Owners say there's ample interest in former Benny's locations

Carpionato Group president briefly broaches topic at East Providence City Council meeting

EastBayRI.com ·

EAST PROVIDENCE — As an aside during their presentation to the city council at the body’s January 16 meeting on the proposed redevelopment of the Narragansett Park Plaza, representatives of the Carpionato Group, which owns each property, were also asked about the status of the former Benny’s Store location on Pawtucket Avenue in city.

Kelly Coates, president of Carpionato, told the council he was “excited” about the potential plans for not just the local Benny’s store, but all 29 parcels his company purchased from the shuttered retail store chain late last year.

In response to a question posed by Ward 3 representative Joe Botelho, in whose district the old Benny’s is situated, Mr. Coates said, “Because we have 29 stores, there’s been a lot of interest.”

The East Providence Benny’s was the first of the stores to close back late last summer. The renowned local retailer closed its final locations in January. Other East Bay area sites impacted included Benny's on Metacom Ave. in Bristol as well as two stores in nearby Seekonk, one just over the line from East Providence in Seekonk.

Mr. Coates said, without going into great detail, during the recently held annual convention of International Council of Shopping Centers, several well-known companies approached Carpionato to inquire about the former Benny’s properties.

“At our booth we had Trader Joe’s, CVS, Walgreen’s, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, dollar this and dollar that, Tractor Supply, Harbor Freight, we had a ton of interest because it’s so big. So we’re excited,” Mr. Coates said.