Warwick, RI

As a supplement to What It Used To Be In Warwick, RI and What It Used To Be In Cranston, RI , we will be displaying photos of gas stations and other business establishments that were primarily taken from the mid 1980's to the early 1990's throughout Rhode Island with some photos also from Massachusetts and Connecticut. Click on a photo to expand.

Rhode Island

Barrington, RI (1991) - County Rd. Center Service Station and Sackett's Card Shop in the Barrington Shopping Center are seen here. The station was torn down in early 1999 to build a new CVS Pharmacy.

Coventry, RI (1985) - Located on Tiogue Ave.

Coventry, RI (1987, 1985)

Coventry, RI (1987) - Located on Tiogue Ave., this would remain as a Shell service station until the mid-to-late 2010's.

                                    

Cranston, RI (1985, 1991,2007) -1282 Elmwood Ave. Located at the corner of Park Ave. and Elmwood Ave., this long time Sunoco station converted to Citgo in 1991 as seen in the second photo, which was taken shortly after the switch. It would later change to Mobil.

Cranston, RI (1986) - There is no doubt here that the price per gallon for unleaded regular is a whopping 82 cents!

Cranston, RI (1987) - 644 Oaklawn Ave. Now a Citgo station.

Cranston, RI (1987) - 441 Dyer Ave. Dyer Avenue Wholesale Gas Outlet.  I saw this very sign for sale at a swap meet in Massachusetts in 1992. Although it was a classic, at about $175 the price for the sign was a little too steep plus it was a pretty big sign and I had no place to put it!

Cranston, RI (1987) - The former home of General Oil, this old-time service station at the corner of Park Ave. and Gansett Ave. was torn down in the late 2010's to build a brand new car wash facility.

Cranston, RI (1987) - The Mobil flying horse, almost extinct by the time of this photo, was still riding high here at 1400 Cranston St. 

Cranston, RI (1990, 2007) - Cranston St. In the 17 years between photos, this Sunoco became Public America, the price of gas was almost tripled and Dunkin' Donuts across the street was rebuilt.  Interestingly enough, the gas station came full circle and in the late 2010's became a Sunoco station once again!

Cranston, RI (1990) -A view of Park Ave. as seen from this Texaco service station.

 Cranston, RI (1986) -936 Cranston St.

Cumberland, RI (1990) - 2849 Mendon Rd.

Cumberland, RI (1990) - 3585 Mendon Rd.

Cumberland, RI (1990) - 4084 Mendon Rd.

Cumberland, RI (1990) - Mendon Rd.

Cumberland, RI (1991) - Diamond Hill General Store on 3782 Diamond Hill Rd. It later became Li'l General before closing around the mid 2010's.

East Greenwich, RI (1985, 2018) - 4654 Post Rd.  This former Esso station built about 1950 was converted to Exxon along with the other Standard Oil of New Jersey brands across the country, such as Enco and Humble by early 1973. Exxon retained the image of the Esso stations and other than the name change, this station's appearance remained basically unchanged from about the late 60's through the mid 80's. By 1986, it became strictly a repair shop for about the next 30 years. In 2018, the building was rebuilt into a restaurant with a name that would have been perfect for an old time gas station (Huck's Filling Station). As the building was being stripped down for the rebuild, the Esso image (minus a few letters) of the 50's came back to life! 

East Greenwich, RI (1991) - Route 2. The bright Citgo colors were on display backed by a clear blue sky on New Year's Day, 1991.

East Greenwich, RI (1991) - At the corner of South County Tr. (Rte. 2) and Frenchtown Rd. was a Shell sign and a classic sign for A-1 Used Cars that had stood there for many years. About 30 years later, the Shell station was still at that location, and although the A-1 sign is long gone, automobiles were still being sold across the way.

East Providence, RI (1989) - Warren Ave. Apparently someone did not like what they read in the New York Post that day as its paper box was knocked flat on its face!

