The City of Warwick is the perfect choice - by Frank Picozzi

The late summer sky was bright and the mood festive at the family-friendly “Best in Town” event at Rhode Island’s first Floor & Décor store. Those looking to make some home improvements strolled through the warehouse, admiring the well-stocked aisles, fair prices, and quality materials. Others had stopped by in the hopes of winning the Million Dollar Dice Roll. A happy dog sat patiently alongside his owner, his tail wagging frantically as he accepted many head pats and scratches behind the ears from others waiting their turn in line. Outside, a local radio station was raffling off prizes, and several local businesses, including a sweets shop, florist, coffee shop, and a dog bakery, handed out samples.

The atmosphere was just as upbeat two days earlier, when city officials joined representatives from the Atlanta-based retailer for a ribbon cutting to formally welcome the new local management and members of the team of roughly 50 full- and part-time employees to their new home at 300 Quaker Ln. Founded in 2000, the company is a leading high-growth specialty retailer of hard-surface flooring, operating more than 230 warehouse-format stores and five design studios across 36 states. The stores offer homeowners and professionals the industry’s broadest in-stock selection of tile, wood, natural stone, and laminate and luxury vinyl plank under one roof. In addition, Floor & Décor stocks the necessary tools, decorative materials, wall tile, and related accessories for hard-surface flooring projects.

The city has also recently welcomed the Veterinary Emergency Group to 989 Centerville Rd. The brand-new building now stands in the place of the former TGI Friday’s restaurant. The VEG, as it’s called colloquially, provides walk-in services for emergencies, urgent care, diagnostics/testing, surgery, point-of-care ultrasound, X-rays, end-of-life care, treatment and hospitalization. Founded in 2014 by CEO Dr. David Bessler and president David Glattstein, the company prides itself on a holistic approach to ER care in order to make it a better experience for pets and pet parents alike. An open floor plan lets clients see everything and take part in their pet’s care, and they can stay with the pet throughout the visit, even holding their patient during treatment if it makes the process less stressful. Warwick is the VEG’s first Rhode Island location, joining more than 80 other VEGs throughout the U.S.

Over at the All American Assisted Living facility on Toll Gate Rd., South Coast Improvement Co. has completed a $550,000 renovation project to accommodate a new memory-care wing. The work included demolition of common areas, replacing flooring, and upgrading interior units, as well as converting the former library and bar into a modern, new multi-purpose room, transforming a lounge into a contemporary library, and building two new lounges on the second floor. A new dining hall with amenities and kitchen replaced an old arts and crafts room and reconfigured restrooms and the conversion of a fitness room into a doctor’s suite were also included in the scope of work. Finally, the art room, main lobby, salon, and a garden area were redesigned to create a welcoming, open-concept design. The garden area in particular, with its stately pergola, comfy chairs, and seasonal plantings, offers a welcoming place to sit, and enjoy the outdoors.

Whether you’re a business that’s just getting started, a long-established company looking to have a presence in Rhode Island, or an Ocean State company looking for another location, Warwick’s the perfect choice. Centrally located in the heart of New England, and with convenient access to air, rail, and the highway, the city is a great place in which to do business. Visit movetowarickri.com, email econ.dir@warwickri.gov, or call (401) 738-2014 to find out more.

Frank Picozzi is the mayor of the city of Warwick, R.I.