The Buzz
RHODY GEM
By Abbie Lahmers
C&R Mercantile Specialty Grocer
We’re on the hunt for Rhody Gems! Every neighborhood has that secret, hidden, cool and unusual, or hole-in-the-wall spot that locals love. Email or tag us on social media using #RhodyGem to suggest yours, and we might just feature it!
What it is: This neighborhood mercantile has been sourcing specialty food, fresh flowers, and gifts locally and from afar since 2016. Where to find it: Along the red, white, and blue-striped High Street where it meets Church Street, watch for this 200-square-foot nook with a window display decked in flowers and fresh wares. What makes it a Rhody Gem? Most towns don’t have an old-timey mercantile anymore, but it’s only fitting that Bristol, the most patriotic town, would have C&R paying homage to that bygone era of early American history. But don’t be fooled by the vintage facade: This shop stocks the latest foodie products from the likes of businesses that come out of the Hope & Main incubator kitchen, like Beth Bakes and Farm Town Tonics, plus fresh goods from Farm Fresh RI and pantry staples from all over the country. Owner Denise Nehez curates a selection of charcuterie items like fresh meat and cheese, and flowers from Little State Flower Co. in Tiverton. If a neighborhood market’s worth is measured by testaments from the community, one patron shares, “Everything is top-notch healthy, and Denise’s floral arrangements are unique and beautiful,” while another insists it’s “the true essence of a nostalgic mercantile.”
C&R Mercantile 219 High Street, Bristol 401-297-8199 Facebook: C&R Mercantile
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The Bay • July 2021
