Greater City Providence

Retail Update: New Wayland Square Vacancies

Photo by Bret Ancowitz

A quick walk through Wayland Square revealed three new storefront vacancies faster than you can say, “national economic calamity:”

Liberty Travel:
This very high profile site (corner of Angell and Wayland) has departed for what they believe must be greener pastures in the Warwick Mall (seriously) and are merging with their operation there.

Spoons:
This lunchtime retail spot, which often felt like it was open for about an hour or two a day and also has a prominent Angell St location, has closed for good. Perhaps longer hours may have helped?

77 South Angell:
The sales office for this luxury condominium has presumably moved out of their retail storefront on Wayland Ave and over to its own building, which is nearing completion.

With these closings, Wayland Square suddenly has about 5 retail storefront vacancies, and that’s before the major recession impact hits 🙁 .

How will our neighborhood commercial centers weather this downturn?

Bret Ancowitz

1 comment

  • A travel agency on Thayer closed too (the basement location corner near the bus tunnel across from Starbucks, I forget the name). I imagine the travel agents who haven’t been killed by the internet are going to take the final fatal blow by the downturn in the economy.

    On the other side of town, Atwells is hopping. At least two new lounge/restaurants are coming, one in the old Coin-o-matic spot (shocked to see something going in there!) and one where the florist used to be on the corner of Bond Street. I wonder if this economy will curtail people’s vacations but see them staying closer to home eating and drinking.

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