Places That Matter | Latinos in Rhode Island

City records show that in 1969 the Mercado Latino registered as a business on 129 Douglas Avenue in Providence. The market officially opened its doors two years later, in 1971, and was known by neighborhood residents as the International Market. Its owner at the time was Cuban refugee Nerino Sánchez. It was a family-run business with his parents and two teenage daughters helping when they could.

Later in 1971, Nerino opened the Spanish-American Restaurant next door at 131 Douglas Avenue, and attempted to manage both the market and restaurant for several months. However, it soon proved to be too much work for him and within a year, he closed the restaurant. By 1973 family friend, Marcos Anil, who was of Dominican heritage, reopened the restaurant, and managed it until 1975.

The Sánchez family business stayed in this location until 1983 when they decided moved to Elmwood Avenue to be closer to the now-established Latino community.

Read the corresponding story published in the Providence Journal by Robert Chiappinelli. ➜ oprime aqui para leer in Español