Fountain Street, #66

also known as Dunkin Donuts/Coffee King

The littlest building in downtown (not including parking lot shelters) that was once home to small coffee shops.

Images of this Property

Photo from the collection of Jim White
Sanborn Map from 1889
Sanborn Map from 1904
L.J. Richards map from 1908
G.M. Hopkins map from 1937
Providence Historical Aerial Viewer 1952
Providence Historical Aerial Viewer 1972

17 images: Press to view larger or scroll sideways to see more. Aerials from the Providence Historical Aerial Viewer

Copyright prevents the display of these images:Providence rising: That buzz downtown is from these 10 construction projects, Providence Journal,Videos, photos: Coffee King building in Providence is torn down, Providence Journal

About this Property

#Reason for Demolition

After about 10 years as the Coffee King, this little structure was cleared to make way for a much, much larger building. The building was purchased for $450,000 in June 2016 by 78 Fountain JV Owner LLC, a company owned by Nordblom Development Company and Cornish Associates. These owners were seeking financing for a large apartment complex. Later in 2017, they went before the city’s Downtown Design Review Committee for a demolition request. It was granted based on the merits and scale of the new project that would replace it.

The small structure came down in about 3 hours. The lot was cleared and basement filled in over the next few days. Videos of the demolition uploaded to YouTube by the Providence Journal:

#Current Events

As of 2020, finishing touches are being put on a new residential building called “The Nightingale”. What was a block to block parking lot — from Fountain to Washington and from Clemence to Mathewson streets — is now 133 apartments ranging from 500 to 1200 square feet. Ground floor retail will also occupy the spaces. The project is being developed by Cornish Associates, led by Arnold “Buff” Chace.

#The Mystery

Why is this building so small, on the corner of such a large street to street parking lot? Who designed it, when was it built, and why?

There has been speculation that this was a “study” building — a small version of a larger building to test out and see finish details, brickwork, windows, massing, etc… This would be very difficult to verify. Typically, these structures are torn down after the main building has been completed.

Folks in the anecdotes have also noted that there was a building that wrapped around this one that burned in the mid-70s. Map research verified that it existed but no accounts mention when it burned. It housed businesses such as a restaurant called Honeydew, a coffee shop called The Mouthpiece (on Clemence), an Army Surplus Store, and Jimmy’s Bar. We can’t find any additional information (yet) about these businesses.

In aerial photos, there was a building that fronted Washington Street and went halfway down this block. Sometime between 1988 and 1997 it was razed. In an aerial from 1972 we can see a building wrap around this one right up against it. In 1962, the entire block is filled with buildings. We used a photo from 1952 because the quality was better.

#History

Very little (not just the building). We have found this building on the following cadastral maps:

Sanborn, 1889, Plate 03 — Similar shape as the 1904 map but the surrounding buildings are very different that later maps. We believe the “3” indicates that it was three stories high surrounded by 2 story frame structures. We would guess that this particular building was not present in its 20th century, 2-story form yet.
Sanborn, 1904, Central Business District — shown in yellow to indicate a “frame” building. We believe the “3” indicates that it was still three stories high, surrounded by a red “brick” building of 2 stories.
L.J. Richards, 1908 — No indication of height but surrounded by a building still. The name looks like ”J. Lavell.“ It could be that between 1904 and 1908, the building structure here changed while the plat boundaries did not. Interestingly, the adjacent building is “Nightingale.”
G.M. Hopkins, 1937 — Hard to make out the name on this block, looks like “M.A. Gillick.”

From 1940 to 1973, this building was the union hall of Operational Engineers, Local 57. They were at this location for those 33 years until a new hall was built on Gano Street near Engineer’s Field.

#In the News

This Restaurant Made Fools of Hipsters Everywhere (or did they?)

by Ryan Holiday
Observer.com | November 9, 2015 (abridged)

The launch of a satirical restaurant “Lura” (Swedish for trick or deceive) […] A few anonymous artists got together to create an absurd sendup of your classic, hipster foodie joint — complete with obnoxious social media accounts and window displays. In reality, Lura’s Rhode Island location is a shuttered coffee shop. The project got a little traction online but by the artists admission, approximately two people were offended when the stunt was revealed as a fake.

