WBOB Original Reads

5 Companies that Need to Open in Rhode Island Yesterday

2/20/2019

Tyler Salk

We are known as “Little Rhody” for a reason. Many states have individual counties bigger than the entire state, and one can drive across the state from border to border in minutes -- not hours. Everyone seems to know everyone, and everyone shares the same experiences.

But once we Rhode Islanders get a taste of the outside life, is when everyone wants “Little Rhody” to make big changes, and add some new local businesses.

We were teased by Sonic commercials, and their deals on shakes, burgers, fries. Everything sounded so good... and looked even better on television.

As bad for you as it might be, when Smithfield brought the first Sonic to the Ocean State, the line went into the street for weeks. Rhode Islanders bought the hype. And we loved it. The same was true when the first Rhody-based Chick-Fil-A opened in Warwick.

We have those places. We have a Dairy Queen that’s not a part of the mall. But there’s too much that other parts of the country enjoy that we still don’t have.

Here are 5 companies that we need to move to R.I. yesterday

5. Taïm

In the fast-casual boom, we’re seeing all sorts of new additions where customized assembly happens right before your eyes. Look, I’ve never heard of this place before doing my research either, but the NY based chain has just began to expand outside of Manhattan, and has already taken the world by storm. Voted New York’s best falafel in 2012, the Mediterranean establishment would add a new taste into the local communities. So many Rhode Islanders have never even had falafel before. Taïm can change that. Any falafel place would do, but this was the one featured in business insider.

Closest location to Rhode Island: 164 miles

4. Cinnabon

Doctors say to try to avoid the empty calories. But when that bread and sugar is mixed with cinnamon and icing, can you really go wrong? For your stomach? Of course. But for your mouth? Absolutely not. Cinnamon buns are a delicacy, and an important part of any diet that protests diets. If you've broken your New Year's resolutions, which by now you should have, a Cinnabon in RI is a no brainer.

Closest location to RI: 33 miles

3. White Castle

I hear the food is a little overrated too. Mostly bread with a dried out .0005 ounce portion of beef. We saw Harold and Kumar’s adventure. With all of the struggles they were willing to go to just to go to a White Castle, I cannot think of a more American burger there is. Trying one should be mandatory for citizenship.

Closest location to RI: 116 miles

2. CiCi’s Pizza

Rhode Island is as Italian as it gets outside of Italy. I’m well aware. A chain restaurant’s pizza? It’ll never live up to the authentic goods. But pizza is basically a drug. It’s addictive and it can make you feel all kinds of great ways which might be illegal. Make it endless, and tease me with commercials? I won’t get a proper night’s sleep until my nightmares of not having endless pizza are over.

Closest location to RI: 204 miles

Honorable mentions

Based on nominations: Wingstop, Arby's, Waffle House, In & Out, Hooters

1. Krispy Kreme

“‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” That’s what they say, but when that love is ripped out of the state and vanishes without any closure on what might have been the best relationship of your life? Losing the best donuts known to mankind has left a hole in the heart of all of Rhody. It might’ve been a messy breakup, but Krispy Kreme is welcomed back with no hard feelings whatsoever. Come back. We miss you.

Closest location to RI: 40 miles

Maybe if we had some of these places, Lincoln Chafee would have stayed?