Eating, Dancing, Drinking, Applauding: Providence’s Nightlife Economy is Big Business for the City

A few weeks ago, the Mayor’s office and the Providence Department of Art, Culture and Tourism released a comprehensive analysis of the city’s nightlife economy—specifically, Providence’s many restaurants, bars and clubs, and performance venues. The report, titled “Life at Night in the Creative Capital,” focuses on businesses that operate outside of traditional 9 to 5 work hours, in the evening through the early morning hours.

The report notes that while one-third of Life at Night employees work a late shift (past 9pm), current RIPTA routes are not viable options for late-night employees, with most lines ending service around 9:30pm at the latest. In an attempt to create improved transportation options, the city announced a partnership with Spin, providing reduced fares on scooters and bikes for late night workers. Additionally, the city announced that Uber has invested “$5,000 to launch a pilot initiative supporting nightlife employees.”

Nighttime in Providence has lots of opportunities and challenges beyond just transportation.  It’s exciting that the city is considering ways to capitalize on it.  Here are some of the numbers about Providence’s Life at Night that stood out in the report:

• 301 people per venue — PVD has more nightlife establishments per person than New York City (which has 360 per venue)
• 7900+ jobs are in the Life at Night Economy
• 30% of Rhode Island’s bars and clubs are in Providence; 20% of RI’s restaurants are in Providence; 26% of RI performance venues are in PVD — despite Providence making up only 17% percent of the state’s population
• $47 million +: the amount of RI State Annual Tax Revenue generated by Providence’s nightlife economy
• 64%: employees within the Life at Night economy who work part-time
• Almost half (47%) of nightlife business report that their current revenue levels remains below pre-pandemic levels
• Two-thirds of restaurant revenue is generated on the weekend; meanwhile three-quarters of revenues at bars and clubs is made on the weekend
• 77%: amount of PVD nightlife businesses’ revenue earned after 5pm
• One in four surveyed nightlife establishments cited access to capital as a major operational challenge. Notably, 56% of Black-owned businesses cited access to capital as a major challenge, along with 42% of women-owned businesses and 38% of LGBTQ+-owned businesses
• Providence’s 632 Life at Night businesses generate nearly $620 million in collective annual revenue

Dana Schneider is a writer and poet living in South Providence with her cat named Froggy. She enjoys gardening, reading, and hanging out in Providence’s many beautiful parks.