As 2026 begins, the Ocean State is witnessing a “hollowing out” of its middle-class infrastructure. The discount furniture stores are vanishing, the neighborhood pharmacies are boarding up, and the grocery landscape has left one of Providence’s wealthiest neighborhoods with a massive empty box.
Here is the breakdown of the retail shakeup hitting Rhode Island in 2026.
The Discount Finale: Big Lots Leaves Warwick
The collapse of the home discount sector has claimed its final victim in the state.
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- The Lease Sale: Big Lots has officially listed the lease for its store at 2485 Warwick Ave for sale as part of its bankruptcy restructuring.
- The…