East Providence, RI (1990) - Gulf station and Elmwood Dodge on Taunton Ave. Both businesses were still operating at the same location 30 years later. 

Glocester, RI (1991) - Route 44. This former Texaco station was torn down in the late 2010's after being vacant for several years.

Johnston, RI (1984) - 514 Greenville Ave.  This later became a Citgo station and then Sunoco in late 2023.

Johnston, RI (1991) - 1341 Plainfield St.  It looks like this unbranded station was under budget and had to use handwritten price signs, but most likely it was because the pumps were older, probably from the 60's and could only display up to 99 cents.  Once the price rose above $1.00, a backup plan to display the prices was needed!  

Lincoln, RI (1990) - If you look closely, you can see something you rarely see today; a gasoline attendant is filling up the tank! 

Lincoln, RI (1991) - The Ten Pin sign for the old Lincoln Lanes on Higginson Ave. can be seen in this photo.

Narragansett, RI (1985) -  Pal's Delite.

Narragansett, RI (1987) - This Mobil station (now Stop & Shop Gasoline) on Point Judith Rd. located just before the highway to head up north (seen on the left) was the place to fill up the tank for the drive home after a day at the beach.

Narragansett, RI (1987) -  Galilee Grocery on Great Island Rd. with the former Dutch Inn hotel seen in the background. I believe the grocery area is now used for parking. You could certainly not go thirsty here with all of the soda vending machines standing in front of the building!

Narragansett, RI (1991) - China Dragon Restaurant.

North Kingstown, RI (1987) - On the dock.                                           

                                        

North Providence, RI (1990) - Woonasquatucket Ave.  

Pawtucket, RI (1990, 1986) - This Sunoco station design of the 50's and early 60's survives into the 90's at 736 Broadway.

Pawtucket, RI (1990) - This classic station on 312 Central Ave., which appears to go back even further than the station in the above photo was still branded as Sunoco 30 years later into the 2020's.

Pawtucket, RI (1990) - Benefit St.

Pawtucket, RI (1990) - A bicycle shop selling gasoline at the corner of Broadway and Webster Ave. There were not too many porcelain gas signs with an attaching light still around by 1990, but this was one of them.

Pawtucket, RI (1990, 1991) - It seems like yesterday that phone booths (see right side of photos) were everywhere you went, including at this nondescript Gulf station that looks like it may have been a former Esso station in the 50's and 60's.

Providence, RI (1986) - 325 Union Ave.  Like Arco stations a few months earlier, all Amoco stations would disappear from the Ocean State by 1987.

Providence, RI (1986, 1987) - A Dunkin' Donuts store was built here at 734 Eddy St. after the service station was torn down. 

Providence, RI (1987, 1991) - 360 Plainfield St.

Providence, RI (1987, 1990) - Located at the corner of Webster Ave. and Pocasset Ave., this iconic Texaco banjo sign would soon be replaced by the updated Texaco logo that was introduced in 1982 as seen in the second photo. Apparently, they skipped the logo used from the 60's to the early 80's that is seen in the photos just below!

                             

 

Providence, RI (1990) - Located at the corner of Atwells Ave. and Mt. Pleasant Ave., this station was still displaying a 1960's porcelain Texaco sign with overhead lights!

Providence, RI (1990) - Shell station at 5 Elmwood Ave. (still operating as of early 2021).

Providence, RI (1990) - Merit self-service station (now Speedway) at 83 Point St. 

                             

Providence, RI (1990) - 1481 Broad St.  Although the restaurant has recently been rebuilt, this same sign was still standing some 30 years later!

Providence, RI (1990) -  1055 Smith St.  With La Salle Academy looming in the background, this remained as a Mobil station until about 2017.

                             

Providence, RI (1990) - 125 Plainfield St.

                            

Providence, RI (1990) - 442 Manton Ave. The Sunoco "Custom Service" station design introduced in the early-to-mid 1960's was still on full display here.

