Projo Biz Blog

NORTH KINGSTOWN — Ryan’s Market, a family-owned business that has survived 10 recessions and the Great Depression, closed Saturday, its future uncertain.

A throwback to an earlier time, the 122-year-old business featured hand-carved aged beef, naked fluorescent bulbs and bag boys who walked customers to their cars.

“In small towns there are certain things that are a part of your life, and they’re very reassuring" because they never change, said Carole Byers, the town’s canvassing authority supervisor and a customer for 50 years. On Friday, Byers bought a beef and broccoli dinner at the Brown Street store. “It’s an institution. It’s very sad.”

The store will hold an inventory sale later this week. After that, “it’s up in the air” whether the store will reopen, be renovated or sold, a store spokesman said yesterday.

The owner, E.J. Ryan, put the building up for sale about a year ago, and in recent months the amount of stock has dwindled. Last Friday, some shelves were empty and a dairy case was papered over. Today, a sign on the door said, simply, “Sorry, We’re CLOSED.” Bundled newspapers sat on the front concrete steps.

The store closed with no fanfare, and some customers today were surprised to find it dark and empty.

“It’s a terrible shame,” said Newport shopper Glenna Kalen, who stood at the locked door at 10:30 in the morning, an hour after Ryan’s usually opens. Kalen said she loved the store’s small lamb roasts –– “just big enough for two people” –– and scrapple, a Pennsylvania specialty that includes cornmeal mush made with pork meat, broth and onions.

The closing is the second this spring in the historic village, which hugs a sheltered harbor midway between the Narragansett town line and the old Quonset Navy base.

-- Journal staff writer Paul Davis

Comments

janet said:

"The closing is the second this spring in the historic village,"

What was the first?

Link | April 22, 2008 3:59 AM
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John Russo said:

Great family, honest, loyal and hard working. a great American tradition slips away. It was my pleasure to know the family.

Link | April 22, 2008 7:45 AM
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