zincone's Service Station (converted to Exxon in 1972) until the early 80's. It then became National Car Rental by 1984 until about the mid 90's.
623 - Villiari's Martial Arts used to be Cathay Den Restaurant for over 30 years from October 1960 until shortly before becoming Silver Palace Restaurant by 1992. Silver Palace operated until at least the early 00's.
624 - The former Papa Gino's Pizzeria in the Park N Shop Center used to be a Rhode Island Hospital Trust branch from 1955 to about 1974. It reopened as Peoples Bank in January 1975 until being converted to Shawmut Bank of Rhode Island in March 1990. Shawmut then closed this office and moved up the street to 1140 Reservoir Ave in August 1990.
630 - Dunkin Donuts has been at this location in the Park N Shop Center for over 60 years since the late 50's. It was originally Regents Sundial Shoe Store from December 1955 until closing after being damaged by a fire in October 1956.
645 - Washington Trust used to be a Kentucky Beef Restaurant in the early 70's. After a short time as Lovitt's, it would later become an Arthur Treacher's Fish & Chips Restaurant around the mid 70's until being converted to a bank (First Bank & Trust) in the early 80's.
659 - Cumberland Farms (since the late 80's and rebuilt in 2014) used to be the location of Lindy's Bali Restaurant from at least the late 30's until the mid 60's. A Gulf service station then operated here from 1966 until becoming Dairy Mart (still with Gulf products) in about 1983. Photo: Dairy Mart in 1985
680 - Walt's Roast Beef Restaurant (since 1972) used to be Goodlight Fish & Chips, which opened in May 1970. It then became Alfie's Fish & Chips shortly thereafter.
681 - Although it has been rebuilt, CVS Pharmacy has been at this address since about 1976. Cranston Floor had previously operated at this address from at least the mid 50's to the mid 70's.
691 - This used to be a Wendy's Restaurant from the early 80's to the mid 00's before being torn down and the land is now used for parking for CVS Pharmacy.
716 - California Taco Shop (since 2016) used to be George's Grill (New York System) from about 1968 to 2013. It then became Sombrero Mexican Grill from 2013 to 2016. Before George's, it was Smack's Restaurant from 1951 to 1968.
721 - R.I. Rehabilitation Center (since about the late 90's) used to be Sandager Ford from 1930 to 1956. It then became Rossi & Oliver Ford in early 1957, Rossi Ford in 1958, Al Mitchell's Reservoir Ford Sales in late 1959, Al Mitchell Ford in 1961, Mitchell Toyota in 1971, Gassett Toyota by 1977 and Miranda Toyota from about 1982 to the early 90's.
725 - Orthopedic Associates used to be a Big "G" Super Market (earlier Great Scott Food Market beginning in 1954) from about the early 60's to late 1976. It later became Seventh Avenue Clothing and Fleet National Bank.
787 - Dairy Twirl has been at this location since about 1956.
800 - Rainbow Bakery has been at this location since 1964.
822 - KFC has been at this location since about 1969.
823 - The former Donut Bazar used to be a Mister Donut from April 1978 into the 90's. Earlier from at least the 50's into the 70's, it was Bruce Pharmacy.
860 - Rhode Island Credit Union (since 2015) was constructed on the former location of Bickford's Family Restaurant (mid-to-late 70's to the mid-to-late 00's).
957 - The future Macera's Italian Restaurant (as of July 2019) and former Galaxie Restaurant (1993 to 2016) used to be Cape Cod Restaurant from about 1969 to 1991. In between, it was Le's Restaurant from 1992 to 1993..
1012 - Olneyville N.Y. System Restaurant started as Maxwell's Restaurant around 1976 and changed to Mario & Anna's Restaurant and Olneyville Wieners before becoming The Wiener Man from about 1982 into the 90's.
1045 - The former Kenny's Place (renamed from Scrambler's in 2017 after being closed due to a 2016 fire and operated until 2019) used to be an IHOP Restaurant from 1970 into the 00's. As of February 2020, El Tapatio Restaurant is close to opening at this location.
1073 - Spain restaurant (since 1994 and rebuilt at that time) used to be the location of Rustler Steak House in the mid-to-late 70's and then Bonanza Steakhouse. It later became Pub Dennis Restaurant through much of the 80's to about 1990 and then was said to be Palisades Park in the early 90's.
1076 - Taco Bell has been in this location since about the mid 80's and rebuilt in 2006.
