Domenic Schiavone - Providence Business News

ENTERTAINMENT HUB: Santa Claus waits for children at the Warwick Mall, which boasts a 95% occupancy rate and is striving to integrate more entertainment-focused tenants, according to Domenic Schiavone, mall general manager.  PBN PHOTO/ MICHAEL SALERNO

MALL MANEUVERS: Developers attempt different strategies to rekindle or recycle retail...

Cover Story 12/22/2023

No matter what anyone says, Matthew DuPlessie sees a future in indoor shopping malls. At least for his company. To DuPlessie, malls offer large, open...

THE OWNERS OF Providence Place mall say Black Friday was "very exciting" in an apparent reference to a protest outside the mall by pro-Palestinian demonstrators that day. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

With extra weekend of shopping before Christmas, R.I. retailers are buoyant

Economic Activity 12/01/2023

A record-breaking start to the holiday shopping season has given retailers the green light to expect high consumer demand through the end of the...

POP-UP BAKERY: Thrive Cakery LLC owner Jasmine Mendez speaks with John Shaw of Cumberland about her products, which she will be offering through a pop-up kiosk on the second floor of the Providence Place mall through the new year. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Holiday cliffhanger: How long will merry feeling last for shoppers, retailers?

Cover Story 12/09/2022

Karen Beebe’s Christmas season began months ago, in the heat of August, when she placed an order for 360 holiday ornaments. For Beebe, the owner...

FEELING THE SPIRIT: Providence Place mall reported an increase in visitors to the mall in the first weekend of the holiday shopping season, placing the rise at about 3% above a year earlier. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

R.I. shopping centers feeling merry about December despite economic challenges

Economic Activity 12/02/2022

Crowded stores and stronger-than-expected sales have analysts predicting that the rest of the holiday shopping season will be a banner one despite higher prices,...

DOMENIC SCHIAVONE, RIGHT, Warwick Mall general manager, says more shoppers have hit the stores earlier in the holiday shopping season this year because of question marks surrounding the supply chain and the new variant of COVID-19. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Will new COVID-19 variant, supply-chain worries alter holiday shopping season?

Coronavirus 12/03/2021

Fears that retailers might not be able to restock shelves and that a new COVID-19 variant will curtail public gatherings and activities have apparently...