RETRO Rhode Island

6.12.09

THE ROCKY POINT AMUSEMENT PARK

THE ROCKY POINT AMUSEMENT PARK
was a highly popular landmark on the Narragansett Bay side of Warwick,
Rhode Island. It operated from the late 1840s until its close in 1995.

The following year, the park filed for bankruptcy.

Send us your Rocky Point Memories!!
email photos or stories & we'll post them

Burger Chef

BURGER CHEF
An American fast-food restaurant chain that started in 1954

and lasted until 1996. Burger Chef was an American
fast-food restaurant chain founded in 1954 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

The chain expanded throughout the United
States, and at its peak, it was second only to McDonald's in the

number of locations nationwide.
The chain was successful in Rhode Island for many years.

"I remember the jingle. "For a nickel and and a dime you get..

french fried potatoes, great thick shakes, and the greatest
fifteen cents, hamburger yet!" Imagine, fifteen cents!!!"
- Maria DeAngelis

Vintage 1970's Burger Chef Glass

THE OUTLET COMPANY

THE OUTLET COMPANY

was a corporation based in Providence, Rhode Island which

owned holdings in both retail and broadcasting.

The store remained strong with its sole flagship location and dominated

the field of retail in not only Providence, but Rhode Island as a whole.

ZAYRE

ZAYRE Discount department stores founded in

1956 in Hyannis Massachusetts.
In October 1988, TJX completed the sale of its Zayre Stores

division to Ames Department Stores.

AMES

AMES was an American chain of discount department stores.

The company was founded in 1958 with a store in Southbridge, MA

and had many locations in RI. Despite its successes
in its later years Ames was plagued by debt and a
slow decline in sales, which resulted in two bankruptcy filings
and ultimately put an

end to the chain, closing in 2002.

CALDOR

CALDOR

was a chain of American discount department stores

based in Norwalk,CT., operating locations throughout the

northeastern United States. At one time the company was a
subsidiary of May Department Stores, and was also one

of the largest discount retailers in the country.

Caldor had Several Locations in RI,

Including Woonsocket, Lincoln & Warwick
On January 22, 1999, Caldor announced it was liquidating

its remaining merchandise and
closing all of its 145 stores.

SHEPARD'S DEPARTMENT STORE

SHEPARD'S DEPARTMENT STORE
In 1880, the Shepard Company Department Store opened

in two floors of a small building at the corner of Westminster

and Clemence Streets in downtown Providence.

What was initially a small retail venture would by 1903 grow to

be the largest department store in New England In 1974,

suburban retail establishments finally took their competitive toll on
the Shepard’s Department Store when it filed for bankruptcy,

thus ending nearly one
hundred years of business.

Photo by Paul Clancy
Courtesy of the Providence Preservation Society

NARRAGANSETT BREWING COMPANY 1890-1981
was founded in Cranston, Rhode Island in 1888.
It was closed on July 31, 1981, and then re-established in 2005.

"Hi, Neighbor, have a 'Gansett!"

For More Narragansett Brewery Memories
Click Here

CRESCENT PARK

CRESCENT PARK, Riverside, RI - Originated in 1886 - 1979

Considered to be "The Coney Island of New England"

it was most spectacular of all of Rhode
Island's Victorian-era amusement parks.

Amusement parks in those days included boating,
games, picnics, music, tunnels of love, and, noteably, carousels.

Crescent Park known for a grand carousel with 62 hand-carved figures

and four chariots - carousel figures date from
1905 to 1910. Constructed by Charles I.D. Looff.
- It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.

click on photo to enlarge

Click to enlarge - Ad from 1969!!
- Courtesy of Robert Schwartz

LOEW'S STATE THEATER

LOEW'S STATE THEATER

is an historic site at 220 Weybosset Street in
Providence, Rhode Island.

Rhode Island's greatest and most beautiful historic motion
picture palace ever. Later it was called Ocean State Theatre.

Now Providence Performing Arts Center.
Loew's Painting available at Edgewood Gallery

PARK CINEMA

ARTHUR TREACHER'S FISH & CHIPS

ARTHUR TREACHER'S FISH & CHIPS

Over on Park Avenue, Cranston - Closed in the early 80's

LUMS

LUMS
was on Airport Road in Warwick also in Providence,

located on Silver Spring Street in the 1970's.
(It's now an auto body shop.) - Known for it's delicious Hot Dogs,

Rootbeer & Schooners of Beer!
Kids loved selecting the Free Toy from the Lum's treasure

chest at the end of the meal.

KELLY'S SPORTING GOODS

KELLY'S SPORTING GOODS, Garden City, Cranston, RI
Long before there was the Sports Authority, Modells & Dick's,
there was only one choice for sporting goods and that was Kelly's!

if you have any old pics - please send them to me!

BRODSKY'S TOY STORE

BRODSKY'S TOY STORE

Airport Plaza, Warwick

4.12.09

HIGHLAND ORCHARDS

HIGHLAND ORCHARDS, North Scituate, RI -
Rt.101 A great place for family fun! - Riverboat Rides,
Steam Locomotive Rides, Go Karts & Fresh Apples.
Closed in the early 80's.