The future of the White Electric Coffee shop, which had been facing uncertainty because of a landlord-tenant dispute, is looking considerably brighter after a pair of like-minded community activists helped proprietors Tonya Langford and Jed Arkley find a new home in a mixed-use development on Westminster Street in Providence. "They really came in and helped to save our ass," says Arkley, referring to Jim DeRentis and Dan Cady, owners of the former Abingdon Hotel. "It was really fortuitous to be working with them."

DeRentis, who knew Arkley from their service as board members of the West Broadway Neighborhood Association, says he and his partner wanted to help White Electric particularly because of the coffee shop's support for a variety of community-based efforts. "When Dan and I learned about what was going on and the effect of the sale [of White Electric's building on Broadway], we were anxious to help any way we could," DeRentis says.

With help from a $125,000 low-interest loan from the Providence Economic Development Corporation, Arkley and Langford were able to buy their future storefront location at 711 Westminster St. (the same space recently used by the Craftland holiday gift shop), part of Cady and DeRentis' residential-retail development in the West Side neighborhood near Classical High School. Plans call for closing the coffee shop's Broadway location at the end of February and opening the larger new spot, three blocks away, shortly thereafter.

As part of the change, local artists and musicians have organized to help defray some of White Electric's moving expenses. On the evening of Friday, January 24, more than 25 Providence artists will display their work at the future Westminster Street location. A day later, on Saturday, January 25, at 8 p.m. International Pen Pal, Pleasurehorse, Mahi Mahi, the Eyesores, and the Deterrents will play during a benefit concert at Monohasset Mill, 532 Kinsley Avenue. Although the departure from White Electric's idiosyncratic initial space won't be without some sadness, Arkley and Langford are looking to the future with renewed enthusiasm.

Ian Donnis can be reached at idonnis[a]phx.com.

Issue Date: January 24 - 30, 2003