We’re a local, family market. By Aquidneck Island and for Aquidneck Island. We’ve been there for your everyday routine, some of the most memorable events in your lives, and overall just a subtle fixture of the families of this corner of the state for decades.
Many of you know that my family started Clements’ Marketplace 44 years ago right here in Portsmouth. In fact, we’ve essentially been at the same location for the entirety of that time with the exception of our new building constructed in 2000. I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say we consider ourselves a mainstay of the community.
Clements’ Marketplace and the surrounding business community of East Main Road and greater Portsmouth has been closely watching the rotary saga unfold over the course of the last year with understandable concerns about the proposal that has come on and off the table – so to speak – numerous times.
These fears cannot be cast aside as exaggeration. We only need to look just across the Bay to the closures and massive dents in sales that occurred in the wake of the Apponaug Circulator project that was implemented in Warwick back in 2018. Many would argue that Apponaug Village is a shell of what it once was even in the face of promises to revitalize a city center much like we’ve heard with this rotary proposal here in Portsmouth.
It’s become difficult to follow the bouncing ball in this rapidly evolving situation. We’ve heard mixed messages on the latest about this local proposal since the turn of the new year.
There is something we do agree with Director Alviti about and that’s the notion he’s publicly shared that the Town of Portsmouth should get together with its residents and business owners to come up with a solution that works for this intersection together. Our team attempted to get the ball rolling and requested such a meeting to which we were summarily denied one by the town solicitor. This is another disappointing development within the course of this haphazard and far-from-transparent process.
A meeting should not be too much to ask. Especially in the face of the very public and detrimental fumbles we’re seeing unfold North of us with the Washington Bridge. Once again, this community is being left with more questions than answers on the rotary proposal; ironically sending us all in circles.
Tracy Clements Anthony is the owner of Clements’ Marketplace in Portsmouth.