Providence's Arcade

Providence, Rhode Island is a city with a lot of American "firsts". The first Baptist church, the first diner and the first indoor shopping center. The Arcade is the first shopping center. Built in 1828 the Arcade was designed to look like a Greek temple. It is a temple of commerce. The 216 foot building that spans a lot between Westminster and Weybosset streets was designed by architects Russell Warren and James C. Bucklin and is basically symmetric except for one little difference. The buildings facades are different.

 One side has a stepped pediment the other a simpler one. The story is that the two architects couldn't agree on which was best so they each had their way. The three story building is covered with a glass roof allowing natural light to fill the open space inside. The ground floor has traditionally been filled with food stalls and restaurants the second with small shops and the third with a mixture of shops and offices. The Arcade has many times been doomed to be torn down but in 1976 it was designated a National Historic Landmark saving it eternally from the wreckers ball. This however doesn't mean it is considered a successful money maker. The Arcade has been sold dozens of times over the years. It is currently owned by Granoff Associates a Rhode Island development company. Granoff closed the Arcade in 2008 with plans to rehab the building into a single store. This did not come to be and it has recently been announced that the Arcade will once again reopen as a shopping mall.
The facades are the building's most striking feature. There are 12 massive monolithic 21 foot columns that were dragged 13 miles by oxen from a local quarry. These columns are enormous. The interior is equally beautiful. There are two upper shopping levels with bridges connecting them over the ground floor. Running along the edges of the upper levels are filagreed wrought iron rails topped with oak. The shops on these levels tradionally house non-chain jewelry and clothing stores as well as not for profit organizations.

Providence is a city with scores of architectual gems and the Arcade is the jewel in the crown.