Providence, RI (1990) - By the early 90's, it was becoming increasingly uncommon for service stations to give away or sell promotional items as they had done extensively in earlier decades such as the 60's and 70's. However, Shell stations in 1990 were offering the Shell Cruisin' Classics audio cassette series for $1.99 per cassette. Also on their way to becoming uncommon over the next few years were full service gas stations such as this station.

Providence, RI (1990, 1992, 2011) - It looked like this building at 1304 Eddy St. was on its last leg in the early 90's, however with a little touching up, it is still in operation today as an auto wash center. Charlie's Variety (still in operation) next door can be seen in the second photo.

Providence, RI (1990) - Not exactly sure of the location, but it looks like Providence.  It doesn't get too much better than a Texaco porcelain sign standing in the middle of a neighborhood full of multiple-story old houses. I have a feeling this is something not seen too often in the 2020's!

Providence, RI (1991) - It may have been the 90's, but this Gulf station at 399 Broadway still had the classic 60's and 70's look including the pumps and was looking great in the process!

                             

Providence, RI (1991) - 86 Silver Lake Ave..  A small building with a garage in back, Willie's Amoco Service Station was a throwback to some of the old gas stations of the early-to-mid 20th century (records show it as being built in 1909) and survived all the way into the 80's!  

Providence, RI (1991) - Located just outside the Johnston line at the intersection of Hartford Ave. and Killingly St. was a Gulf (now Citgo) service station and Honey Dew Donuts (second photo), which is still in operation here 30 years later.  Also still here 30 years later is the Paul and Al morning show on 94HJY, which was featured on a billboard in the first photo below.

Providence RI, (1991) - Located at 115 Knight St., this was also listed as Korner Spa.

Providence, RI (1991) - Located at 761 Hope St., this former Texaco (now Sunoco) full-service station is still in operation today.

Riverside, RI (1990) - Pawtucket Ave.  Snow was on the ground in early 1990 in front of Cumberland Farms (still there) and IGA Market (now Save-A-Lot).

Scituate, RI (1986, 1990, 1991) - Located at the corner of Danielson Pike and Rte. 116, this former Gulf service station was converted to the independent Global brand by 1991. The station is still in operation as of 2020 as a convenience store after operating as Scituate Auto Center for many years into the mid-to-late 2010's. The church seen in the background of these photos is North Scituate Baptist Church.  

                             

Scituate, RI (1991) - A taste of Rhode Island could certainly be had at Del's Lemonade and S.Z.'s Bakery & Coffee Shop located at 3 Danielson Pike.

Smithfield, RI (1986) - Another sighting of the classic Texaco banjo sign.

Smithfield, RI (1986) - This station on Farnum Pike was still displaying the primary Texaco logo from 1963 to 1981.

Smithfield, RI (1985) - Rte.44

Smithfield, RI (1985) - 445 Putnam Pike taken from the McDonald's parking lot.

Unknown (1991) - This classic Mobil service station design created in the mid 1960's was still on display at this corner station as it was for many Mobil stations well into the 90's.

Unknown (1991) - This station looks more reminiscent of the early 70's than early 90's, with older type pumps and station bay, as well as an old-style Coke vending machine.

Warwick, RI (1986)

Warwick, RI (1990, 1986) - 1099 Toll Gate Rd.  This was a heating oil distributor with a service station sign out front, which I thought was pretty cool and I think you may be able to guess which brand of fuel oils they distributed! 

                                     

Warwick, RI (1991, 2007) -  885 Post Rd.  This convenience store/gas station is still in operation in the 2020's and has had a few different names over the years, including Valero for several of those years.  It also went back to its heritage and briefly became a Gulf station in the late 2010's. A Gulf service station (Jo-Mac's) was built here in the 1950's and operated into the 80's before being turned into a convenience store.

