Prowling Through Providence

Nestled in the heart of Providence, Rhode Island, Green Line Apothecary offers more than just a pharmacy experience. With its meticulously recreated 1940s ambiance, this enchanting location, one of two (the other in Wakefield), transports customers back in time, blending vintage charm with modern convenience.

The store exudes an authentic vintage feel, with time-appropriate decor and design elements, including classic checkered floors, wooden shelves, and a carved-out portion of an authentic 1949 Chevy truck, which adorns the back wall where some of the freshly made ice cream is stored.

“We wanted to create a space where people could experience a bit of history while enjoying modern pharmacy services,” Christina Procaccianti, the store's co-owner and Director of Pharmacy said.

At the heart of Green Line Apothecary's nostalgic charm is its meticulously restored soda fountain, a genuine relic from the 1940s. This fully functional centerpiece brings history to life with every pump of syrup and the skilled hands of the soda jerk, a term that Procaccianti assures is not an insult but the actual name for the soda fountain operator.

“The fountain itself is an original Bastian Blessing model, dating back to the 1940s and meticulously restored to its former glory,” Procaccianti said. “It was really important to us that we recreate an authentic vintage soda fountain experience. It has very difficult plumbing to work with, but it was really important to us that we really recreate that authentic experience."

What makes this model unique is its design, which includes a slanted front.

“The front of the fountain slants down slightly so that women, who are naturally smaller in stature, could reach down more easily to scoop ice cream,” Procaccianti said, explaining that during World War II, women served behind the counter. “We thought it was special when we came across it because we're women-owned and operated. It just felt right.”

The soda fountain serves as more than just a nostalgic artifact; it’s a vital part of the store’s identity.

“You can't tell the story of the classic American drugstore without talking about the soda fountain," Procaccianti said. “During Prohibition, soda fountains became de facto gathering places, similar to bars, and they always had their origins in pharmacies.”

Among the many classic treats offered at the soda fountain, the egg cream stands out. This iconic drink, made with milk, chocolate syrup, and carbonated water, is served using a traditional Brooklyn style.

“There is some debate about where the name comes from, but there is no egg or cream in it,” Procaccianti said. “It's a very simple recipe, but the technique involved is getting the ratios just right. We serve it in what's known as the Brooklyn style. The idea is you’re going to stir it really quick and chug it just like a beer.”

The soda fountain menu includes other period-relevant items like root beer floats and cherry phosphates.

“All of our soda is dye-free, and there's no high fructose corn syrup. We stick with flavors that are as close to period relative as possible,” Catherine Lott, the store’s buyer said. “It's a simple menu, but everything is either all-natural, locally sourced, or organic if possible."

Soda Fountain Manager Michelle Ciociola enjoys crafting these classic treats. Her passion for creating these nostalgic delights adds to the authentic feel of the soda fountain experience.

“I like to make the floats,” Ciociola said. They're fun. You get a little bit of soda, a little bit of ice cream, and it's always a delight to see people's faces light up.”

The menu also includes delicious food items like soda waffles, which are made with soda water to add a crispy lightness that is unique to Green Line Apothecary, according to Procaccianti. 

“We wanted to stick true to our ethos that is health and wellness first and foremost. So we tried to develop this menu with a 'is it good for you? Does it feel good? Is there a health benefit there?' mindset,” Procaccianti said. “It’s all about creating an experience that feels both familiar and special.”

Director of Operations David Roberti remembers opening the store in 2019, just before the pandemic.

“It was a challenge to keep the soda fountain aspect alive during those times," Roberti said. "When the pandemic came, we couldn’t even serve anything. Just every day I came in, it was just an empty thing. We piled stuff on so nobody sat at the counter.”

Despite the challenges, Green Line Apothecary adapted by significantly increasing its delivery services to ensure that customers could still get their prescriptions and other necessities.

“We went from having one or two drivers to having 14 to 18 drivers at both stores,” Roberti said. “The back end picked up tremendously because nobody wanted to go out, so we were delivering a lot more on prescription ends.” 

The store also played a crucial role in the community by providing COVID-19 vaccinations.

“We had lines going out the door for the COVID shots,” Roberti said. “The doctor's office next door was upset because people were parking over there to get the COVID shots. It was chaotic, but we managed it well and provided a vital service to the community.”

Roberti is proud of how Green Line Apothecary made the vaccination experience as pleasant as possible.

“Parents appreciated that they could bring their kids here, get their shots, and then treat them to ice cream right after,” Roberti said. 

All in all, Green Line Apothecary offers a refreshing alternative to typical chain pharmacies. Its blend of historical charm and modern service preserves the nostalgic spirit of the classic American drugstore.

“That’s ‘fun Jerry’,” said Stephanie Angelini as she pointed at an artist’s creative interpretation of a portrait of Jerry Goldstein, clad in pop sunglasses of red and blue, his shirt open and tie loosened.

 “And this is mildly-disappointed-in-you-Jerry,” she said as she pointed at a more traditional portrait of Goldstein: white hair, glasses, and blue suit; ever the businessman and the founder of Jerry’s Artarama. 

Goldstein’s dueling portraits hang over the entrance to Jerry’s Artarama, an art store for locals and students, both professionals and amateurs. Although it is the smallest of the fifteen locations in the United States, what it offers to the artsy East side of Providence is more than just paint and pastels. 

