Bloom

Retail collective

What it is:

A gift shop that offers a rotating residency for growing brands.

Where to find it:

At the corner of Brook and Wickenden streets, look for a sign bearing a red flower. The red door and red “Open” flag confirm you found it.

What makes it a Rhody Gem?

Inside a luminous storefront, longtime friends, makers, and vendors Savannah Barkley and Heather Wolfenden have designed a shop that also acts as a retail incubator, thanks to its three-month residency program for emerging brands. “One of our favorite things about Bloom is that you never totally know what you’re going to find when you walk in,” says Barkley. “The shop is filled with independent brands, artists and makers, many of whom you won’t find in traditional retail stores or who lack a brick-and-mortar presence. It gives shoppers the chance to discover something genuinely different, while giving small businesses a physical space to get their products in front of new customers.” Items generally include apparel, stationery, bath and body, and jewelry. “We love that Bloom can be a stepping stone for a growing brand, while also giving Providence a really fun place to shop small.”

Shop Bloom

243 Wickenden Street

ShopBloomPVD.com