Meet the New Owners of RiffRaff
Two familiar faces take over a beloved bookstore in Providence's Olneyville neighborhood.
Frequent customers Ottavia De Luca and Lucas Mann took over ownership of Riffraff last year. Photography by Wolf Matthewson
Ottavia De Luca and Lucas Mann have been visiting Riffraff since before the beloved bookstore-and-bar combo opened off Valley Street in 2017. The couple helped former owners Tom Roberge and Emma Ramadan stock the shelves with books and spent countless afternoons wandering through the courtyard with their now five-year-old daughter during the pandemic.
Mann, a writer and English professor, and De Luca, who works in the wine industry, moved to Providence in 2013. They met Roberge and Ramadan and quickly became friends during a double date at the Scurvy Dog a year or so before Riffraff’s official opening. Besides helping stock the shelves and contributing to bookish restroom wallpaper choices, the couple also held their baby shower in the space. “We’ve always loved coming in here. It’s a good energy for something like a baby shower,” says De Luca. “The bookstore side brings more of a calm energy, but you can still have a party in here because it’s very much a bar.”
Riffraff – Tom Weyman. Photography by Wolf Matthewson
When Riffraff went up for sale last year, friends nudged the couple to make a move, saying they were the ideal duo to take over the space.
“I’ve been wanting to own a business for a long time, and having one that already exists that has all the things I love in it — books, wine and an amazing community — felt like the perfect fit, and we couldn’t pass up the opportunity,” De Luca says.
They both order newly released books each season, while Mann plans events like author readings and theme parties. De Luca oversees the bar operations, creating and updating the cocktail menu and taking on other tasks alongside staff members.
The pair say they are heartened to see the outpouring of support they’ve received for the new venture, adding that Roberge and Riffraff manager Victoria Forsberg-Lary made the transition seamless.
They plan on adding more wine and food to the menu, as well as receptions, literary trivia, open mic nights and live music.
“This is the place to come and do interesting things around people in your community,” Mann says. 60 Valley St., Suite 107A, Providence, 421-4371, riffraffpvd.com
Riffraff – Owner Octavia De Luca. Photography by Wolf Matthewson