9 Anecdotes from people like you

The 72 Fountain Street building was purchased by the Operating Engineers, Local 57 in 1940 for use as their union hall. My grandfather, Jack White, was the Business Manager at the time of the purchase. Local 57 Engineers is a union that represents the heavy equipment operators and mechanics throughout Rhode Island. Local 57 stayed on Fountain Street until they built a new union hall at 141 Gano Street, Providence in 1973. The new union hall was next to their soft ball field (Engineer’s Field) on Gano Street. I sold the Gano Street location, 5 years ago and built a new union hall in Johnston.

Jim White — Business Manager & President, Local 57 Engineers August 25, 2020

I am also a relative of James Lavell (Deery’s). He did live at 36 Park Place in Pawtucket. Info can be found on him and his family in 1910, 1920, 1930 census records, RI Census records, and in Providence City Directories. In Providence Business directories he had 24-28 Fountain St. as well as 32 Fountain St. listed under Saloons or Liquors. I would love to hear from his relatives.

Mickey M March 3, 2017

Played in the Mouthpiece on Clemence in a trio called “Wood River Junction”. Always wondered what happened to the man who ran it, J. William Brown. We were friends in the early 70s but, fell out of touch. www.billgannonmusic.com

Bill July 28, 2014

I too am a descendent of James Lavell. My mother, Helene Farrell, was his grand daughter. We are visiting Rhode Island and are interested in his history. I understand that his old house is located at 36 Park Place. We visited the house but are unsure if that was indeed his house. Do you have any other history that you can share?

Stephanie Cherrington August 19, 2012

i remember in the early 70s there was a L shaped bldg which wrapped around this. it housed a restaurant called “HONEYDEW”. i used to help out there serving when i was 15-16 yrs old. wow the memories. on the 2nd floor on clemence st there was a coffee drop in center called the MOUTHPIECE where people can come in chat and eat and relax etc. it burned in 74 i beleive. also on the corner of mathewson st there was an army surplus store and next door to that was jimmy’s bar. i remember quite a bit about it and the pepople that worked there, many people from projo came in there for food etc. it was a family that ran it. too bad its gone miss it a lot

pete November 25, 2009

It seems that the facade of this building is metaphorical. they used the area behind it for a ground-level parking lot, and kept the front of the building to maintain the historical architectural fabric. It’s like the Mason building development – to the uncritical eye, an old building was preserved to maintain the historicity of downtown. In fact, it’s a “facade” of historic preservation that conceals the contemporary drive for downtown development.

brosa

James Lavell was my great-grandfather. I have a whiskey jug that reads James Lavell & Son 24-28 Fountain Street. This is interesting because he must’ve produced whiskey at that speakeasy. If anyone is interested in contacting me please do so. Thank you.

James O’Reill

A possible answer to the question why this building is here may be seen behind it in picture 4 with the Palmer Block behind. It was common on large projects to build a “Detail” closer to the ground where the folks who put up the money and designed it could see it full size and work out cosmetic schemes. (A.I.R.: Likely, possible, but we must admit the details are vastly different other than the chamfered corner.)

W Gnoza

This building was owned by James Lavell during the first part of the 20th century. He operated a business named Beacon Realty, which, during Prohibition, was used as a front for his Pawtucket brewery. Clients would come in and order (and prepay) for kegs of full strength beer (“near” beer was allowed to be made), which was made at the former Hand brewery. Lavell also ran a speakeasy down the street at 24-28 Fountain St, which boasted the “world’s longest bar”, which eventually became the more familiar Doorley’s. The site is now a parking lot. Lavell, who was arrested and convicted of federal tax evasion in 1931, went on to re-name the brewery the Rhode Island Brewing Company and operated it until his death in 1939. I am also told that the basement extends under the sidewalk. I am unsure of what has happened to the little building since the 30s; I would hope that if the adjacent parking lots are developed, that the building is incorporated into the new structures.

C Feisthamel

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