Best of Rhode Island 2020
While the pandemic changed life as we knew it, we’ve still got a lot to celebrate. Check out this list of do-good Rhode Islanders with whom we are lucky to share this place we call home, plus the results of our annual readers’ poll.
Providence Bagel
Bagel-backed giving with a schmear
Providence Bagel’s drive-through cold brew kept us going through the coronavirus-related shutdown. But, behind the scenes, owner Chris Wietecha was spreading the wealth like cream cheese on a toasted bagel. He loaned out his Providence window to pop-ups and drew in more than $25,000 for the Rhode Island Feeds Our Heroes initiative, which raised money for the purchase of area restaurant gift cards for local frontline workers. We caught up with Wietecha to learn more.
Rhode Island Monthly: Why did you open the drive-through to popups?
Chris Wietecha: When I started seeing these pop up businesses and food trucks posting on Instagram that they had to cancel all their events, the lightbulb went off. We have a space, we had limited our hours, and using the drive-through was a really safe option for pop ups. I contacted a friend [Jamie Buscher] who is involved in a lot in Rhode Island and we started moving on the opportunity quickly.
RIM: You also launched RI Feeds Our Heroes; could you tell us about that?
C.W.: This one hits home most for me. My wife is an ICU nurse in Boston and when COVID first hit, along with the worries of Providence Bagel came the worries of her. We were very stressed and worried for our family. I always knew our frontline were true heroes, but they have really shined through this whole pandemic. I thought, how can I help these frontline workers? I also was very nervous for all the other restaurants in the area. I wanted to help them too. And then somehow, I thought, wait: I can help both of these groups at once. We decided, let’s raise funds, purchase gift cards from local businesses and drop them off at local hospitals to give out to staff members. Jim Nellis from RI Food Fights and Robin Dionne from RI VegFest helped spearhead this one with me and it has been very successful.
RIM: When you’re already doing something — and well, we might add; best everything bagel around! — why take on more? What’s your motivation?
C.W.: From day one, part of my mission has been to give back. The community supports me, so I need to do the same. I like to get creative, though, and do fun things. I know how difficult this pandemic has been for everyone, but helping out where I can truly makes me feel good. I want our company to be known as a part of Rhode Island. This pandemic has pushed me to another level both personally and on a business level and I am very excited to see the other side. providencebagel.com —Casey Nilsson
