Edward M. Mazze - Providence Business News

REACHING FOR THE SKY: Mind 2 Body Fitness owner Maria Andresino, center, instructs Nicole Gonzalez, left, of Cumberland and Analy Lopes of East Providence during a Pilates class at her Providence studio. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

PBN survey: Even as economy grows, businesses leery about expansion right...

Cover Story 02/02/2024

At Pawtucket-based Papis Refrescos LLC, demand for its coconut rum liquor has grown steadily since the company’s launch in 2022. The bottled coquito can...

COFFEE TALK: David Levesque, owner of Brewed Awakenings Coffeehouse LLC, speaks with customer Jenna Shehadeh at the Brewed Awakenings Johnston location.  PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

R.I.’s dreary business-climate rep proving tough to shake

Cover Story 11/24/2023

David Levesque says he’s ready to expand his coffee shop business, but he cringes at the thought of what he’ll have to go through...

Tax Foundation: R.I. ranks 41st for business-friendly tax climate

Economy 10/25/2023

PROVIDENCE – The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan tax policy research group on Tuesday released its 2024 State Business Tax Climate Index, showing a slight...

SHELF DISPLAY: Kelley McShane, right, co-owner of beverage manufacturer The Granny Squibb Co. LLC, with Tony Melo, who approves brands to put on the shelf, at Eastside Marketplace in Providence. PBN PHOTO/MIKE SKORSKI

FADING FEARS: Despite lingering concerns, businesses regaining swagger

Cover Story 09/29/2023

After weathering a year largely overcast by fears of a looming recession, business owners are feeling more buoyant as they look ahead despite lingering...

SEEKING CLIENTS: Robert Wheeler, co-owner of Friends of Toto Inc., a dog day care and grooming business in Pawtucket, spent $400,000 to double his business space to accommodate growing customer demand but now he must find additional customers to cover the construction costs of expansion. PBN PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

Preppin’ for RECESSION. PBN survey: Talk of a coming downturn is...

Cover Story 02/03/2023

If and when the country will slip into a recession depends on who you ask, but the gloom is already settling over Rhode Island...

STRENUOUS SUMMER: Brad Marthens, who co-owns The Atlantic Inn on Block Island with his wife, Anne, had to cut room rates to help fill vacancies and didn’t have enough staff to open the inn’s restaurant daily until August, something he is usually able to start doing in June. PBN PHOTO/K. CURTIS

SINKING SPIRITS: Slowed supply chains, inflation, labor shortage are sapping optimism

Cover Story 09/30/2022

There’s only so long you can keep your chin up. After a 2½-year battle against health and economic devastation, Rhode Island companies have been beaten...

HURTIN’ FOR HELP: PBN survey shows tight labor market among challenges...

Coronavirus 02/18/2022

Money can’t buy everything, including talented workers. At least that’s what Rhode Island companies are learning as business activity rebounds, but finding people to fill...

IN THE FIGHT: Paul Amaral, owner of East Providence-based Amaral Custom Fabrications Inc., is struggling to fill open positions but still has high hopes for his business this year. / PBN FILE PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELY

Hits keep coming, but pandemic-hardened businesses adapting

Capital Goods 02/18/2022

Inflation is at a 40-year high and qualified, committed workers seem scarcer than ever. Yet profits are up strongly for many local businesses from...

EXPANDED OFFERINGS: John Nunes Jr., owner of Newport Vineyards and Winery LLC in Middletown, said the business has fared much better in weathering the COVID-19 pandemic than it did the 2008 financial crisis due to its diversification into “agritainment,” offering customers a full experience of wining, dining and touring the 100-acre farm beyond just selling bottled wine. / PBN PHOTO/DAVE HANSEN

PBN survey: Rebound under way, but repercussions from pandemic not making...

Cover Story 10/01/2021

Rhode Island businesses are climbing out of the crater caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but many are finding that the lingering fallout is dampening...