Updated: Plans for Garden City Center Unfold Amid a Bittersweet Parting with Newport Creamery

See Updates, below, in red:

As we first reported on August 7th of this year, the rumors of APPLE moving its store from the Providence Place Mall to Garden City Center may have been exaggerated.  Maybe it was even a shiny ball to distract from the real plans but we confirmed from a source that the real plan was to demolish Newport Creamery’s building, which had undergone a $1M renovation not that many years ago, and develop out a new area of 5-8 stores that would run between Chipotle and Providence Diamond, complete with some parking.

And so the plan materializes as the first of several meetings are being held at the Cranston Development Plan review. This one was to present the plan – a full Planning Commission meeting is not to be held until October 7th.

The founder of the Garden City Alliance, Pauline DeRosa, attended the meeting this morning and expressed concern about parking and traffic – members of the Alliance live in the single family homes built at the time of the shopping center, right behind the Center. DeRosa told RINewsToday, “There was no talk of Apple in any way. Newport Creamery is NOT going to be part of the expansion. They are not certain yet of how many retail shops/restaurants will be in the proposed building. It is a single story building.” DeRosa expressed concern about traffic during construction and cordoning off of a large area during that time. DeRosa also noted the dangerous traffic situation at Sockanosset and Hillside Road, which has not gotten attention and seems to have no solution. She also brought up the size of the parking spaces being too narrow for today’s vehicles, most of which are SUVs, and that the isles between the rows is also too narrow. Backing out of a space can be an unnerving task to not hit other vehicles, or pedestrians.  “Hopefully applicant is keeping an eye on the economy – both state and nationally – there is solid fears for recession.” she said, “and we don’t want to see empty storefronts in the center of the shopping center.” DeRosa said the preliminary plan has been approved by the committee. 

There were other media representatives attending as Garden City Shopping Center has become the real gem in retail experiences in RI. Providence Place Mall is up for sale. The future of the Apple store is unclear.

Plans appear to be just as we reported:

How would an APPLE fit in? – or NOT?

Going theory is WS Development would use the big swath between Providence Diamond, grey box to the right of the gazebo on this diagram, just under the green icon, and Chipotle, the skinny red location to the left of the gazebo and directly under the family icon. That would give enough room for a store and parking. Additional parking would be a concern.

But what if Apple is a distraction?

As much as Garden City or Cranston, itself, would like to have an Apple store it you think about Apple customers they tend to be high-tech people mainly based in the city of Providence, along with college students from Brown and PC and Johnson & Wales. So if the Apple is dangling in front of people and it isn’t Apple at all, what could it be?

It could be taking that whole area between Providence Diamond and Chipotle and building a new section for development. Garden City likes to develop in sections. How many stores would that hold? 4-5-6? How much rent would that be?   The answer is always MONEY, not necessarily what makes sense to the preferences of a community. We just need to ask the right questions. Something to think about. Remember, WS Development has been pressuring Newport Creamery to move for years, our sources say.

What is being presented today to the Planning Commission?

Part of the 70 page proposal, much of which talks about drainage and runoffs sidewalks and landscaping – and space for fire engines to turn around, includes diagrams. The deeply shaded grey area is the 23,500 sq. ft. “new” building that would run from Providence Diamond – (horizontal lines on the right, below) to Chipotle (horizontal lines on the left).

The building could be one large store, but in this presentation it has been divided into a theoretical 7 stores.

The agenda for the Cranston group included discussion and initial presentation, as written, here:

The letter included from Providence Water notes, on the 4th line – “mixed use with multiple stores”:

The Plan

Seems like the plan being presented – at this time – does not support a one-store Apple Store concept.  First, the scale is 2-3 times larger than most Apple stores. The plans presented clearly segments the structure for several tenants. Official zoning and infrastructure filings use language consistent with a new shopping block — not a standalone destination.

Apple could still be a future tenant – but only as part of a multi-unit retail complex.

Developers may be hedging their plans—allowing flexibility depending on leasing interest (e.g., if Apple wants a smaller-format store given the changing of consumer patterns and risk).

Big, Bigger, Biggest – but is it always Best?

Every “nook and cranny” has a store or feature destined to go in it – that’s the way it goes in the world of retail development. Stagnation isn’t good – you’re only as good as the next store or feature you present.

There are 1,625 signatures on a petition to “Keep Newport Creamery”. We thought a small “pop-up” ice cream shop might be in the offing, but management has said that evening food business is integral to their profit margins, so, that is unlikely, but not out of the realm of possibility. Pinkberry and Ben & Jerry’s are in the Center.

What next?

If a brand is in one or two WS centers, it’s probably in conversation for a multi-property lease, especially with the new building coming online. So, who is missing who is in another WS develoment? Here’s our totally subjective list: Vuori, Rothy’s – Allbirds, Parachute Home.

Engagement for kids and families with the gazebo and family area across the street. Who would appeal? Maybe Camp, My Little Gym, Color Me Mine – or clothing such as higher end Hanna Anderson, now that Carter’s was kicked to the curb.

With Apple or a larger anchor:

Without Apple/anchor store:

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As an unrelated aside, WS Development owns the building in Boston’s Seaport that Hasbro will be moving to.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Our last story on Newport Creamery leaving Garden City Center: Aug. 7, 2025:

https://2×8.ea2.myftpupload.com/save-newport-creamery-spirit-of-cranstons-garden-city-petitions-actions-show-strong-support/

UPDATE:

Rep. Charlene Lima did an interview with NBC10 noting two issues about Garden City.  First, that they were applying for an historical preservation designation which should keep them from this type of construction and destruction of the iconic Newport Creamery building. Second, that the property is built on a coal mine and there are concerns there (several small sink holes have opened up over the years).  Here is that interview, included in NBC10’s news reporting:

To clarify, the historic designation is not that type of historical designation that involves approval processes for paint color, etc., – it is a neighborhood historic designation – National Register Historic Districts – well underway in its application and includes the residences of the Garden City neighborhood behind the shopping center. NBC10 noted our story done in 2024. You can read that, here:

https://2×8.ea2.myftpupload.com/cranstons-garden-city-in-process-to-be-named-to-national-register-historic-districts/