Business & Tech

Foodies Bids Wickford Farewell

After opening Jan. 2, Foodies of Wickford has closed its doors.

As Wickford's merchants begin to string up the , one business will be taking down its sign and closing its doors for good. After just less than a year in the building, closed its doors for the last time on Monday.

The gourmet food shop – which sold coffee, sandwiches, artisan cheese, chocolate truffles, pastries and more – moved from the Consignment Goods location behind 21 W. Main St. into the streetfront building after the departure of . Before Bagelz, Wickford Gourmet called the structure home for nearly 26 years.

For owners Craig Schennum and James Zajas, juggling Foodies and their other business, Consignments Goods, proved too much for the duo.

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"The restaurant business is something you have to be a part of 24/7," said Schennum. "With our other businesses in town, I can't put 24/7 into it."

Schennum added he and Zajas were "spreading themselves too thin" but attempting to manage Foodies and run house calls, attend auctions and visit estates to support Consignments Goods' growth.

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Coupled with rising food costs and sliding sales, the two decided to close the shop.

"We were new all summer and we're in a bad economy," said Schennum. "It's the worst time to do a restaurant."

Schennum plans to rent out the building on W. Main Street and focus his efforts on Consignment Goods. Earlier this month, the duo , quadrupling the size of their space.


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