Goodbye, Benny’s… {Guest Post}

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Fifteen years ago, I made Rhode Island my home, and I quickly learned three important things about
the smallest State in the Union –
1. It is a rare occurrence to meet someone with whom you don’t already share a mutual
acquaintance,
2. Driving any further than 15 minutes to a destination is cause for people to ask, “You drove ALL
the way from…?” and,
3. If you need anything, you can get it at Benny’s.

As a young, single woman, Benny’s was my go-to for just about everything: laundry baskets, cleaning
supplies, a dehumidifier for the basement room I was renting whose walls had become adorned with
mildew (don’t worry – my landlord paid me back). I could get just about anything I needed without
having to to go “all the way” to Walmart (yes, I adapted to that aspect of living here pretty quickly).
Then, I met my husband, and Benny’s was there every step of the way. Mixing bowls, small kitchen
appliances, and drying racks – everything we needed for our home was right there, just a quick car ride
away.

But it was when we started a family that I truly began to appreciate the wonderful convenience of
Benny’s. When I needed a baby gate to keep my kids out of the kitchen, Benny’s was there. When I
needed a toy vacuum cleaner because my son really wanted to “help” me clean, Benny’s was there.
When we wanted a water table for the kids to use instead of running the bathroom sink to keep them
entertained for hours on end without jacking up our water bill, who was there? That’s right – Benny’s.
If your child showed you an invitation on Friday afternoon for a birthday party on Saturday, where did
you go to get a last minute present? Benny’s! When your kid’s boogie board broke in the middle of
August, where did you stop on the way to the beach to pick up a new one? I think you know.

Benny’s was there for it all, the whole year round, for every season. There was rarely a week that went
by that I didn’t stop in at Benny’s for something. From bicycles and helmets, to board games and
bubbles. From beach chairs and umbrellas, to flip-flops and sunscreen. From Christmas presents, to
Christmas decorations, to storage for those decorations. I look around my house, and there isn’t a room
in it that doesn’t contain something I bought at Benny’s.

It always makes me sad to see a family business close its doors. I know that the world is a much
different place than it was years ago, especially in terms of local businesses. But as inexpensive as big-
box stores are, and as convenient as shopping on the Internet can be, when a local business closes, it
makes me think. As a mom, I love finding a bargain, and I love convenience, but I also try to do my
part by buying local, even if it costs just a few more dollars.

So, goodbye, Benny’s. You will truly be missed!

 

 

Sarah Jean lives in New England with her husband and two wonderful children whom she loves dearly, in small increments throughout the day, in between their whining, crying, screaming, and fighting. She writes about it to make herself laugh. You can find more from her on momtruthbomb.com.

 

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