NORTH PROVIDENCE – Walk up to the rear door at the Woodward Road Social Club around 4:45 p.m. and there’s often someone there at the picnic table patiently waiting for Paulie Falso to arrive.
The 4:30 opening time here is more of a suggestion, as the regulars are well aware, but the wait is more than worth it, say those who have been coming here for decades.
At the center of the operation is Falso, whose soft voice and assured demeanor help give a feeling that this unassuming establishment might be stuck in time forever.
Located at the busy intersection of Woodward Road and Mineral Spring Avenue in North Providence, the club is frequently mistaken to be closed. It looks so small from the outside, Falso concedes, that newcomers will comment how they didn’t think there would be enough room to sit down.
Once inside, however, they learn that it’s slightly larger than it looks from the street.
“It’s simple and cozy, and that’s what everyone says,” said Falso.
Ask this nearly 80-year-old how long he intends to keep this family operation open, and he’s quick with an answer.
“As long as I have my health,” he said, and as long as the people keep coming.
The recipe for longevity, Falso told The Local Insider, is to treat everyone with kindness and make them all feel at home and like they belong. He remembers exactly what they want to drink, and they don’t have issues because the customers know what’s expected here (three strikes, you’re out) and he’s always ready to de-escalate if a situation arises.
The sign outside sends the message of what to expect here, featuring two people shaking hands and the slogan “friends being friends.” Falso says he sees himself as the glue and facilitator for development of friendships, not the central attraction.
The atmosphere here is more close-knit than wanting a lot of outsiders to come in, says Falso, though they do accept newcomers. An Italian through and through, he says he remains a big fan of North Providence and its ever-increasing diversity.
The main parking lot for the club is located beyond the house next door to it on Woodward Road. That family home was built 100 years ago this year. The club, originally built by his grandfather Vito Pomposelli around the time the home was built, was chartered as a membership establishment in the 1950s. Falso’s uncles, Joseph and Carmino, returned from the war to run the club.
The building was first a barbershop, starting in the 1920s, then later became a garage before transitioning to a bar.
Falso took over the club in 1979 following his grandfather’s death, and has been operating it ever since. New and younger working-class members have helped keep the club vibrant through the decades, said Falso. That ability to have a new generation discover this place to decompress after work has been especially helpful in a world where so many other of the old-time social clubs have disappeared, he said.
Now a Centredale resident, he previously lived with his wife and children in a home across the street from the club. He said it’s shocking sometimes to realize how much time has gone by, as he sees customers come in who were once children in the neighborhood.
Their entire life has been based in this club, he said, and the memories they’ve made and relationships they’ve built here will live beyond them.
The decor and equipment has changed little over the years, but there are some notable differences from the early years, including women being welcome and the lack of cigarette and cigar smoke. Among the draft beer options is one marked Schlitz, which is just for show.
Food options are limited, but thanks to a microwave, Falso can produce hot wieners or pierogi in a couple of minutes. A pair of wieners and a ‘Gansett come in at $6 flat.
Many people find them by accident, but then they stay, says Falso. He said he’s just fine with that arrangement.