1099 - A McDonald's restaurant has operated at this location since May 1972.
1112 - The former Pizza Hut used to be a James McManus Eating Place starting in the mid-to-late 70's, becoming Pizza Casino by the mid 80's and Pizza Hut by the late 80's.
1177 - Denny's Restaurant (since 2016) used to be a Friendly's Restaurant from about 1983 until closing 30 years later in 2013.
1255 - Seven Stars Bakery (since November 2019) used to be Columbus National Bank from 1963 to about 1984, when it changed to Rhode Island Hospital Trust Bank until 1991. It then became Ivolino's Italian and Kosher-style deli in early 1992. It later became The Village Bean by the mid 90's, Efendi Mediterranean Grill by the early 00's, Cilantro Mexican Grill in 2013 and Carolina Barbecue Co. in 2017.
1275 - Chelo's Hometown Bar & Grille (since about 1972) used to be Ted's Big Boy Restaurant from April 1965 to early 70's.
1285 - Dollar Tree used to be Brodsky's Toys from the early-to-mid 60's until about the mid 70's. It later became the Sofa Shoppe in 1975, Leapman's Furniture, Fashion Gallery and then Rainbow Shops into the 90's.
1301 - The Imaging Institute used to be Adams Drugs from the mid-to-late 60's through the 70's. It would later become Phred's Drugs III during the 80's and Garden City Drugs into the 90's. Before Adams Drugs, this was a Radio Shack store (opened in November 1961 with Liberace on hand to sign autographs).
Rolfe Square
56 - Citizens Bank has operated at this location since all the way back to August 1947.
65 - This has been Durfee's Hardware (since 1930) for almost 90 years!
72 - The former Phu Lam Market used to be a Woolworth store from December 1953 until the early 70's, when it became Nayco 5 & 10 for close to 35 years until closing in late 2006. After that it became 99 Marketplace until changing the name to Phu Lam Market in 2009.
77 - Now multiple businesses, this used to be a First National Super Market beginning in January 1941. It then became Soprano's Market in March 1968 through the 70's and a Rite Aid Pharmacy in the 80's.
85 - This used to be the location of The Country Store department store from March 1946 until being burnt down by a fire in May 1963.
88 - Now part of Jerusalem Meat Market (expanded into here from 88 1/2 Rolfe during the 2010's), this used to be Kool Korner Ice Cream from at least the mid 40's until the mid 90's. It was replaced by Rolfe Square Cafe & Grill in 1997.
88 1/2 - Jerusalem Meat Market used to be Marty's Kosher Meat Market from the mid 70's into the 90's. Before Marty's, it was Pluto's clothing in the early-to-mid 70's.
90 - King's Garden Restaurant (since about 1982) used to be China Inn Restaurant from 1954 to 1982. Before China Inn, this was The Spot-Lite market, which specialized in fresh native chicken.
Sabra Street
100 - Located off of Niantic Ave, the popular Twin Oaks Restaurant has been in operation since 1933. The restaurant was rebuilt in 1981 after the original building burned down after a fire in 1980.
Sockanosett Cross Road (Garden City)
151 - This used to be Garden City Cinema from December 1967 to April 1986. It was torn down in May 1987. The cinema opened as one 1.074 seat theater with a showing of Walt Disney's Jungle Book. In 1972, the cinema was split into two theatres.
185 - This used to be Garden City Lanes (duckpin bowling) from August 1965 (moved from 79 Hillside Rd.) until the summer of 1985 and torn down in 1987.
Traverse Road (Garden City)
11 - This used to be Kelly's Sporting Goods from August 1970 (moved from 1669 Elmwood Ave.) until moving to 125 Sockanosett Cross Road in 1985.
370 Atwood Avenue used to be Deb-Lyn's ice cream stand in the 70s and early 80s. #384 Atwood used to be a pool store in the early 70s. What is now the Stop and Shop parking lot used to be indoor tennis courts. The supercuts used to be TV and Appliance store. 342 used to be Jerry's supermarket. 310(that plaza) had a women's clothing store called Dee-Anns. Best Way used to be a Chinese Restaurant. I think the Sambos closed long before 81. I was 5 years old and going to Peters which was a few yards away and I would have remembered that being a Sambo's. I think it opened before 78 and closed sooner and was boarded up by 81. 351 Budlong used to be a Kinder Care. I went there in 1979 so if i can remember that i surelyl can remember if Sambos was in Cranston in 1981. I know that the bank on Park Avenue used to be Burger Chef and it was still there in 1918 because I remember going there in 1980.
