Main Street: A Power of Place Podcast

Welcome to Downtown Central Falls! Joshua Giraldo, State Representative and Central Falls native, takes us inside a city that rebuilt itself from the ground up. From municipal bankruptcy to packed parks and a restaurant scene that spans the globe, Joshua shares how investing in public spaces, embracing a fiercely diverse community, and refusing to let a hard chapter define you can transform a Main Street district into a place worth showing up for. Show Notes: La Casona: https://www.lacasona-ri.com/ El Paso: https://www.facebook.com/elpasorestaurantri/ Mimi & Pop's: https://www.facebook.com/mimiandpopsicecream/ Jenks Park: https://www.centralfallsri.gov/parksrec/page/jenks-park Veteran's Park: https://www.centralfallsri.gov/parksrec/page/veterans-memorial-park Lupita's: http://ordertaquerialupita.com/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp

Welcome to Post Road in North Kingstown! Tim Cranston, Town Historian of North Kingstown, takes us on a 400-year journey along one of America's oldest Main Streets. From indigenous trading paths to military base boom-and-bust cycles, Tim shares how understanding a place's diverse history and centering the voices often left out of the narrative can transform how we see our communities and inspire meaningful revitalization. Show Notes: North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce: https://www.northkingstown.com/ Post Road Business Alliance: https://postroadnk.org/ The View From Swamptown: https://www.independentri.com/view_from_swamptown/ NoKo Coffee: https://northkoffee.com/ Seabee Museum: https://seabeesmuseum.com/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp

Welcome to Mount Hope in Providence!  Helen Baskerville-Dukes and Dwayne Keys, leaders of the Mount Hope Community Center Business Alliance (and partipants of our Main Street Learning Cohort!), chat about their new initiative to support local entrepreneurship. We discuss the importance of community centers in supporting needs, navigating gentrification and displacement of residents, and building up the local main street community.  Show Notes: Mount Hope Community Center: http://www.mhccri.org/ Billy Taylor Park: https://share.google/7d2F0lvmuAQVPpI32 Mount Hope Learning Center: https://mthopelc.org/ Oak Bakeshop: https://www.oakbakeshop.com/ Holy Name Church: https://holynameprovidence.org/ Frank & Laurie's: https://www.frankandlauries.com/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp

Welcome to Centredale in North Providence! Alexandria DiGregorio, owner of North Providence's newest bookshop, shares her journey of opening a brick & mortar, the challenges and triumphs of being a young entrepreneur on a main street, and the importance of books in building social connection.  Show Notes: Forget Me Not Fables Bookshop: https://forgetmenotfables.com/ The Valley Breeze Article: https://www.valleybreeze.com/news/north-providence-getting-a-bookstore-forget-me-not-fables/article_9b773189-a709-4e48-97f4-5d0d53506b00.html Northern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce: https://www.nrichamber.com/ North Providence Town Hall: https://maps.app.goo.gl/Zgcdr94fZNU3XLeCA Sweet Deliveries Bakery: https://sweet-deliveries.com/ Cook & Dagger: https://www.cookanddagger.com/ Rhode Island Billiard Bar & Bistro: https://www.ribbb.com/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp  

Learn more about Main Street RI: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Apply to join our RI Main Street Learning Cohort: https://growsmartri.org/ri-main-street-learning-cohort/ Email us: [email protected] See you in January for Season 2!

Register for our first annual Rhode Island Main Street Conference! Welcome to Wakefield in South Kingstown! Sara Breslin, secretary of the Wakefield Village Association, shares the process of planning their annual Halloween Stroll, the importance of hosting events for all ages, and the rewarding nature of hyperlocal work. Show Notes: Wakefield Village Association: https://www.wakefieldvillageassociation.com/ Sara Breslin: https://www.sarabreslin.com/ South County Bread Company: https://www.southcountybread.com/ Birch and Bay: https://www.birchandbayri.com/ Brickleys Ice Cream: https://www.brickleys.com/ Saugatucket Park: https://www.southkingstownri.gov/facilities/facility/details/Saugatucket-Park-7 The Glass Station: https://www.theglassstationstudio.com/ The Joyce: https://thejoyceri.com/ Caf Bar: https://www.cafbarri.com/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp

