Old Businesses Make a Comeback

Residents will soon see the revival of two of Wakefield’s old-time businesses, as the South Kingstown Town Council voted to approve one new and renew 16 business licenses at Monday night’s meeting.

After the council unanimously approved a food and beverage license, Mary Haverly of Narragansett explained her plans to resurrect the . Haverly, a former managing member of a Tim Horton’s location, will reopen the Kingstown Road store as a coffee and sandwich shop along with three other former Tim Horton’s owners and several investors.

Empty since Wednesday, Nov. 10 when the store abruptly closed without prior notice along with 36 other Tim Horton’s locations throughout Rhode Island and Connecticut, Haverly said the store will be open from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.  Toward the end of spring, she said she would reapply for a license to operate for 24 hours per day. Residents will have an opportunity to express grievances or support with the business plan to the Town Council at that time.

“We’ve tweaked it a bit, but it will be similar to the original Bess Eaton,”Haverly  said.  She plans to sell coffee and breakfast foods along with sandwiches and soup for lunch. Haverly told the council that she plans to keep Cold Stone Creamery in the building as well.

The Holly House, which closed after 80 years in operation, will also likely be revived as a Main Street bed and breakfast according to hints from council members Monday night. New owner Sarah Isabella, bought the 180-year-old property in November and is seeking a tourist accommodation license to reopen the Inn in its historic capacity.

Her application was withdrawn at Monday night’s meeting due to a filing error, but council members all nodded their heads and smiled when Isabella asked if she was likely to be granted her license request.

“I would say you have our well wishes,” said Council President Ella Whaley.   While the bathrooms and rooms inside have been rehabilitated, Isabella said she has no plans for expansion or major renovation as of yet. Until March 31, the building houses tenants. Isabella said she hopes to open by May 1, but the exact date is uncertain.

Other Council Business

Council members unanimously authorized $17,967.60 in tax abatements to property owners along Matunuck Beach and Salt Pond roads. According to a memo from tax assessor Jean-Paul Bouchard, the loss of land to erosion on three vacant lots owned by Mary Carpenter along Matunuck Beach Road has severely diminished its utility. The Salt Pond Road parcel is owned by the town, but the marina that occupies the land was billed.

The council also awarded two bids:  Penn Valley Pump Co., Inc. will receive up to $30,486 for the installation of wastewater division double disc sludge pumps and Atrion Networking Corporation was awarded up to $45,460 to furnish and install data information technology networking hardware.