‘Spook-tacular’ Halloween display in Smithfield remembers businesses of the past

SMITHFIELD, R.I. (WLNE) — A Smithfield man is honoring businesses that many people knew and loved, but are no longer open with a unique Halloween display.

After all, your favorite store closing down can be pretty scary.

“It was kind of an idea I had to pay tribute to Benny’s — so I started out with Benny’s and Toys R Us and it kind of grew from there as businesses closed, or popped in my head or got suggested,” Joshua Patenaude told ABC 6 News.

Patenaude said he first got the idea in 2021, to honor various so called ‘dead’ businesses with a graveyard for Halloween. The display is at his home on Dean Avenue and the tombstones are all hand made out of roof insulation.

“I’ve always been a creative person so I try to incorporate that in my life,” Patenaude explained.

The display includes Blockbuster, Christmas Tree Shops, Radio Shack, and more.

“I think this is fun for the parents too, the kids get a kick out of it it’s a graveyard, but the parents have connections to these places, but I definitely like to do it for the children as well,” Patenaude continued.

Talk about a blast from the past – there’s a even a headstone honoring Rocky Point Amusement Park, which closed down in Warwick back in 1995.

“A lot of locals will remember Rocky Point,” Patenaude explained further. “It had a lot of cool things, it had a sky trim, the corkscrew roller coaster, the clam chowder house, you’d go and eat your clam chowder and clam cakes.”

Next time you’re in town, check out the “spook-tacular” display.