ReplyDeleteSorry, meat to say the Burger Chef(next to the YMCA) was still there in 1981 NOT 1918. That would have been cool!
ReplyDelete2 corrections/additions I'm still on the Spain subject - asked my son about Rustler. He worked at McDonald's but he remembers us going to Bonanza, never any Rustler. Pub Dennis - yes but Palisades Park in the 90s - what was that? As far as I know, there was no such animal. Tell me what it was. My sons were always at Budlong, playing basketball and I sure wasn't senile in the 90s !!
ReplyDeleteChelo's -still there along with an optical shop and Seven Stars there now but next to Chelo's was Columbus Bank (got our mortgage there)
Rolfe St. - Dance studio & most of that block was the Country Store (a dept. store) that burned down. Jerusalem Market (the name is fairly new) but a still a Kosher market with Kool Korner next to it (Kool Korner's original location was a drive-in ice cream place at the corner of Post Rd. & Elmwood where "Harry's" sign is still up. The family (Mayfields of Warwick) expanded to Rolfe St. - "Harry's" used to be Cosmic Pizza.
Citizen's Bank next to Auburn Fruitland next to Woolworth's, then James Kaplan Jewelers (later moved to G.G.)& became a liquor store.
Thanks for all of the info! I have made some additions/corrections above with more to come. Bonanza was originally Rustler and Palisades Park was a short-lived nightclub after Pub Dennis and before Spain.
DeleteThanks for adding my ''recalls''. Asked my son about Rustler - he worked at McDonald's when he was 14 (now pushing 49) and he doesn't remember any Rustler but does remember Bonanza. Neither of us recall any Palisades Park (I find it hard to believe Cranston would allow any nightclub in that area) Perhaps it's something to look up in Liquor Tax licenses.)
ReplyDeleteWhat was the name of the nightclub on Elmwood Ave at the Corner of Third Ave.
ReplyDeleteIt now houses the Bingo place. Thanks
Don't know if it was the Riviera but back in the days of disco, it was Uncle Sam's.
ReplyDeleteI believe you are right about the Riviera. They hosted bingo on one side of the building and the nightclub on the other through the 60s and 70s. My grandmother went there every week until she passed in 75
DeleteThanks for the question and also to Cranstongirl for the quick response! 1616 Elmwood Ave. has been added above and it certainly was Uncle Sam's when it became a discotheque. It then became B.T. Bogarts in the mid 70's and then JR's Pub before becoming Riviera by the mid 80's
ReplyDeleteWhere Webster's Bank is now on Gansett Ave in Cranston used to be Arnold Palmer's mini golf and Burger Chef back when I was a kid, maybe 1968?
ReplyDeleteI don't remember Arnold Palmer's but Burger Chef was there for a long time. I think it was the first time I ever went to a fast food place. It was a very big deal to get a shake for 15 cents !
DeleteI don't remember it either, but there certainly was an Arnold Palmer 19-hole putting course, located on 183 Gansett Ave. next to Burger Chef from 1963 until at least 1966, possibly later.
Deletecorrect! I played many many times there as a kid! I used to work when I was younger and took my friends golfing there and treated them to Burger Chef afterwards! I even found a $5 bill laying under one of the trash cans once in front of BC, free burgers n fries for everyone!
ReplyDeleteDoes anyone remember the go-carts on Park Ave, take a right from Dyer Ave heading toward Knightsville, they were right after the gas station on the corner of Park & Dyer on the right. .50 cents for a ride! What a blast! I was a kid so maybe around 1965-67?
ReplyDeleteYou are correct! It was called Cranston Kartway Park at the corner of Park and Dyer (1359 Park) from right around that time frame, starting about 1964.
Delete537 Pontiac Ave - I'm guessing a bit here. I'm old, so sue me !! I'm pretty sure there was a barbershop in the corner house of Pontiac & whatever (I should know since I live down the st. but it's not Chestnut or Waldron), where you said there was a small market (I don't remember it) is probably Eden Park Cleaners (which has been there as long as I can remember), the (at the time bakery) was Bob Carol's Bakery (we'd go on our way home from the pool) and the corner (which is Pontiac/Waldron) has been something, then the Christian Reading Room (which used to be on Elmwood in Prov. near Hanover St - you don't want to go there now!!), then an appliance repair (I used them but they weren't there long) and now it's Tony's Pizza which used to be in the plaza where Dave's Market is now. There was also a laundromat there (1972)- Tony's had expanded.
