The Potter League for Animals announced it has received a $2.9 million bequest from longtime volunteer Roxann Press, the largest single gift in the organization’s nearly 100-year history. The transformative donation was recognized during the Potter League’s annual meeting Wednesday at the Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina, where supporters and community leaders gathered despite frigid […]
Business
A look at What’s Up in business in Newport, Rhode Island, and beyond.
Posted inNews
OceanPoint Funding announces agreement to acquire Florida-based Lending Associates
OceanPoint Funding Inc., an affiliate of OceanPoint Financial Partners MHC, announced Wednesday it has entered into an agreement to acquire Lending Associates Inc., a marine, RV and aircraft lender headquartered in St. Petersburg, Florida. The agreement was signed Jan. 14, according to a news release from the Middletown-based company. Lending Associates is led by Grant […]
Posted inBusiness
Governor McKee to kick off 2026 Politics & Pancakes series in Newport
Governor Dan McKee will headline the first installment of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce’s 2026 Politics & Pancakes series on Thursday, Feb. 12, at the Pell Center at Salve Regina University. The event runs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Tickets are $50 for chamber members and $60 for nonmembers. McKee is expected to discuss […]
Posted inBusiness
Rhode Island brewers team up to create ‘401 Beer,’ releasing statewide April 1
Rhode Island’s craft brewers are joining forces this spring to release a collaborative beer named after the Ocean State’s iconic area code. Members of the Rhode Island Brewers Guild have created “401 Beer,” a limited-edition hoppy lager set to launch statewide on Wednesday, April 1. Proceeds from sales will benefit the guild. The recipe came […]
Posted inBusiness
Jo’s American Bistro reopens under new ownership as Heritage Restaurant Group completes acquisition
Jo’s American Bistro reopened its doors Thursday evening under new ownership after Heritage Restaurant Group completed its acquisition of the beloved Memorial Boulevard restaurant. The restaurant, which has been a staple of Newport’s dining scene since 2013, welcomed guests back at 4:30 p.m. on January 22. Heritage Restaurant Group, which owns a growing portfolio of Rhode […]
Posted inBusiness
Newport Restaurant Group to open Avvio Ristorante in Millbury, Massachusetts
Newport Restaurant Group announced Wednesday it will open a new Avvio Ristorante at The Shops at Blackstone Valley in Millbury, Massachusetts, marking the company’s fifth restaurant in the Commonwealth and first in Worcester County. The restaurant, located at 70 Worcester-Providence Turnpike, is scheduled to open in summer 2026. The 5,200-square-foot space will feature seating for […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Rhode Island may ditch Mr. Potato Head license plates after Hasbro’s move to Boston
By KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — It’s been no small potatoes that Rhode Islanders have been able to choose the image of Mr. Potato Head as a specialty license plate for decades. Yet with Hasbro’s decision to move its headquarters from the smallest state in the U.S. to Boston, two lawmakers say it’s time to hash […]
Posted inBusiness
Gift from late Newport resident helps MVYRADIO exceed $600,000 fundraising goal
MVYRADIO has surpassed its $600,000 Bridge The Gap fundraising goal, allowing the public radio station to move forward with financial security after Congress and the administration moved to defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting last summer. The CPB had provided community service grants to MVYRADIO — which broadcasts at 88.7 FM on Cape Cod and […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Movies and TV shows casting in Rhode Island
The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities’ Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of […]
Posted inRhode Island
Sports tourism projected to bring $15.5 million to Rhode Island in first quarter
Sporting events are projected to generate $15.5 million in direct spending in Rhode Island during the first three months of 2026, according to the Rhode Island Sports Commission. The 17 events scheduled for January, February and March represent more than 18,000 contracted hotel room nights and nearly 78,000 athletes, family members and fans traveling to […]
Posted inBusiness
Portsmouth defense tech company Vatn Systems acquires Crewless Marine
Vatn Systems, a Portsmouth-based defense technology company, announced Tuesday it has acquired Crewless Marine, a Rhode Island firm specializing in underwater acoustic sensing and signal processing. The acquisition brings Crewless Marine’s expertise in torpedo acoustic systems, hydrophone manufacturing and real-time signal processing under Vatn’s umbrella as the company works to build autonomous underwater vehicles for […]
Posted inNews
CiderCon 2026 to bring nearly 900 industry professionals to Providence in February
While overall alcohol sales across the United States continue to soften, hard cider is bucking the trend, and the industry will gather in Providence next month to celebrate. CiderCon 2026, presented by the American Cider Association, will take place Feb. 2–5 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. The conference is expected to draw nearly 900 […]
Posted inBusiness
