Pushed out of RI Mall, First Place Sports reopens on Airport Road
By: Chris Hogan
For 19 years, Frank and Pam Silva commuted to the Rhode Island Mall. As of Saturday, they have a five-minute drive to their location and are hopeful their customers will find their new store just as accessible.
On Saturday, with a crowd to cheer them on, the Silvas held the grand re-opening of First Place Sports at 87Airport Rd. A ribbon cutting was held during the day and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian was on hand to witness what Frank said was an exciting time for the Silvas. The event included discounted items, refreshments and a raffle.
In March, the reason for the move came as a surprise; a customer asked Frank if he knew that the mall would shut down on May 22. Silva said he immediately contacted the mall manager and was informed that the closing date was pushed up to April 30.
Frank admitted handling the news wasn’t easy.
“It was very tough. When I first heard it, I heard it from a person that came into my store and asked me where I was going to and I didn’t know I was leaving,” he said. “A lot of them [customers] showed up [during that time] and were very kind and supportive.”
Frank found the new location. He had been driving by it on his way to the mall for years and saw the space was available. He got together with the owners, Bill and Jane Tuttle, who own Shane Awards in the same building, to figure out a plan on how their store would best fit in that location.
“They were all for me coming, and I want to see if this [area], which is not a prime retail area, and look at all aspects of the locations before I made a final decision because this one was always in the back of my head,” Silva said. “They made it an easy transition and are the nicest people.”
Pam mentioned that she and Frank put in around 58 hours per week operating the store.
“We split the shifts at times but we mostly work together running the store, and are the only ones that run it,” she said.
All four of the major sports leagues, MLB, NHL, NBA and NFL, are represented in the store. Some of the better selling items are Red Sox and Yankees apparel, including “New ERA” fitted hats and licensed player shirts.
Frank worked in a variety of roles when the store opened as Merle Harmon’s Fan Fair in 1987, before Silva bought the business and renamed it First Place Sports in 1992. Frank said his store is different from other places.
“If you have never been to my store before, we carry a wide variety of teams that has made us survive for all these years,” Silva said, adding he has goods you probably won’t find anywhere else around.
Now that the store is ready for business, Frank has high hopes; including the continuing support of longtime customers, attracting new patrons and listening to any feedback he gets.
“I loved sports all my life, and it’s in my blood now, and I don’t really see myself doing anything else,” Silva said. “I just appreciate all the good wishes from the people, our past customers, their families and friends.”
