In an ever changing world, one regional discount chain store has evolved over the years and is still going strong despite the death of many regional department and discount stores in New England.
Those who have since gone out of business include Zayre’s of Framingham, Mass. in 1989, Caldor of Norwalk, CT in 1999, and Bradlees of New London, CT, in 2001, and Ames of Southbridge, Mass in 2002
Benny’s, opened its first store in 1924 in Downtown Providence, R.I., and has subsequently grown to 32 stores throughout southern New England.
Currently, Benny’s is headquartered out of Esmond, R.I.
It began as an automotive supply store and quickly evolved into a variety type store similar to a five-and-ten or K-mart.
Benny’s sells a wide assortment of products ranging from housewares, hardware, automotive, electronics, toys and games, bicycles/wagons, sporting goods, fishing and marine, lawn and garden, seasonal and outdoor living products.
The store does sell some limited apparel but this is not one of their specialties.
What distinguishes Benny’s from its competition is the simple fact that they sometimes sell older toys, different toys, home décor, and holiday decorations that you won’t see at their competition.
Benny’s has learned to have unique products like large black storage trunks with red snaps and a hole for a padlock, absolutely great for those heading off to college or the military.
Other products I have purchased there include large sturdy clear plastic boxes, laundry baskets, and garbage cans, all of which are better quality than those I have seen at some of their competition.
While Benny’s does not always have the cheapest price, their products tend to be of good quality and not cheaply made.
Their automotive department features name brand car and light truck tires, motor oil and filters, anti-freeze and additives, batteries and chargers, wiper blades, car cleaning and detailing supplies, floor mats and seat covers, and customizing accessories.
Their home improvement department features paints and painting supplies, power tools, hand tools, shelving and storage, hardware, bulbs, wiring, electrical, batteries, flashlights, fire safety, insulation, winterizing, shop vacs, sump pumps, shovels and ice melt.
While they do not sell products online yet, they do have an e-mail mailing list and put out weekly ads in Sunday newspapers featuring products on sale for that week including cut-out coupons.
Their website has a number of achieved television commercials including two “Benny’s, Shopping Outside the Box” commercials with a run date of December 2006 to present, one “Plenty of Parking” commercial from 1987, one “Helpful Salespeople” commercial from 1987, one “Rainchecks” commercial from 1987, one “Bloodhounds” commercial from 1983, and one “Lost Man” commercial from 1983.
If you visit, http://web.archive.org/web/20040402100805/http://hellobennys.com/index.html, you can view the “Benny’s: Your Favorite Store” television commercial that ran in the late 1990’s, early 2000’s.
At Christmas time, they release a “Book of Toys” multiple page flyer in the newspaper.
Sometimes you will see items sold at Benny’s on sale for the same price, if not cheaper, as you will find them at their competition.
Benny’s prides itself on customer service by ensuring that staff is ready and able to answer any and all questions that you have.
Their staff is usually dressed in shirts and ties or with red vests and even if they are stocking shelves, they will stop and ask if you need any help.
There usually is only a short line, if any, at the registers and clerks there will make sure that items on sale actually do ring up on sale for you.
Their Connecticut stores are located in Danielson on North Main Street, Danielson on Wauregan Road, Groton, Norwichtown, Old Saybrook, and Waterford.
While the Norwichtown and Groton stores have the traditional architecture of Benny’s, the ones in Waterford, Old Saybrook, and the Wauregan store in Danielson blends into the buildings they are in.
Benny’s features bright red shopping carts usually located outside the store or in the front lobby of the store.
Specifically, the Waterford store is located in a former A&P; Supermarket which relocated from a smaller space next door which now currently houses an Aaron’s Rental Store.
A store used to exist at 1029 Main Street in Willimantic, within walking distance to nearby Eastern Connecticut State University and the downtown Willimantic area but has since closed.
It was conveniently located within walking distance to Dunkin’ Donuts, Xtra Mart convenience store, Dairy Queen, Main Street Café/Willimantic Brewing Company restaurant/bar, and Subway.
The Willimantic Chronicle reported that the closure happened in December 2006 and that a sign in the window advised customers to visit the chain’s other Connecticut locations.
The newspaper reported that company officials said the store, which has been an institution for decades, was closed because it was determined the store was too small to display stock and take care of customers that the chain prefers.
Many former shoppers lamented they visited the store if they couldn’t find something in other stores and were not disappointed since Benny’s had different types of products.
I remember going to that Benny’s several times while attending Eastern and if you only wanted a couple of things and didn’t want to drive to Wal-Mart, it was the ultimate stop.
That particular location had a very small parking lot and the store may have performed better if it was located out of downtown and near the North Windham shopping district which currently consists of Home Depot, Wal-Mart Supercenter, Sears Hardware, Wendy’s, and three small strip shopping centers.
One of its disadvantages was its lack of evening hours, but today many Benny’s have changed and are open until 9 p.m. during Monday through Saturday and 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Rhode Island stores are located in Bristol, Coventry, Atwood Avenue in Cranston, Park Avenue in Cranston, East Greenwich, East Providence, Greenville, Middletown, Branch Avenue in Providence, a Benny’s Auto Service Center on North Main Street in Providence, Wakefield, Warwick Avenue in Warwick, West Shore Road in Warwick, and Westerly.
The Westerly location is within walking distance to a Wal-Mart store which used to be real small but is now rather large since it was converted to a 24-hour Supercenter.
Despite that, the Benny’s here still tends to do well.
Massachusetts stores are located in Dennis Port, East Wareham, Fairhaven, Fall River, Mansfield, Middleboro, North Attleboro, Plymouth, Raynham, Central Avenue in Seekonk, Taunton Avenue in Seekonk, and South Dartmouth.
Benny’s stores vary from stand-alone locations, downtowns, and shopping centers and vary between 20,000 and 60,000 square feet.
They tend to be much less crowded and have plenty of parking, even at Christmas time, than the larger box stores.
They are also a great place to shop for those who have difficulty walking through large stores like Wal-Mart Super Centers.
Currently, Benny’s stores are located in areas that compete directly with retailers such as Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Ocean State Job Lot, Christmas Tree Shoppes, home stores such as HomeGoods and automotive stores such as Advance Auto.
