Providence Place

Providence Place

Providence Place with Omni Providence Hotel at far left in the background
Location	Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Coordinates	41°49′40.58″N 71°24′59.24″W
Address	One Providence Place
Opening date	August 20, 1999 (1999-08-20)
Developer	Commonwealth Development
Management	Centennial Real Estate Management
Owner	Centennial Real Estate Management
No. of stores and services	160
No. of anchor tenants	2
Total retail floor area	1,400,000 sq ft (130,000 m2)
No. of floors	3
Website	providenceplace.com

Providence Place is a large enclosed shopping mall located in downtown Providence, Rhode Island, adjacent to the Rhode Island State House and Amtrak's Providence Station. Opened in 1999, the mall comprises approximately 1,400,000 square feet (130,000 m²) of gross leasable area, making it the largest shopping mall in the state. Developed by The Taubman Company, the mall spans three levels and includes a mix of retail stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues. As of 2025, the mall is anchored by Macy's, Boscov's, and Level 99 following a series of anchor changes in the 2010s. Providence Place is currently managed by Brookfield Properties.

History

Early history

From 1838 to 1877, the site that would become the Providence Place Mall housed the Rhode Island State Prison, notable for the 1845 execution of John Gordon, the last person legally executed in Rhode Island. In 1854, the Rhode Island Normal School, a teacher-training institution, was established on the site. The school later evolved into the Rhode Island College of Education before relocating in 1958 to the Mount Pleasant neighborhood, becoming Rhode Island College. Subsequently, the area served as a parking lot.

The concept for an urban shopping mall in Providence emerged in 1987 under Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr. The initial $300 million proposal envisioned three department stores, two office towers, and a luxury hotel, with an anticipated opening in 1991; however, challenges such as securing land from Amtrak and changes in the development team delayed progress by 1990. When Mayor Buddy Cianci returned to office in 1991, he revitalized the project, integrating it into his broader vision for the city's "Renaissance." Cianci worked to secure major anchor tenants, including Macy's and Nordstrom, to ensure the mall's viability.

In 1993, Cianci and Governor Bruce Sundlun traveled to Seattle to persuade the Nordstrom family to open a store in Providence, aiming to attract shoppers from across New England. Despite these efforts, the project faced delays. Elected in 1994, Governor Lincoln Almond opposed the mall project, criticizing its financing structure during his campaign. Almond would later renegotiate the deal in 1995 to reduce the state's financial risk. Under the new agreement, the developer would privately finance the construction of a 5,000-car parking garage, while the state allowed the developer to retain the first $6 million in annual sales tax receipts for 20 years. Additionally, the city of Providence agreed to waive $4.5 million in property taxes annually for the same period.

In 1996, the Providence City Council approved a revised plan with a budget of $360 million. The design, led by Providence architect Friedrich St. Florian and Boston-based ADD Inc., aimed to create a structure resembling a small city, contrasting with traditional monolithic, windowless mall designs that were intially rejected by Providence officials. Construction of Providence Place commenced in the late 1990s, with the project ultimately costing $460 million—exceeding initial estimates by $100 million. During excavation, workers uncovered the foundations of the former Rhode Island State Prison, leading to archaeological documentation before construction proceeded.

Providence Place officially opened to the public on August 20, 1999. The initial anchor stores included Lord & Taylor, Filene's, and Nordstrom. Other major tenants included Dave & Buster’s, a Showcase Cinemas multiplex, and a variety of mid-range and upscale national brands. The mall was initially reported by media as a cornerstone of Providence’s downtown revitalization efforts, joining other major projects such as Waterplace Park and the relocation of the city's rivers. The mall’s construction included the building of a large parking garage and the “Skybridge,” a distinctive glass-enclosed walkway over West Exchange Street.

During its first few years, Providence Place saw steady increases in foot traffic and sales. However, local retailers expressed concern over the mall drawing business away from smaller commercial districts located downtown, while urban planners debated the long-term implications of a suburban-style retail model within an urban setting. Parking garage navigation and high parking fees also drew early complaints from visitors. By 2001, the mall had reached near full occupancy. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, the mall faced a brief downturn in shopper activity. In 2003, Lord & Taylor closed its Providence Place location as part of a broader downsizing effort by its parent company, May Department Stores.

Secret apartment

In 2003, after hearing an advertisement which imagined living in the mall, artists Michael Townsend, Adriana Valdez Young and six others covertly built an apartment in a 750-square-foot (70 m²) hidden space within the inside structure of the building, below the movie theater and adjacent to the parking lot. They were incensed when the mall's development had encroached on their neighborhood of Eagle Square and decided to take a stand against the mall. The apartment remained hidden and secret for over four years. The group lived there for up to three weeks at a time while documenting mall life. A cinderblock wall was built to keep the living space hidden.

The apartment was burglarized at one point, with the occupants' PlayStation 2 game console being stolen. Some sources report that the mall's security guards took the console in an attempt to identify the occupants. The apartment had no running water, so the residents all used the mall bathrooms. Townsend was caught in 2007 after Jaffa Lam, an artist from Hong Kong, visited and was detected by security guards. After the fully furnished apartment was discovered by mall security, Townsend, the head of the artists' cooperative, was initially charged with breaking and entering, but his charges were reduced to trespassing. The story received national attention. Prior to the discovery, he was planning on building a kitchen, installing wooden flooring, and adding a second bedroom. He pleaded no contest to trespassing and was sentenced to probation on October 2, 2007. The mall banned him from entering for life.