Register for our first annual Rhode Island Main Street Conference! Welcome to Rolfe Square in Cranston! Paul Durfee, third-generation owner of Durfee Hardware, discusses sustaining a family business through the years, the importance of building relationships with community members and municipal leaders, and the rich history of Rolfe Square.  Show Notes: Durfee Hardware: https://durfeehardware.com/ The Park Theatre: https://theparkri.com/ Park Senate Barber: https://maps.app.goo.gl/CiaMU13FbAWF3Av89 Bettola Pizzaria: https://www.bettola.com/ Mesa Cafe and Grill: https://mesacafeandgrille.com/ Alani's Bistro: https://alanisbistro.com/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp

Welcome to Riverside Square in East Providence! Amelia Olson, owner of Tall Tumbleweed Modern & Vintage, explores the importance of small business support, curiosity as a healing force, and community-led revitalization in East Providence's Riverside Square. Show Notes: Tall Tumbleweed: https://www.talltumbleweed.com/ Borealis Coffee: https://www.borealiscoffee.com/ Union Square Bistro: https://www.unionsquarebistro.com/ Myrtle: https://www.givemyrtle.com/ Spooky Bottom Bridge (Troll!): https://maps.app.goo.gl/QTNpxPRvkJM24zT17 The Outsider: https://www.theoutsiderep.com/ Honeybird: https://honeybirdri.com/ Sacred Cow Ice Cream (Monroe Dairy): https://sacredcowicecreamshop.com/hours-directions/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp

Welcome to the Broadway District in Newport! Devon Mello, Artistic Director at the Firehouse Theater, discusses the benefits of growing up near Broadway, how the neighborhood has changed, and the significance of live entertainment in promoting social connectedness.  Show Notes: Devon Mello: https://www.devonmello.com/ The Firehouse Theater & Bit Players: https://www.firehousetheater.org/ Empire Tea & Coffee: https://www.empireteaandcoffee.com/ Caleb & Broad: https://calebandbroad.com/ House of Waves Gallery: https://houseofwavesnpt.com/ Chase Ceglie (local musician): https://www.chaseceglie.com/bio Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp

Welcome to the Olneyville neighborhood in Providence! President of the Olneyville Neighborhood Association (ONA) Cindy Miranda shares about ONA's diverse programming, how the neighborhood is changing, and the importance of centering community voice.  Show Notes: Olneyville Neighborhood Association: https://www.ona-providence.org/ Antojitos De Mi Tierra: https://maps.app.goo.gl/26uJseryMfxGUqzB9 Orale Taqueria: https://maps.app.goo.gl/N1TjtKcCe1YmuKRa9 Big Top Flea Market: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gbChdz2oMvbyT2wW8 Family Cake Bakery: https://www.facebook.com/TheFamilyCake/ Fete Music Hall: https://www.fetemusic.com/ Wes's Ribhouse: https://www.wesribhouse.com/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp

Welcome to Chepachet Village, a historic district in the town of Glocester!  Local business owner and history buff Charlie Wilson shares about his experiences restoring and protecting a historic building, spearheading community engagement events, and modernizing while maintaining a place's unique historic character.  Show Notes: The Town Trader: https://www.thetowntrader.com/ Candlelight Shopping: https://www.candlelightshopping.com/ Scarecrow Festival: https://glocesterscarecrowfestival.com/ The Village Bean: https://www.facebook.com/villagebeancafe/ Tavern on Main: https://tavernonmainri.com/ Glocester Economic Development Commission: https://www.glocesteredc.org/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp

Welcome to the Black Block, a cultural district in downtown Pawtucket!  Local entrepreneur Keno Mullings shares about his experiences opening and marketing his new business, the importance of stimulating entrepreneurship, and the challenges inherent to revitalizing and reimagining a downtown district.  Show Notes: The Main Oasis: https://www.facebook.com/mainoasismarket The Black Block Community Foundation: https://www.blackblockcommunityfoundation.org/ Latin Touch Barbershop: https://www.instagram.com/latintouchbarbershop_/ Angela's Beauty Salon: https://www.facebook.com/p/Angelas-100063664865130/ Still on Main (Still on Main Pizza & The Backyard): https://www.stillonmain.shop/ Berbena 21: https://www.instagram.com/berbena_21/?hl=en Seed Cafe: https://www.seedcaferi.com/ Harvest Kitchen: https://www.farmfreshri.org/programs/harvest-kitchen/ George Wiley Center: https://www.georgewileycenter.org/ Main Street RI Website: https://growsmartri.org/main-street-ri/ Mailing List: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/kOxcWFp