Hospitality businesses are a more than $5-billion-dollar industry in Rhode Island. But the closure of the westbound Washington Bridge has commerce as well as commuters in a jam.
According to an economic impact study conducted earlier this year by the Rhode Island Hospitality Association and Salve Regina University, the greatest impact was on Providence County, accounting for some $56 million in total revenue loss.
The hospitality industry includes restaurants, hotels, wineries, breweries, amusements and tourism.
That includes shops like the Frog and Toad, which sell many Rhode Island souvenirs at two locations in Providence.
Owner Asher Schofield says the initial ramifications of the bridge closure were rough.
“When it first happened that December of 2023, immediately our business fell off a cliff.”
After some time, he said, business improved. “Things stabilized. And since then, we haven’t seen any drop-offs per se.”
Asher believes some businesses are hurting because people are less willing to drive to and through Providence.
“We’re provincial, we don’t have to go too far and be too inconvenienced. We live in the smallest state and it should be easy to get to the store or the mall or what have you,” said Schofield.
The consequences of the bridge have not been an entirely negative experience for one part of Rhode Island.
The same study found a reverse trend in Bristol County, where the hospitality business realized a more than two percent gain. That translates to $6.6 million in revenue.
“I was a little surprised, not shocked,” said Andy Arruda, Chairman of the East Bay Chamber of Commerce.
“But it does make a little bit of sense because we are insulated from the bridge.”
The Chamber includes Bristol, Warren and Barrington.
Why the uptick in Bristol County? “A lot of it would be restaurants. Our restaurants are really strong in the East Bay. I think that brings people to town,” said Arruda.
“There are new people coming every day. We have the best 4th of July party in the country. It’s a good community. You’re on the water, but you’re not paying Newport prices,” said Richard Corrente, owner of two Bristol restaurants, Portside Tavern and Roberto’s Cafe.
And no matter what is coming down the road, business owners on both sides of the bridge cite the resiliency of Rhode Islanders.
“I always like to think that when you’re smaller, you’re nimble,” said Frog and Toad owner Schofield.
“We’re pretty good, even though we might be grouchy about it and have plenty of complaints. I think we’re pretty good about weathering the storm and soldiering on as a citizenry.”
This story is part of Breaking Point: The Washington Bridge, a community-centered project from Rhode Island PBS and The Public’s Radio.
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