What's Ahead

Retail space on the East Side is at a premium. Yet because of the occasional “for rent” sign (and there aren’t many) some people seem to notice and get concerned. We’re happy to report some exciting upcoming changes. The reality is good things are coming to most of the East Side.

The East Side is a retail hot bed. There are over 400 stores, restaurants and coffee shops to choose from, with more on the way. Retail occupancy on the East Side is well above the national rate of 93%. Some of the areas are so hot that there are new merchants waiting for a storefront to become available. Each area has a blend of local and national players, but it is the local character that keeps people coming and gives each area its own distinctive essence.

You could eat out every day for over four months on the East Side and never hit the same spot twice. And, you could sample food from over 18 countries. You could also go to a different hair salon or nail salon for a month without doubling up. (In New York City, you can go for 53 years without going to the same restaurant.) You have two olive oil stores, two fish stores, at least 10 places to get eyeglasses, one map store, two stores for smart children, eight liquor stores, a handful of tattoo parlors and services from massage parlors to auto parts, service and sales.

More importantly, there are very big and exciting changes coming to most of the shopping areas. An unnamed national retailer is close to inking a deal on the recently vacated Gabrielle store in Wayland Square.

On Thayer Street, the old Adesso is under renovation to become Flatbread, an all-natural, wood-fired, clay oven pizzeria known for offering organic foods from local suppliers. Also on Thayer Street, the vacant Store 24 site will likely become a major development with stores to service Brown, the East Side and the new dorm.

On North Main Street, a major fitness chain is opening a 40,000 SF facility in the old Sears building, which has been partially occupied or vacant for 15 years. The old Ethan Allen store has been demolished and the rumor mill has narrowed the new tenant down to either a CVS, auto parts store or a bank. The Shaw’s Plaza, below North Main Street, which makes up the majority of the vacant retail space on the East Side, has been sold to Ocean State Job Lot, which is a major draw and will likely change the complexion of the plaza.

On South Main Street another new women’s store will open next to Capucine. SoMa, as it’s becoming known, recently suffered two big retail losses: Bambini, the only baby store on the East Side, and SOMA Cigars, the very popular cigar store and lounge, which was not allowed to renew its lease by RISD.

The growth reflects the changing face of today’s retail. Half a century ago, shopping in Wayland Square, Elmgrove, Hope and Thayer Streets was anchored by small, distinctive markets where shoppers knew the butcher and many of the workers. Today, there are three supermarkets on the East Side and one that is nearby on Branch Avenue. “One of the key benefits of the local businesses is that owners have a large presence and often know their customers,” was a thought echoed across the shopping areas. “People like when you know their likes and their preferences.”

On Wickenden Street, we caught up with Charlie Samos, the owner of the building that formerly housed the Reflections Cafe, a coffee and sandwich shop that anchored the east end of the street. When Reflections closed, he had been in negotiations with another coffee shop, but the deal never came to fruition. When we met up with him, he was meeting with a young couple who knew the area well and want to open a coffee shop. Negotiations are on-going but they would be a great addition to the street and neighborhood.

The East Side has diverse shopping areas, some small and others quite large. Each caters to its immediate neighborhood, but because of the proximity of other neighborhoods there is extensive overlap by shoppers. Moses Brown, Wheeler, Lincoln, Brown, offices and doctors almost every day bring a large influx of non-East Side adults, children and teenagers to all of the shopping areas. And some of the smaller streets have been the most active lately.

The farmer’s market that started at Hope High has moved to the the end of Hope Street and has consistently brought new people to the area which has a trickle up effect to Wayland Square and Hope Street.

Its success has spawned the Alternative Farmers Market in the old RI Auditorium parking lot on North Main Street. “It’s big for North Main Street,” explained Peter Kamerer, owner of the Sandwich Hut and president of the merchant’s association, “and starting in September we have teamed up with the Miriam Hospital to sponsor a music festival, which we hope to grow.”

Thayer Street has a smattering of service establishments, hair salons and almost every imaginable type of food. The area caters to young adults and students, and sees a younger, wilder crowd with numerous bars and nightspots drawing people from all over. This produces some other issues especially in terms of late night activities. Last week an 18 year-old man was critically injured in a shootout at Brook and Meeting Streets. According to the Police Supervisor, the department has at various times increased patrols, but with a freeze on overtime they are short-handed. (The College Hill Neighborhood, usually with Brown’s support, has unsuccessfully fought every liquor and late night license, but nightspots continue to flourish.)

“Retail on the East Side is extremely vibrant,” observed Stephen Lewinstein who is the dominant landlord in Wayland Square and Thayer Street. Other building owners are also very pleased with their investments but there is some concern over the taxes which have a direct effect on rents. The mayor’s budget froze the commercial tax rate to landlord’s glee at the expense of homeowners, especially on the East Side.

There is a constant evolution, sometimes with fads and often with customers changing tastes and needs. Trends like more health conscious eating and diets have also had an effect on the restaurant mix. Several stores have passed the half-century mark including Reliable Gold, Dorothy Williams and the Avon Theater, and many others have been serving East Siders for over 25 years. Adler’s Hardware on Wickenden has been around for nearly a century.

The retail and restaurant climate on the East Side is healthy, eclectic and, in several areas, has new businesses waiting for a vacancy. “Wayland Square has the best mix of tenants that it has ever had,” noted Lewinstein, the landlord who oversees about 80% of the space. A national tenant is in negotiations on the recently vacant Gabrielle space and there is no other space available. Lim’s, the Thai and sushi restaurant which opened last year, is already expanding to the adjacent storefront.

Gayle Gertler, owner of Southwest Passage which offers Native American jewelry from the Southwest, echoes Lewinstein’s comments. “We have a great base of local shops and a new store opens as quickly as one closes,” adding “I give Steve (Lewinstein) a lot of credit, he’s made Wayland Square very successful and it will continue if he can bring more local businesses in.”

It’s attention to detail that is one of Wayland Squares key to success. If graffiti appears, it is removed by a crew that has paint to match every building. The streets are always clean. There is a mix of regulated and free parking which greatly helps the businesses.

Hope Street, despite the recent traffic nightmare, is hanging tough. The parking, or lack thereof, has had an effect on most of the businesses. The major problem has been for non immediate-area residents who go there to shop, can’t navigate around the obstructions, finally succeed and then can’t park. While talking with one of the restaurant owners, we observed the same car circle at least four times looking for a space.

You can literally see the change on Thayer Street overnight following the Brown exodus. There is still a constant din of activity, although somewhat less frenzied. Shops are small and rents are not; it is rare to find a vacant space but there is some turnover. Restaurants with outdoor seating are patronized throughout the day and evening.

Wickenden Street has a uniquely independent character. There is virtually no national retail. There are local bars that are happy to serve the locals without letting things get too out of hand. The original (non-chain) coffee shop is here along with trendy pizza that was trendy when trendy meant something. There are great names like Scissor Hand, Café Zog, The Duck & Bunny. Adler’s Hardware remains a staple for its high quality selection and special services, including owners who probably know your name and Campus Liquors, a mainstay for decades is just off the thoroughfare. There are art and antique galleries but everything is a lower key. There is a nice selection of Indian, Cambodian-Thai, Japanese, Ethopian and American food.

All in all, the new retail promises a bright future. The larger spaces are clearly harder to fill, but when smaller spaces open up they don’t seem to have much problem in finding new businesses.

The major developments and changes detailed above will have significant effects on their neighbors and with any luck, some of the unique spaces will find tenants.