Rhody Gem: The Budding Violet

March 2022

Posted

What it is:

With over 40 vendors’ wares on display, The Budding Violet sells unique, handmade, and artisan gifts while supporting makers with disabilities by creating an outlet for them to grow their businesses.

Where to find it:

Sharing a space with sister business Red, White & Brew Coffeehouse, find this North Smithfield shop on Great Road, across the street from the Urgent Care.

What makes it a Rhody Gem?

Founded around inclusion, Sheila Coyne first opened the family-owned Red, White & Brew Coffeehouse to make her son’s dream of working in food service a reality. Michael, who has autism, struggled to find employment but discovered his niche with the coffee shop. Seeing the talent in Michael’s artist and entrepreneur friends, the pair decided to open The Budding Violet (named after Michael’s great grandparents Bud and Violet) for local vendors to sell everything from handmade scarves and quilts to stuffed toys, glamorous jewelry, and original artworks. For the craft-minded, you can also peruse a vast selection of Dixie Belle chalk paint. “At The Budding Violet, we embrace inclusion and are breaking barriers for people with developmental disabilities,” says Sheila. “We’re a place where differing abilities thrive and we’re hopefully changing the way the world sees people with disabilities, one human at a time.”

The Budding Violet601 Great Road, North Smithfield

 

 

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