“Right now we’re gearing up for back-to-school,” said Angelini, Educational Accounts and Kits Manager at the store. 

She works in partnership with local schools, colleges, and universities to create kits of supplies that students will need for a particular course. Professors and art departments reach out to her with their specific supply lists.

The popularity of Angelini’s art kits has resulted in Jerry’s quickly outgrowing its small footprint on the corner of North Main Street. 

“My department is growing so much I have a shipping container outside because there was just not enough space,” she said. 

Angelini’s current roster of schools includes the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College, Brown University, UMASS Dartmouth, the University of Rhode Island, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Assumption College, and Roger Williams University. 

A glaring omission from her list is Providence’s most famous and well-known art school: the Rhode Island School of Design, casually known as RISD. 

“Everybody just assumes that our clientele is just students from RISD. RISD has their own art store. We do get the more savvy ones that realize they could save some money,” she said. 

At the moment, Angelini’s shipping container holds hundreds of cardboard boxes of paper, drafting boards, and plastic bins of architecture tools.

These supplies are part of a $770 kit that freshmen architecture students at Roger Williams University need for their courses. The kit includes drafting boards, paper, pencils, and other technical drafting supplies. 

Angelini anticipates a busy month as the school year approaches

Commonly known as the brain drain, summer can potentially become a time when children and teens lose academic skills and social interaction.This doesn’t have to be the case. In Providence, Rhode Island, Children and teens are offered opportunities to sharpen skills that last beyond the summer break. 

At the Providence Public Library, programs abound that not only bridge the gap between the end of summer and the following school year, children and youth can use skills learned in these programs to support their community and apply these skills in the workforce. One of these programs, Data For Good, pairs students with non-profit organizations. Molly Glodblum, an assistant in the library, explained that students in Data for Good are taught to “use Tableau which is a data visualization software. They then work with nonprofits and look at their data to make sense of it. They are learning this new skill and getting paid for it”. In addition there is an ELL, English Language Learners,  program at the library. There is both an advanced and beginning level. Children and teens meet three times a week to practice their English. The program has ELL certified and teacher assistants working with the students. 

The library is also home to a number of other programs for kids of varying age levels.  On Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10:00 a.m., the children’s librarian takes the kids to the Grace Episcopal Church courtyard for story time.  If you are an older student looking for a challenge, the ground floor of the library houses an incredible space for kids to explore topics in STEAM education Through their Makerspace Program.  Here, kids have access to “cutting machines, sewing machines, 3D design, dye-sublimation printing, laser cutting, and heat presses for fabric, hats, and mugs” (Community Libraries of Providence). For a schedule of ongoing events, parents and kids can visit the Providence Library website for details. 

Another place catering to kids in Providence is the Providence Children’s Museum. Children’s laughter and yelling permeate the space as one enters the museum. The museum is divided into four rooms: a market, a dress up room, a toddler playground, and an arts and crafts room. The theme changes each month. If a family has Neighborhood Healthcare, the museum is free to enter. The museum has group visits and has behaviorists who work with neurodivergent children in order to make the experiences offered at the museum inclusive. 

Similar to the atmosphere in the Providence Children’s Museum, The Trinity Rep Theatre’s entrance echoes with giggles and chattering as kids huddle on the ground around chart paper with colorful markers, making posters. Trinity Repertory Theater has been providing summer programming since 2007, and it has evolved from a four week commitment to a one week commitment for youth to better accommodate their schedules. The theater works with a broad range of  children and youth from grades 1-12. These kids, in learning acting skills, learn how to to work with others and according to Jordan, the Director of Education it “prepares them for school again”.  The program has high retention rates. Jordan described one child who “started when she was five and has come every year”. While there is a fee for the program, the theater offers substantial financial aid for families in need of assistance, and like the museum, there is neurodivergent support for those in the program who need it.

While not native to Providence, Rock and Roll Chorus is a professional level touring show for kids who perform music using only their voices.  This is similar to Acapella, but technology is used to make their voices sound like the instruments that are played in the songs.  This New Jersey based company is made up of high school kids all over the state who are brought together by their love of music.  They spend three and a half weeks of their own time in the summer to tour the country doing what they love.  The director of the program, Joe, states, “the cool thing for me as a teacher is the life skills they build being on the tour that gets them ready for college.”  Even though they are doing something they love, they are still learning important life skills.  

Joe started this company back in 2007 as a fun summer project to give kids an experience that they couldn’t get in schools.  Joe says, this is my project.  17 years. seven full albums.  We’ve also been on the Grammy Ballot five times and we’ve opened for some really big bands.” Joe plans to continue doing this as long as both he and his kids are having a good time.  While the summer can be a much needed break for kids, it can also be a chance for them to hone in on their passions and expand their knowledge that will prepare them for the path they intend to take later in life. Joe’s ultimate goal is for kids to “operate where if they got a job offer from a professional bus tour right after this, there would be no learning curve for them.”

Summer can look different for many families.  Some kids go to the beach, take family vacations, or visit distant relatives.  Some parents have to put their kids into care programs so they can continue to maintain a consistent work schedule.  What is apparent is that in Providence, kids are never bored.  There are countless free, discounted, or paid opportunities offered to  youth.  These opportunities can help kids deepen their passions or even find new ones.  Some will make lifelong connections, or learn how to be independent young adults. Markeem, who grew up in Providence says, “summer in Providence is the best.  There’s always something to do.”