Tesla is set to establish a significant regional hub in Providence, Rhode Island, according to the property’s future landlord, Joseph R. Paolino Jr.
The new hub, located at the former Stop & Shop site in the Mashapaug Commons Plaza, will feature a repair facility, a retail sales area, and a delivery center. Over the past few months, Paolino’s company has been retrofitting the old grocery store to meet Tesla’s needs, including installing a new roof, garage door, and HVAC system, reports the Boston Globe.
Tesla is expected to take over the renovation work soon, with plans to open its doors in early 2024.
The announcement of the new hub, dubbed “Plug Into Providence,” will be made at a news conference on Tuesday, where a ceremonial plugging-in of a Tesla vehicle will take place.
Paolino, a former mayor of the city, believes that this development will significantly benefit the Reservoir Triangle area. “I think it’s a great infusion of dollars and job creation and activity that can help sustain that neighborhood,” he said.
The new 76,000-square-foot Providence location will be one of the largest Tesla locations in the New England market, according to Paolino’s company. This comes as Rhode Island is set to adopt California’s zero-emissions vehicle standards, making electric vehicles increasingly common on the state’s roads.
Paolino credited the Biden and McKee administrations’ initiatives towards vehicle electrification, such as building a network of charging stations, for attracting Tesla to the region. “I’m not trying to be political in this, it’s just a fact,” Paolino said. “This stuff is happening.”
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