An original Benny’s sign arrives at American Sign Museum

ContributorSeptember 22, 20252 Mins read6

CINCINNATI, O.H. — A Benny’s beloved sign has officially found its new home at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio. After years of shining brightly and welcoming customers, the sign made its journey to the museum, where it will now be preserved as part of the nation’s largest collection of historic signage.

The 1960s sign is 6’ x 20’, weighs between 800 to 1,000 pounds and was located at the Benny’s Store on Route 2 in Warwick from 1966 to 1989. sign represented a chain that Benjamin Bromberg started in 1924 that grew to 32 stores in Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Massachusetts by the time of its closure in 2017.

For many, Benny’s sign wasn’t just an advertisement, it was a landmark, a symbol of community, and a reminder of countless memories tied to the business it represented.

Seeing it lifted and brought into the museum’s collection marked the end of one chapter and the beginning of another, ensuring that future generations will be able to experience its charm.

At the museum, Benny’s sign will sit alongside other iconic pieces of Americana, each telling a story of design, craftsmanship, and culture. The arrival is not only a tribute to Benny’s legacy but also a celebration of how signage shapes the way we connect with places and with each other.

The History of Benny’s:

Benjamin Bromberg founded the first Benny’s store in Providence on November 9, 1924. Just five years later, the company expanded to East Providence, and by 1931, Benny’s crossed state lines with a store in Taunton, Massachusetts. The original Providence store’s site is now occupied by the Providence Journal building, but Benny’s growth continued steadily throughout the 20th century.

In 1965, the Esmond Mill was converted into the company’s corporate headquarters. After Bromberg’s passing in 1966, leadership passed to his son Malcolm, who guided the chain through a period of further expansion. Stores began sprouting across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, reaching as far as Cape Cod.

The company’s history was not without setbacks. In 1968, a fire destroyed the East Greenwich store, though Benny’s quickly rebuilt. Over the decades, the brand became a household name, known for its distinctive red-and-white signs and reputation as “the store where you buy lots of things.” The last new location opened in Killingly, Connecticut, in 2005.

But on September 8, 2017, the Bromberg family announced that all 31 stores would close by year’s end. The announcement sparked controversy among employees, some of whom said they learned of the closures only through social media. The Cranston store on Park Avenue, which had operated since 1938, was the oldest location at the time of closure. On December 11, 2017, the final store in Greenville, Rhode Island, shut its doors for good. Shortly afterward, 29 of the vacant properties were acquired by the Carpionato Group, a Johnston-based development company.

Benny’s locations in Rhode Island: