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Mayor Smiley discusses economic impact of ‘life at night’ in Providence

A report highlights “the other nine to five” — bars, performance spaces, restaurants, and more — that add vibrance to the city.

“This is a billion dollar industry. If it were a billion dollar industry in any other sector, we would be throwing resources out there,” Mayor Brett Smiley said.

“This is a billion dollar industry. If it were a billion dollar industry in any other sector, we would be throwing resources out there,” Mayor Brett Smiley said.

On Monday evening, Mayor Brett Smiley spoke at the Crib, an event space in Providence, to discuss the city’s nightlife and its impact on Providence’s economy and culture. 

Earlier that day, the mayor and the city’s Department of Art, Culture and Tourism released a “Life at Night in the Creative Capital” report which found that the city’s “nighttime economy” — a category including restaurants, theaters, and performance venues, in addition to bars and clubs — supports close to $1 billion in economic activity each year.

Economic consulting firm Jon Stover & Associate conducted the study, pulling data from nightlife industry surveys, stakeholder interviews, employment and business statistics.

The report also found that Providence is home to over 630 nightlife businesses, supporting over 9,900 jobs in total in the city. Over 30% of the state’s bars and clubs are located in the city, making Providence a hub for the state’s nighttime activity.

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At the event, Smiley announced a series of initiatives building on the report’s findings, including a new 50% discount on Spin bike and scooter trips for late-shift workers. Uber is also investing $5,000 to pilot a similar program for nightlife employees, and plan to expand the program in collaboration with the city.

Smiley also spoke about supporting public installations such as the Lumina Festival, increasing light and safety infrastructures downtown and providing additional aid to nighttime businesses. 

Smiley, who has attempted to address noise violations throughout his time as mayor, stressed the importance of reconciling “the conflict between residential neighborhoods and thriving nightlife businesses,” ensuring nighttime businesses comply with the city’s noise ordinances while hosting their events.  

Shiloh Cabot-Miller and Atlas Kidbhai founded Planeta, a “gathering” for queer residents and people of color in Providence. Kidbhai said they hoped the city would adjust its noise ordinances.

“I’m from Guatemala,” Kidbhai said. “We’re always blasting music on the streets, and that’s how we create community.”

Anthony Santurri is the owner of the Free Play Bar and Arcade and the Colosseum Nightclub. He also founded the Providence Responsible Nightclub Organization.“I have to be a good neighbor,” he said. Otherwise, he said, dealing with noise ordinances was “an unwinnable fight.”  

Smiley also spoke about the need to dispel the “stigma” around life at night in Providence. “It’s a sector that has faced some challenges,” he said. 

The mayor discussed several events that occurred recently, including an incident outside of the club led to seven arrests and a 72-hour closure of the club by the Providence Board of Licenses. 

The mayor also mentioned similar incidents that occurred last fall. Mezzo Lounge, for example, temporarily closed after reports of gunshots in a nearby parking lot. Saje Kitchen, a restaurant in Federal Hill, also faced a temporary closure after its owner was arrested for intervening in a stabbing in a way that a member of the Board of Licenses deemed “atypical.”

Still, Smiley remained optimistic about the city’s nighttime sector, which he called Providence’s “other nine to five.”

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“This is a billion dollar industry. If it were a billion dollar industry in any other sector, we would be throwing resources out there,” Smiley said. 

Santurri said Smiley’s support for Providence life at night was “refreshing.” 

He also echoed the Mayor’s assurance that Providence was a safe place to go out. “The perception of nightlife in Providence is a bigger deterrent to our success than the actual reality,” he said. Santurri collaborates with the University each spring to hold Senior Week. “They wouldn’t be coming to our place if it was unsafe,” he said. 

Jenn Harris is the deputy director of the Avenue Concept, an organization that supports public art in Providence, such as the downtown murals and the winter festival “Three Nights of Lights.” Harris collaborates with the city to “use public art… to bring energy into businesses.” She said that the mayor has been very supportive of the Avenue Concept’s work. 

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In response to the Life at Night report, the city is also developing new lighting and design plans for “key downtown areas.” 

Harris said that it is important for people in Providence to feel safe moving around the city at night to engage with its offerings. “If you’re walking through the city and you hit a dark street, it becomes a barrier to (wanting) to go explore and move throughout the city,” she said. 

Cabot-Miller also said the permitting process for their events, fundraisers and parties was “very expensive.” Planeta offers sliding-scale admission to its events where attendees pay what they can. The group is “always looking for ways to create our spaces, but… at a limited cost.” 

The Life at Night report included recommendations for streamlining event space permitting, but did not suggest offering reduced-price permits to organizations like Planeta, as Cabot-Miller and Kidbhai had hoped.

Smiley also mentioned that he and Joe Wilson Jr., the director of the department of Art, Culture and Tourism, found “(their) people” through Providence’s nighttime community, especially in gay clubs. “Whether it’s the LGBT community, the Latino community or the hip hop community, there’s a place for everyone in our great city,” he said. “There’s a space where they can find their people and … celebrate and embrace who they are.”


Lily Seltz

Lily Seltz is a former staff writer for post- magazine and new writer for the The Herald. She studies English (Nonfiction) with a certificate in Migration Studies. She is always searching for a better bagel.



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