Rose Island Lighthouse trust launches executive director search ahead of milestone 2026 season
Rose Island Lighthouse & Fort Hamilton Trust announced Monday the launch of a regional search for a new executive director as the organization prepares for a landmark 2026 season marking both its 40th anniversary and the United States Semiquincentennial. The full-time position offers an annual salary of $70,000 to $75,000 and is suited to mid-career […]
Posted inBusiness
Heritage Group reaches agreement to acquire The Quencher, staff to remain
The Quencher is set to have new ownership, but patrons of the neighborhood spot can expect the same familiar faces behind the bar. Heritage Group announced Thursday it has reached an agreement to acquire The Quencher from Scott and Adrienne Kirmil of Inked Restaurant Group. The existing staff and management will remain in place, and […]
Posted inBusiness
IYRS names Ostrand first recipient of Glo Tech Scholarship Fund
IYRS School of Technology & Trades has named Marie Ostrand of Newport as the inaugural recipient of the Glo Tech Scholarship Fund. Established in February 2024, the scholarship honors the legacy of Gloria Aurora Borrego, a trailblazer in the marine industry whose career spanned high-performance marine systems, motorsports and major expeditionary projects including the Whitbread […]
Posted inBusiness
Heritage Group reports record growth, eyes expansion beyond New England
Heritage Group, the Rhode Island-based hospitality company, announced Thursday it expects to reach approximately $155 million in revenue by 2026 after five years in operation. The company, which rebranded from Heritage Restaurant Group to reflect its expanded portfolio, has grown to include 23 restaurants, two inns, catering services, food trucks and retail operations. Heritage Group […]
Posted inBusiness
The Royal Male named one of America’s 50 Best Stores by The New York Times
Newport has no shortage of iconic small businesses, but few are as woven into the local fabric as The Royal Male, the classic European inspired clothing shop founded by Maurice and Lynn de La Valette in 1983. Earlier this week, the shop earned national recognition when The New York Times named it one of the […]
Posted inBusiness
Diego’s Cantina, Rejects Brewery hit market together for $4.2 million
Two adjacent Aquidneck Avenue businesses — Diego’s Cantina and Rejects Brewery — have been listed for sale together as a single package for $4.2 million. The properties at 116-124 Aquidneck Ave. combine to form a 0.57-acre parcel that real estate agents say offers multiple investment paths, including the potential for future hotel or mixed-use development. […]
Posted inJobs
Movies and TV shows casting in Rhode Island
The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities’ Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of […]
Posted inBusiness
Discover Newport announces six new board members as Gray takes helm
Discover Newport announced six new members to its board of directors on Monday. The new appointees are Joanna Arrighie, director of sales and marketing at Newport Marriott Hotel & Spa; Rebecca Bertrand, executive director of the Newport Historical Society; Kajsa Kempenaar, vice president of Kempenaar Real Estate Inc.; Kevin O’Leary, director of marketing at the […]
Posted inColumns
The Doctor’s In Your House: How at-home urgent care is changing the visit
Getting urgent or emergency care when you need can be a stressful ordeal. When someone is sick or injured, it could mean reshaping daily life to get care, and for some, that simply isn’t doable. At best, the disruption is temporary. But for older adults, busy families, people with mobility limitations, or those who are […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Harry’s Bar & Burger transforms Providence locations into winter wonderland
Harry’s Bar & Burger has decked out both of its Providence locations with festive holiday decor, seasonal cocktails and a 12 Days of Christmas event lineup. The winter wonderland pop-up at the North Main Street and Atwells Avenue restaurants features floor-to-ceiling decorations, holiday music and Christmas movies playing on the TVs. “We are so excited […]
Posted inNews
South County Health opens Newport Women’s Health office
Women on Aquidneck Island have new healthcare options with the opening in early November of an office of South County Health’s Center for Women’s Health in a building near Newport Hospital and shared with a branch of South County Health’s urology department. The new office at 38 Powell Ave., Newport, arrives amid nationwide shortages of […]
Posted inArts & Culture
Movies and TV shows casting in Rhode Island
The glitz and glam of Hollywood captures the attention of Americans starting from an early age. Beyond celebrities’ Instagram Stories and red carpet poses, there are actors out there paying their dues and honing their craft in pursuit of a sustainable career or a fulfilling sideline. Submitting to casting calls is a big part of […]
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South County Health brings expert women’s care closer to Newport families
Access to high-quality women’s health care shouldn’t require a long drive or a long wait. Recognizing the needs of Newport-area families, South County Health has expanded its award-winning Center for Women’s Health to 38 Powel Avenue, Newport, making expert care more accessible and convenient. Request an Appointment in Newport today with Martha Moe, MD and Sarah […]