ReplyDeleteNext to Dave's was Brooks but before that the whole area including the apts. was Budlong Mfg. - you could hear the spools running.
Time Capsule - at one time there was a small florist squeezed in there when Bob Carol's closed.
Thanks Cranstongirl for sharing your memories of the area around 537 Pontiac Ave. I researched the places you mentioned and from what I could find, you were pretty much spot on! The info has been added above.
ReplyDelete725 Reservoir - back in the 60s and part of that area was a Toyota dealership (can't remember the name) and the businesses were moving around but it was in that area.
ReplyDeleteFormer IHOP/Scramblers/Kenny's is opening as El Tapito - it's been painted but not opened yet
Into Warwick - I may be wrong since I was little & half asleep but back in the days of going to Matunuck and coming home, I think there was a Richard's Drive-In at the corner of Elmwood & Post Rd. where the Shell station is. It was a long ride - well over an hour going on Rt. 1/Post Rd. If you head that way, you can still see parts of Post Rd.
I had plenty of family in Warwick but being one of the youngest, my memories are dim. My uncle lived on Guilford (when it was quiet) and I remember 2 of my older cousins taking me for a walk near the railroad tracks. One of them lived on Shirley St. ( the house is a couple of houses in from Walmart on Post Rd.) and I remember going with her to the field on Atlantic Ave. She had her license & used to come over and take my sister & me to Kool Corner in Warwick.
The airport was the (now) white building (when did they paint it - it's always been yellow? I'm always at the Hoxsie Dave's). We moved to Cranston around 1957 or 58 from Providence - the wife next door to us, her father owned the land that Ann & Hope was built on.
High School was Friday nights at Rocky Pt. - Mom let me take her car since my Dad wouldn't let me take his lol....my friends & I would dress alike. Ride all the rides for $1.25. Can't buy a cup of coffee for $1.25 (except for Cumby's).
Trying to contact someone who knows Warwick inside & out.
Thanks again, Cranstongirl for sharing all of the wonderful memories you have from both Cranston and Warwick. I am the opposite of you as I grew up in Warwick, not far from the Cranston line in Pawtuxet and also had relatives on the Providence-Cranston line and worked in Cranston for a few years, so I spent a lot of time in and going through Cranston, and remember visiting places such as A & W, Burger Chef, both IHOP's, Ted's Big Boy, Brodsky's and many more . There certainly was a Richard's Drive-In Restaurant where the Shell station is today. I had only heard about it as it closed about the time I was born and hadn't found any information on it, but I looked again at some old listings after you mentioned it and finally found it listed at 2130 Elmwood Ave. in 1959 (the station is at 2128 Elmwood) but gone by 1960 . I have updated the Warwick page for that. I also updated this page for 1045 Reservoir for the upcoming restaurant and added 721 Reservoir for the Toyota dealership, which was originally Ford going back to 1930! Ann & Hope was Lou's Driving Range before it was built and Rocky Point was the place to go for sure!. I remember seeing The Three Stooges there in 1967.
DeleteDoes anyone recall the tobacco and candy wholesalers located on Rolfe street across from Marty’s ? It was down from I think class cleaners (maybe cleansers) which was closest to Richard St and the former First National/Suprano’s. My mom said the whole building was formerly an Almacs that closed and moved to Garden City. Adams drug was at the other end, closest to the ARCO. I think it turned into Brooks, burned and was turned into parking.
ReplyDeleteThat was Giso Bros. Inc., located at 81 to 85 Rolfe during the 60's and 70's.
DeleteDoes anyone recall a restaurant called tiffany's being open around 1965-1980's time?
ReplyDeleteTiffany's was located at 247 Reservoir Ave. in Providence not far from the Cranston line from about the mid 60's to early-to-mid 70's, when it became Sturbridge Inn. It was later FM Station restaurant from the mid-to-late 70's through the 80's.
DeleteWhat was the name of the fish&chip place on Gansett ave. To the left of Boston Sub?
ReplyDeleteAt least in the late 70's, it was Auburn Fish & Chips (at 180 Gansett Ave.). Auburn Fish & Chips had previously been at 1077 Park Ave. (Stadium Fish & Chips is at 1079 Park Ave.) for many years until the mid 60's
Delete