Newport Creamery Sold to Cape Cod Developer

New owner plans to replace iconic ice cream shop with upscale retail at Garden City Center

Mar. 30, 2026 at 9:06pm

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A high-end, photorealistic studio still-life photograph featuring a vintage glass milk bottle, a classic metal ice cream scoop, and a crumpled paper menu against a clean, monochromatic seamless background, symbolizing the loss of a beloved local business.The sale of the iconic Newport Creamery to a developer signals the end of an era for this beloved local institution.Newport Today

The iconic Newport Creamery restaurant chain has been sold to Cape Cod real estate developer Mark Bogosian. Bogosian, who owns the Garden City Center in Cranston, Rhode Island where the Creamery has been located for decades, plans to replace the beloved ice cream shop with more upscale retail options, drawing criticism from locals who say it won't be the same without the Creamery.

Why it matters

The Newport Creamery has been a fixture in the Garden City Center for generations, serving as a community gathering spot and offering classic New England ice cream and diner fare. Its sale and planned replacement by the new owner signals the continued transformation of the retail landscape in Rhode Island, with locally-owned legacy businesses giving way to national chains and high-end shopping.

The details

Mark Bogosian, the owner of the Garden City Center in Cranston, Rhode Island, has purchased the Newport Creamery restaurant chain and plans to replace the iconic ice cream shop with more upscale retail options at the shopping center. The Creamery has been a tenant at Garden City Center for decades, but Bogosian believes the property would be better served by higher-end stores and restaurants that can draw more affluent shoppers to the area.

  • The Newport Creamery has been a fixture at the Garden City Center for decades.
  • The sale of the Creamery to developer Mark Bogosian was announced on March 30, 2026.

The players

Mark Bogosian

A Cape Cod-based real estate developer who owns the Garden City Center in Cranston, Rhode Island where the Newport Creamery has been located for many years.

Newport Creamery Restaurants LLC

The company that owns the iconic Newport Creamery restaurant chain, which has been sold to developer Mark Bogosian.

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What they’re saying

“The Newport Creamery has been a community institution for generations. It's disappointing to see it replaced by more generic retail options.”

— Samantha Wilkins, Cranston resident

What’s next

Bogosian has not yet announced specific plans for the redevelopment of the Garden City Center site, but locals expect the Newport Creamery to close in the coming months to make way for new upscale retail.

The takeaway

The sale of the Newport Creamery is the latest example of how changing consumer preferences and the growth of national retail chains are transforming the character of Rhode Island's shopping centers, often at the expense of long-standing local businesses that have served their communities for decades.