In 2024, it was announced that a feature documentary film on the secret apartment had been completed, titled Secret Mall Apartment and directed by filmmaker Jeremy Workman. The documentary was released theatrically in the United States beginning March 21, 2025, including at the cineplex of Providence Place. It was announced that the mall lifted the ban on Michael Townsend in anticipation of the documentary's release.

Decline

In 2005, JCPenney opened at Providence Place, taking over the space formerly occupied by Lord & Taylor. A year later, in 2006, Filene’s was converted into Macy’s following the acquisition of May Department Stores by Federated Department Stores. During the early 2010s, Providence Place experienced a series of store closures. Borders Books closed its location following the company's bankruptcy in 2011. Other retailers, such as Arden B., Bailey, Banks & Biddle, and The Body Shop, also ceased operations at the mall during this period. In 2015, JCPenney announced the closure of its Providence Place store as part of a plan to shutter 40 stores nationwide; the store officially closed on August 28, 2015.

Throughout 2016, the mall underwent major renovations. The area that JCPenney once occupied was converted into parking, and a guidance system was later added. Stateside Parking was renamed to "North Garage", and Cityside Parking was renamed to "South Garage". In January 2019, Nordstrom, an original anchor tenant since the mall's opening in 1999, closed its Providence Place location. To fill the vacancy left by Nordstrom, Boscov's opened its first New England location at Providence Place on September 26, 2019.

On March 16, 2020, the City of Providence ordered the mall to close until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Providence Place Mall reopened to the public on June 1, 2020; however, the closure accelerated a trend of declining occupancy that had begun in the early 2010s. On June 1, 2020, Providence Place suffered damage after people protesting the murder of George Floyd looted 12-18 stores. Providence Place pursued a shift toward experiential retail due to market shifts; in 2022, several non-traditional tenants opened, including entertainment venues, pop-up stores, and regional food vendors.

Throughout 2023, the mall faced continued economic pressures, leading to tenant turnover and vacancies. In January 23, 2024, Level99, an interactive gaming and dining venue, opened on the mall’s third floor, replacing the long-vacant former JCPenney space. In October 2024, facing a default on $259 million in outstanding principal and interest, Providence Place was placed into state receivership by Rhode Island Superior Court. As part of the receivership process, Centennial Real Estate Management LLC replaced Brookfield Properties as the mall's operator in November 2024. Centennial retained existing on-site managers to ensure continuity during the transition. Amid these changes, Macy's, another anchor tenant, was listed for sale the same month in November 2024, raising concerns about its future at Providence Place. While Macy's has a long-term lease, the company had previously announced plans to close 150 underperforming locations nationwide by 2026.

In February 2025, receiver John Dorsey announced plans for significant upgrades to Providence Place, including improvements to the parking garage infrastructure and increased security measures.

Architecture

Inside Providence Place

Providence Place with the Gtech headquarters obscuring left view

The mall was built on land previously occupied by a dirt parking lot called "Ray's Park & Lock." The proposed design was met by opposition from residents on the city's East Side; developers changed the initial design to fit better into the neighborhood. The new design included more red and yellow brick and turrets on the roof, to reflect Providence's industrial past.

The design of the mall was partly done by the architect Friedrich St. Florian. He also built the skybridge that connected the mall with the Omni Providence Hotel (formerly the Westin Hotel).

In total, Providence Place consists of fifteen levels. The lowest three are labeled P1-P3 (formerly C-A). Level P1 consists of Parking-Only North Garage (Stateside), and Street Level Restaurants Cityside. There was also a level D in the North Garage. Level P2 consists of DSW shoes and Restaurants, Old Navy at the North Garage, and CVS Pharmacy at the South Garage, and The Skybrige to the Omni Hotel. Bed Bath & Beyond at the South Garage was open from 1999 until its closure in 2019. Level P3 consists of parking only, both at the North and South garages. Levels 1.5 and 2.5 also consist of parking only, both at the North and South garages. The South Garage is at the mall's southern end, facing Downtown. The North Garage is at the mall's northern end, facing state office buildings including the State Capitol.

The fifth through ninth levels are labeled 1, 1.5 (formerly 1M), 2, 2.5 (formerly 2M) and 3, which feature the indoor galleria (excluding the .5 levels). There is a Dave & Buster's, an IMAX theatre, and a 16-screen Showcase Cinemas on the seventh level. The mall also hosts two large parking garages labeled North Garage and South Garage, one stateside and the other cityside, anchored to its back end. Bridges connect the two sides over the Woonasquatucket River.

The mall's Winter Garden is a noticeable architectural feature. The four-level structure in the center of the mall spans the Woonasquatucket River and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor line. The area features large expanses of glass providing views of the city. The third level of the Winter Garden contains the food court and access to its fourth level, serving as the entrance to Dave and Buster's, the IMAX theater, and the cinema. Although not directly connected to the mall, Amtrak's Providence Station is located approximately 200 yards east of the mall, providing Acela Express and Northeast Regional service to Boston, New York City, and Washington, D.C.

List of anchor stores

Name	Year opened	Year closed	Notes
Boscov's	2019	—	Replaced Nordstrom
Dave and Busters	1999	—
Filene's	1999	2006
JCPenney	2005	2015	Replaced Lord & Taylor
Level99	2024	—	Replaced the third level of JCPenney
Lord & Taylor	1999	2004
Macy's	2006	—	Replaced Filene's
Showcase Cinema	???	—
Nordstrom	1999	2019

External links

• Official site