Sears Automotive

A boarded-up retail space along a retail corridor in need of rethinking

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About this Property

Reason for Demolition

A great loss to have this building gone? No, not really. It stood empty and boarded up for at least 15 years. Was it important to someone and therefore important to save in photographs? See the anecdotes.

In January 2007 the site was prepared for demolition and crews started removing the asbestos inside. Rumors immediately circulated about a Walgreens. In the fall of 2007 a Walgreens store did indeed open up, with a vacant Ethan Allen building right beside it. In a few more years the Ethan Allen was taken down as well (but it is still an empty lot).

Thoughts on how to “revive” this commercial district vary from person to person. For some, modernizing the stores and brands is enough. To others, suburban retail has no place in a dense city like Providence and this corridor should be converted to more office or residential use. To still others, they have a long-standing theory that divided roads (ones with a narrow median down the center) such as this one are doomed from the start.

Current Events

This lot is the site of a Walgreens pharmacy with drive-thru prescription service.

History

Only maps have been able to give us some clues about the build date, which we place between 1962 and 1972 due to aerial photos.

1921–1951 Sanborn Map, Vol. 2, Plate 95 (page 102) — This building is not present, but instead, a similarly shaped building occupies the front of the plat and is labelled “Rest.” for restaurant
1921–1956 Sanborn Map, Vol. 2, Plate 95 (page 96) — This building is still not present, but the revious building is still in place and has been expanded in size to the north
1962 aerial photo from the Providence Historical Aerial Viewer — the former building being described in the Sanborn Maps is in place
1972 aerial photo from the Providence Historical Aerial Viewer — the former building has been replaced by the footprint of the Sears Auto building, located here until the 2003 photo

7 Anecdotes from people like you

We were coming to Sears from Seekonk with my mom driving when I was a kid. When you came off 95-south you drove toward North Main but had to turn right a block away. My mom was sitting at the traffic light behind the Sears Auto Center, waiting to take the left to North Main and then turn into the store itself up the road. Suddenly we heard a loud crash. I looked behind me to see that a ‘53 Chevy had rolled down the embankment from the center’s parking lot and wiped out the car behind us. When the light turned green we went on out way.

Thom Ring February 27, 2019

My sister and I saw Santa here at Sears in 1958. The photo disappeared thanks to my mother and Cumberland PD until discovered in 2008. Miss RI but glad I’m here in California.

bob lannon April 4, 2014

I worked at the main store from 1983-1988 in the shoe dept which was managed by Paul Pontarelli. My older brother had worked for the automotive store years prior to my time there. At the time I worked there, my mom was employed by the accounting center in Warwick (which had originally been in store 1153) and has since retired from Sears. Dean C.’s post hit it right on the money: Sears underwent many changes trying to “progress” into the 90s. But like other things that go the way of the DoDo, they failed. The Sears I worked for was a by-gone era… the department stores that have survived did so by moving into malls and amalgamating their personalities with that of those stores around them. Like the Lit Brothers, GC Murphy’s and Ann And Hopes, this Sears suffered the same fate of all free standing department stores.

Kim November 2, 2009

I worked at the main store from ’85 to ’92. It was a great job, but a crazy time to work for Sears in hindsight, because it was when the retail giant took some really big chances that did not pan out. Sears closed its catalog, overdiversified in financial services and real estate, began selling other brand name products through Brand Central, tried to convert underperforming community-stores into HomeLife specialty stores [furniture], and then started accepting other credit cards besides Sears and Discover. Anyway, now that they cleaned up the old Automotive, maybe they will do something with the main store. Between that and Anderson Little, it looks pretty bad. That area has a lot of history, the old Lowes Drive-in and, way before that, the Cyclodrome, which was where the drive-in was, became the first spot to host an NFL game under lights [Providence Steamrollers vs. Chicago cardinals], Chip’s underground bowling alley, the list goes on. On a side note: When they stopped selling hot dogs and candy in the middle of the main store, a woman who used to sell them ended up making food and selling it to employees from the break room. She made awesome chicken crouquets!

Dean C. July 7, 2008

sears automotive was my first real job. in 88, i was 16, and worked as a cashier. i was the only young girl there. i worked with so many nice and wonderful people. i learned so much about cars and customer service. my godfather got me the job, and i wasn’t too fond of my boss, but i learned to like him. i stil talk to him til this day. i had many great memories there. we were all very close, i would love to hear from anyone.

lisa tudino

I worked at Sears on North Main Street throughout high school and college. My first job was pumping gas at the Automotive Center. I have lots of fond memories of all the people who worked there. I even met my wife there. She sold hot dogs at the main store. We’ve been married for 33 years.

Ken Foote

I remember going to the North Main St Sears store as a child, about 50 years ago. I recall seeing automotive work going on in a small, single-storey brick structure sited against the parking lot retaining wall. Eventually, perhaps 40 years ago or so, the store took over the space, and the separate auto service center was opened down North Main St.

Pete Falina

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About this Property

#Reason for Demolition

#Current Events

#History

Reason for Demolition

Current Events

History