Vermont-Based Clothing Store CoCo Goose Finds a New Home on Providence’s East Side
The store has quickly earned a following among fashionable Rhode Islanders.
Photography by Sarah Barnes/Sarah Virgina Co.
Housed in a brick storefront with floor-to-ceiling windows on a busy section of Wayland Avenue, Coco Goose’s square footage is mainly devoted to the latest premium denim from mid-rise to wide-leg styles in every shade range as well as an array of sweaters, dresses, blazers, footwear and accessories.
Coco Goose first opened in spring 2023 in a smaller space next to the old Wayland Square Diner.
Coco Goose owner Mary Lou Baraw features classic on-trend clothing and accessories such as premium denim, blazers, leather handbags and fashion accessories in her East Side store. Photography by Sarah Barnes/Sarah Virgina Co.
“It quickly became apparent to us that we would best serve our Providence customers with a much larger space that would showcase more of our brands (about 150 of them) and include all the categories we offer,” says founder and owner Mary Lou Baraw.
The new space is open and well-lit with large tables highlighting the latest on-trend items, lots of wall space to display a variety of footwear such as sneakers by Autry and leather boots by Frye, colorful sweatshirts by Aviator Nation and great everyday basics.
While Baraw is no stranger to retail, the Providence store is her first brick-and-mortar location outside of Vermont. After working jobs in management, marketing and merchandising, she switched gears and co-opened a store with a friend in Stowe, Vermont. From there, she launched her own store in 2009 called Green Envy. She now owns five stores — four in Vermont, including Manchester, Stowe and Burlington — all with an active online presence.
Photography by Sarah Barnes/Sarah Virgina Co.
Customers from Rhode Island and in Baraw’s Stowe community were always advocating for her to open up a shop in Providence. “Two of these customers became instrumental in us opening, helping with the location and connections in the Providence area,” she says. “With that help and connection, I did not hesitate to be part of the vibrant, cosmopolitan community.”
The store has quickly earned a following among fashionable Rhode Islanders familiar with the brands carried, which range from Veronica Beard and Ulla Johnson to Pistola and Agolde.
“We have heard again and again Providence needs more good shops and we are helping fill that need,” Baraw says.
“We are always excited about curating a collection for the person who loves fashion and keeps her wardrobe current,” she says. “We love it when our customer says they wear their Coco Goose pieces all the time. Not pieces you wear once, but often.” shopcocogoose.com
Photography by Sarah Barnes/Sarah Virgina Co.