Warwick, RI (1990) - The just-released movie Ghost, starring Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore was the feature attraction here at the Showcase Cinemas in July 1990.

West Warwick, RI (1990) - A rare Chevron station sighting at least by that time in Rhode Island.  Another I knew of (click on the Warwick blog link at the top of the page) was in Warwick at 835 Bald Hill Rd. for a few years in the 1980's.

West Warwick, RI (1985) - Route 2.  The classic Texaco image of the 40's, 50's and early 60's was still on full display here well into the 80's!

West Warwick, RI (1985) - Arco station at 6 Providence St. that would be rebranded to Shell shortly after this photo was taken.  By the end of 1985, Arco (formerly Atlantic) stations were gone from this area for good.  They are now primarily located on the west coast, including California.

West Warwick, RI (1985)  - 188 Washington St.

West Warwick, RI (1990) - 33 Providence St.  This station was built most likely in the late sixties or early seventies as an Esso station.

West Warwick, RI (1990)

West Warwick, RI (1991) - A lone old Arco gas pump still stood at this former Atlantic (later Arco) service station located on Rte. 2.

West Warwick, RI (1991) - 200 Washington St.

Massachusetts

Attleboro, MA (1991)

Boston, MA (1974) - Fenway Flyer Diner and Gino's Restaurant across from Fenway Park.

Fairhaven, MA (1992) - Located on Route 6, the sign for the old Kmart, which closed in 2017, can be seen on the left.

Marion, MA (1992) - Quite the unusual pairing, but this Sunoco service station and Faith Christian Book Store were operating side-by-side here on Route 6.

Mattapoisett, MA (1992) - Route 6.

Mattapoisett, MA (1997) - Mattapoisett Chowder House.

Mattapoisett, MA (1997) - Tedeschi convenience store.

New Bedford, MA (1991) - The 60's Gulf image was also on display here at the corner of Ashley Rd. and Tarkiln Hill Rd, including a porcelain sign with overhead lighting.

Plymouth, MA (1992) - This Dunkin' Donuts logo was replaced in 1976 by a logo that is very similar to the one seen today. It was very unusual even in the early 90's to see this logo still being displayed

Plymouth, MA (1992) - I could not remember exactly where this Howard Johnson's restaurant was located, but the 508 area code and 224 extension listed on the green sign hanging in the front does give away that it was most likely in Plymouth, MA and I did take some photos there in early 1992.

Plymouth, MA (1992) - Gellars Service Station on State St. has been in operation since 1926!  The building on the right of the service station in the first photo is Gellars Snack Shop.

Seekonk, MA (1986) - Fall River Ave.  In the background on the right is Quality Fruitland, which has operated at that same location since 1957.

                                          

Seekonk, MA (1986)

Seekonk, MA (1991) - A Mister Donut sign (now Dunkin' at this location) can be seen above the snowbank.

Somerset, MA (1992) - Gulf station at 1112 County St.

Swansea, MA (1990) - 711 Grand Army of the Republic Hwy.  This Burger King operated from about 1989 to 2008 and was vacant until Burger King built a new restaurant on the property that opened in 2023.

Vineyard Haven, MA (1992) - A&P supermarkets were still operating in southeastern Massachusetts in the early 90's. This one at 50 Water St. is now a Stop & Shop supermarket.

Wareham, MA (1992) - Kool Kone on Marion Rd. (Route 6).

Wareham, MA (1992)

                                      

Wareham, MA (1992, 2019) - Maxi Gas station at 2416 Cranberry Highway. This old-time service station survived close to 100 years all the way until about 2020 when it was torn down and a new Nouria convenience store with gas pumps was built.

Connecticut

Abington, CT (1990) - Rucki's Abington General Store.

Manchester, CT (1990)

Unknown (1990) - Mobil station with a Howard Johnson's motel next door.

Unknown (1990) - At the time of this photo taken in November 1990, this was the highest price per gallon of regular gas (or premium) I had ever seen!