Nestled at the gateway to the south side of Providence, lies an area which is a testament to the city’s cultural richness and resilience. Trinity Square is defined by the triangular convergence of Elmwood Avenue and Broad Street, with key landmarks such as Grace Church Cemetery and Trinity United Methodist Church. Trinity Square was listed on the National Register of Historic places in 1980.
Despite facing socioeconomic and infrastructure challenges in previous decades, Trinity Square has been a significant cultural and economic corridor in Providence. There is a strong palpable energy of renewal and positive change, fueled by its residents and businesses.
At the heart of unifying the diverse interests of the neighborhood is Trinity Square Together, a coalition of residents, elected officials, law enforcement, and businesses. “Trinity Square Together is a mosaic of different businesses, organizations, residents, education systems, and schools. We are trying to bring people together to focus on priorities we can unite over and bring about positive change,” said Percy Ballah, coordinator for Trinity Square Together.
The Trinity Square Together coalition has a bold vision for the neighborhood, “We want to focus on safety, events for the community, economic vitality, infrastructure, opportunities for people and access to services.” Percy recognizes achieving this vision will take time and effort, but he also calls it a “beautiful challenge” and has already observed shifts in the ways people work together for the better.
One of the main events Trinity Square Together recently hosted is “Taste of Trinity,” which celebrates the neighborhood’s diverse array of restaurants. On March 1st, Taste of Trinity was held at 404 Broad Street, Southside Community Land Trust’s office and Healthy Food Hub. For just $15 per person, attendees feasted on nearly a dozen restaurants’ generous tastings of their signature dishes.
Toyin African Café (45D Central Street), a west African restaurant, presented “Kala” (also known as Puff Puff), a light, fluffy fried dough alongside succulent fried chicken and savory African jollof rice. Toyin was encouraged by her church community to share her culinary gifts with a wider audience and has since had her business for three years.
Black Beans PVD (404 Broad Street) serves farm-to-table soul food. Adena “Bean” Marcelino, a former social services professional, is passionate about culturally relevant, accessible food to underserved communities. Her farm-to-table soul food, such as homemade pickles (tomato, carrot, watermelon rind) and tender pulled chicken sandwiches on homemade fluffy buns, is a culinary delight.
El Eden Cuisine (337 Broad Street) ensured that the hearty, vibrant flavors of Dominican food were on full display. They served generous portions of pernil (pronounced “per kneel”, seasoned pulled pork), stewed chicken, yellow rice and beans.
Asian Bakery (310 Broad Street) is a renowned local institutional for banh mi, a Vietnamese-French fusion sandwich featuring crispy baguettes filled with savory meats, pickled vegetables, and fragrant herbs. At Taste of Trinity, their crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, fried chicken was a crowd favorite.
There is a plethora of other restaurants in Trinity Square that were featured such as Zeneida Restaurant (Dominican), The Classic Café (American diner), Rainbow Water (smoothies, boba, and beverages), and Island House (Jamaican) Deddeh’s Kitchen, and D’s Spot.
Trinity Square may receive less fanfare than Providence’s more well-trodden commercial districts like Federal Hill, Down City, or the Jewelry district. But it boasts a remarkable culinary richness and neighborhood spirit. This part of the city offers a unique food journey, from West African to soul food, to Caribbean, and south Asian. Although Taste of Trinity is held only about once per year, these gems provide a genuine taste of Providence’s diverse communities in a dynamic urban experience all year round.
Amber Ma lives on the west end of Providence with her husband and two cats. She loves gardening, shopping at farmers markets, and cooking with local and homegrown ingredients. She is also passionate about transit, sustainability, and pollinators. She is a volunteer at the Community Cat Center in Johnston. She and her husband went car-free in 2022 and are always exploring new restaurants in the city by foot, bike, or bus.
