For several years, the 15,000 s/f, former Ocean State Job Lot (OSJL)building on Pawtucket Ave. stood vacant. The Department of Planning had identified that location as a perfect site for a supermarket to serve Pawtucket’s growing ethnically diverse population. Through the efforts of David Steinberg, OSJL’s director of leasing, Brockton-based Vicente’s Supermarket, will be opening its doors in the city’s Woodlawn neighborhood, this summer.
This supermarket chain, operated by the Vicente family and founded by Manuel Vicente who immigrated to the U.S. from Cape Verde, opened its first store in Brockton in 1994.
Barbosa believes in the importance of Vicentes Supermarket having a positive impact in the communities they serve. He says, “We look at ourselves as being leaders in the community, not only with the products and services we provide, but the impact on our community everyday life.” We are excited to see Barbosa bringing this community-oriented philosophy to Pawtucket, benefiting our residents.
Vicente’s Supermarket, a two-store supermarket chain, known for its high-quality, affordable, and culturally diverse ethnic food choices, is expanding to Rhode Island, opening its third store at 470 Pawtucket Ave., at the site of the 15,000 s/f vacant building, which formerly housed Ocean State Job Lot. This exciting new supermarket will attract tens of thousands of customers from throughout Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts, bringing them into our city.
The Pawtucket store, currently under construction, is expected to open this summer. Many Pawtucket residents seeking ethnic delicacies who patronized its Brockton stores will no longer have to make a long drive to Brockton to do their shopping. Vicente’s Supermarket specializes in international items, including Cape Verdean, Haitian, Portuguese, African, Caribbean, Central American and Colombian foods.
The store will offer prepared foods, butcher shop, seafood department, and free rides for its customers who make purchases of $100 or more.
Vicente’s plans to hire 60 or more new employees and is scheduled to host a job fair on June 5th 10:00 am-2:00 pm at the current site. The specialty grocery chain, places high values on customer satisfaction and is seeking employees who share their passion for service. Most of its highly diverse employees at the two Brockton stores are from the local Brockton community, and Barbosa hopes that the employees in the Pawtucket store will be from Pawtucket and local Rhode Island communities.
Donald Grebien is the mayor of city of Pawtucket, RI.