We’ve been waiting for this loaf to come out of the oven for a while now, but it looks like the wait is just about over. Signs advertising a new Palmieri’s Bakery went up in the windows at 247 Main Street last July. One baby and some construction delays later, owner Theresa Meresi went before the Town Council Monday night for a victualing license and she said she hopes to open April 1. 

“Is it the same Palmieri’s bread I grew up with?” asked Councilman Jeff Cianciolo. 

Meresi said it was. 

The Council approved the new victualing license 5-0.

Meresi is NOT a Palmieri. She bought the Providence bakery from the Palmieri family in 2006, then set about expanding the business, which was started way back in 1898. In addition to the original Ridge Street shop – where all the bread baking is done – there is now a Palmieri’s on DePasquale Square off Atwells Avenue on Federal Hill. That spot is more cafe than bakery. Meresi said the EG shop will be a bit of both, with some tables and chairs, coffee drinks and crepes, along with the baked goods.

Why Main Street in East Greenwich?

“I had customers coming to Ridge Street saying, ‘You have to open in East Greenwich,’” said Meresi, who said she’d always liked the idea. Then, “a customer actually called me and said, ‘A sign went up.’ I came down here and it was the Raw Bob’s spot [next door].”

That space was too small but then she learned Symposium Books next door was going to be moving (to 1000 Division Street). 

“We walked over and I said, ‘I’ll take it,’” Meresi said. “So, we just rented it.”

That was July. Symposium moved out, the windows were covered in brown paper proclaiming the coming of Palmieri’s and nothing much else seemed to be happening. Turns out, plenty was happening. Soon after she signed the lease, Meresi had a baby. Meanwhile, the space needed extensive renovations to transform it into a cafe. 

So, nearly nine months later, Palmieri’s will open up – if all goes as planned – next week. Welcome to town!