Thoughts On Some Key Commercial Properties In NK

In my opinion, North Kingstown has three key commercial properties that are currently not occupied or not being used to their full potential. The former Ryan’s Market building that is now owned by Ocean State Job Lot sits in a prime location in downtown Wickford. The most recent spot occupied by Lowe’s sits on a large parcel of land entering the Quonset Point area of the north end of town. The former car dealership location for Tarbox Motors is located on Tower Hill Road coming off of Route 1 North, across from what used to be the Carriage Inn. I drive by these sites going into Wickford,to play golf at NK Golf Course, and to see my sister in Narragansett. They continue to be a disappointing view from my driver’s side window. 

Here is what I would propose for each site in the hopes that in the short term, it creates discussion. 

Ryan’s Market was one of the most memorable stores of my childhood.  Ryan’s offered so much more than just fresh fish and fruits and vegetables. The staff and quaintness of the small shopping aisles were just a few reasons why that market was second to none. My mother had the pleasure of caring for Mrs. Ryan in one of her nursing homes and remains friendly with the Ryan family. Driving through Wickford, I can’t help but feel disappointed that it has not materialized into much since Ryan’s closed its doors. I think the town of Wickford needs a drawing card to get people interested in the town again. I know there are current business owners trying their best in town now.  However, with retail shopping not quite keeping up with internet shopping, I feel that Wickford needs a huge shot of energy to draw people in.

Here are my ideas for that property:

1. Build an arcade similar to the Ryan Family Arcade on Thames St. in Newport.  With all of the activities at Wilson Park year round involving kids, it would be a great location to support the huge population of kids in NK.
2. Move the Kayak Centre’s showroom.  The Kayak Center is one of the best
   businesses Wickford has to offer.  It has a great location on the edge of Wickford and has a great reputation for products and customer service.
3. Design and build a community arts hall for local artists, local theater, speaking tours. We have a concert series in Wickford all summer long.  How about a place indoors that would attract local musicians?  How about a venue to create a place for local community theater?

I am not as familiar with the recently closed Lowe’s property. I went there once on the way to work and hard a tough time navigating through the rotary to get to the Lowe’s parking lot. To me, there isn’t a significant enough difference between Home Depot and Lowe’s, so I have consistently shopped at Home Depot because it is right up the street from my home. I’m not surprised that it was an underperforming store based on its location and was not surprised to read that Lowe’s had decided, along with 20 other stores, to close it. 

It sits on a large piece of property with a very large parking lot. It is the first major building going into the Quonset Business area that now houses an indoor sports center, the fast ferry to Martha’s Vineyard, in addition to other local and national businesses.

Here are my ideas for that property:

1. Move the YMCA from its current location. Build a state of the art pool that is enclosed in bad weather and open in the summer months. Continue to provide the community with outstanding YMCA programs and services. I have been a member of the Y my entire life, having a brother and sister who swam for the Y; I graduated from Springfield College where the YMCA originated, and will always support the Y and its endeavors. I think it would be an amazing upgrade from the current location. Have you been to the Kent County YMCA lately?
2. Another Walmart. In my opinion, it can’t hurt to have two Walmart locations in the same town. They are absolute money makers and they create jobs. People complain about how Walmart devours local businesses, yet they themselves eventually break down and shop there. I know tons of NK residents who opposed Walmart going into Wickford Junction that shop there on a regular basis. I’m all for small business, but there is just no competing with a giant like Walmart.
3. Create a field or arena worthy of luring a professional lacrosse team to NK.  Even a minor league affiliate. NK has become a huge lacrosse town. It has drawn kids away from Little League baseball, soccer, and tennis in NK. The fields at Wilson Park are packed on Saturdays. Along with the indoor sports center right next to it, this area can become an exciting area to play and watch sports.  NK has plenty of baseball fields, soccer fields, and of course Wilson Park. This professional field could provide NK with something it has never had, a professional sports team.

Finally, the property that once showcased Tarbox Motors. I played little league baseball against Mr. Dave Mather and his intimidating Tarbox Motor Gremlins. Tarbox Motors was right off the highway, Route 1, coming back from the southern part of South County. It was really cool seeing all the new styles of Jeep every year as you drove past coming back from the beach. Now, it looks like the parking lot is used for large trucks, bulldozers, and other state vehicles. It was a staging area for recent weather disasters like Sandy and the Blizzard of 2013. Certainly, those trucks and emergency personnel needed a large staging area to be able to carry out their important duties. 

Here are my ideas for that property:

1. Move Jitters Café. I love Jitters. I think it has a lot of potential if the owner would consider expansion. They have a great staff and have fresh ideas for coffee and sandwiches. However, their current space is really cramped, very often, and it turns business away. I won’t go in if I see the parking lot full, to be honest. They can build a larger café with seating, wi-fi capability, and never have to turn customers away because their current space is too crowded.  Second option would be Panera Bread, who has a national network of cafes that are very successful.
2. Co-op type grocery store and market with NK Community Gardens, a fish market, local merchants supported by only NK residents and businesses. It can be a year-round location for community-based food, wine, local breweries, fresh fish, etc. It would generate a ton of local pride in the community knowing that you are buying your fish, blueberry pies, or tomatoes from a local NK farmer, fisherman, or baker. Donate a portion of the proceeds to the school department to help support education programs or other important local charities.
3. Create a solar energy research site. Put enough solar panels on the property to generate enough data to show why solar energy is a resource not a hoax. Solar energy is a free and clean resource for energy. Solar energy does not produce waste or pollution. RI has always been an environmentally conscious state.  Save the Bay has done great work for years. Create an industry leading site to research and promote the positives of solar energy.

In closing, I am a proud member of the town of North Kingstown. I applaud the small business owner in NK for braving these tough economic times and I wish you success in your businesses. Despite the fact the town has seemingly more businesses that are closed than open, I will continue to live here and raise my kids here. It is a safe town with a lot of charm and great residents. I feel that with improvements in key areas in NK, we can smile seeing “Open for Business” signs as opposed to those that read “Closed.”

At posting time, I did notice that the Department of Environmental Management had a sign on the gate leading into the former Tarbox Motors Dealership. There were for lease signs on the windows of the former Ryan’s Market property, now named Wickford Marketplace. There is a for sale sign on the lawn leading into the parking area of the former Lowe’s Superstore property.