The Great Pyramid of Rhode Island | Apex Building
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- Опубликовано: 16 янв 2021
- Everyone knows about the great pyramids of Giza, but not enough people talk, or know about, the great pyramid of Rhode Island. This is the Apex building in the city of Pawtucket.
Filmed/Edited by Jason Allard
My website: www.UncomSenseMedia.com
Follow me on Instagram: @Uncomsense
Drone: DJI Mini 2 Fly More Combo
Main Camera: DJI Osmo Pocket
Photo Camera: Canon 5D Mark IV w/ Rokinon 18mm f/1.8
Editing: Final Cut Pro X w/ custom plugins
Additional footage by:
BrooklynBaller101 (Inside the Apex Building) - • Exploring Inside Apex ...
Additional photos by:
Providence Journal Archives - rb.gy/rj109v
Edward Geller Deconstructed, 2015 - rb.gy/er3vmc
Read this incredible article, ‘The Architect of Happiness’, here:
rb.gy/srni52
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Music promoted by Audio Library • Charlie Brown - Smith ...
This is an icon of the state, and a pretty controversial one. Even me saying that it’s an icon will upset some people, since the existence of the pyramid has been seen as a roadblock to the redevelopment of the city of Pawtucket. But it’s still an icon, because it’s the first thing you see when coming into the state from Massachusetts, and the last thing you see when you leave Rhode Island.
Architect Andrew Geller was the mind behind the pyramid, and he always had a unique approach to design. A WWII veteran, he crafted his designs around post-war optimism, even being referred to as the “architect of happiness”. He is mainly known for his creative beach homes built on the New York, new jersey, and Connecticut coastlines. a 1999 New York Times article called the homes "eccentrically free-form and eye-grabbing."Another article called the homes “ingenious wooden spacecraft”.
But how did he end up designing a pyramid in Pawtucket Rhode Island?
In the 1960’s Geller worked for Loewy/Snaith, a New York City architecture firm responsible for the revolutionizing the design of shopping centers and department stores across the United States, places like Macy’s, Lord and Taylor, Bloomingdales, AND….you guessed it, Apex Department Stores. They made them easily recognizable, easy to navigate, and visually pleasing.
The design of this pyramid was based on the ziggurats from ancient Mesopotamia. You know, the ones with the stone steps and temples at the top? Yeah, Pawtucket Rhode Island got its own. How amazing is that?
When this place opened over 50 years ago, the hype was real. This place was massive, eye catching, and had everything you needed. It was beloved by the people of Rhode Island, because of course it was. One of our mascots is a big blue big on the side of the highway. For real. So, a pyramid in Pawtucket just makes sense.
Apex was founded as Apex Tire in Providence in 1924. The company opened its first retail outlet, a tire store, in the late 1930s, and opened a full sized department store in Warwick in 1966; additional stores were added in Swansea, Massachusetts, and at the current location in Pawtucket. Apex was actually one of the first retailers in the United States to open an online store - and if you go to that website, it still has almost the exact same design today.
Unfortunately, In 2001, Apex’s days as a three department store chain ended when the Warwick and Swansea stores were closed, and the inventory and staff at the Pawtucket flagship was drastically reduced. These closings came with the national decline in regional department stores, which coincided with increased competition with Target and Walmart.
What’s next for the Apex site?
If negotiations go well, and the city is able to workout a deal with Apex, then the property is planned to be used for a new development called Tidewater landing. This would be a massive event space, with dining, farmers markets, festivals, and hopefully my suggestion - another huge pyramid.
Until that happens, let’s just admire another Rhode Island icon on the side of the highway, a monument to a different time…because it might not be around much longer.
I have a lot of fun researching, exploring, and filming these places - thank you for watching and supporting me.
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I really enjoy this series. I was born in Rhode Island and frequently wonder about the history behind many of the abandoned sights through out the state. I look forward to more of these videos.
Rhode Islanders just love their abandoned buildings so much that they can't have new things.
As a rhode island ER I can confirm. lots of abandoned buildings next to the cranston DMB
I can also confirm. So many abandoned buildings. That said, there's a lot that are reused. I like that part at least.
we use them to give directions
How else are you going to know where to go if you don’t take a left at the Bennys on park ave 🤣😂
@@TheOrginalPrincessColey or where the Almac's used to be 😂😂
I worked at Apex from 1977 to 1980 when I was at the Apex of my life.
I used to help maintain the building and often Found myself at the top of the pyramid changing the bulbs in the logo. I didn't realize there were that many pigions in RI.
I Remember buying a Fischer home stereo there in 1984. The one in Warwick where I lived was out of stock. I remembered being mad because it was going to take "all day" to get there 😆 you should do a video on Rocky Point.
(Unrelated) Warwick's are great basses
Where was the one in Warwick? Just curious
@@mattkane3462 Over by where Lowes and Stopand Shop
Shit i forgot about apex in warwick. You unzipped me, dee gees arcade sholes Meadowbrook theater caldor they are all gone now
@@noreaster08 this is the most Rhode Island thread ever
Love your videos! Such smooth editing and high production value. Thanks for teaching us about this stuff🙏
I grew up in the early eighties just blocks away from Apex. They had a Newport Creamery on the Main St. side of the building. Used to skateboard through that parking lot everyday. Thank you for this documentary.
This place turned into the DMV for the state for a few in the early 2000s. I remember my mom getting her license here
Yes, I also got my license when it was the dmv!!
Oh yes, I remember getting my license renewals there a couple times. Early 2000’s. So strange, and so Rhode Island
She gave me skull in the house of pizza bathroom
Im a rhode islander and when i was little i thought it was an actual Egyptian pyramid
Hell yeah. This and the blue bug. Good times.
R.I. has more than one road. Apex building is not @ a state line. Not totally abandoned.
Hello neighbor
I thought a dragon lived in the St Georges cathedral when i was little. I was stupid too
I thought a dragon lived in the St Georges cathedral when i was little. I was stupid too
I found your channel recently and found it fascinating. The drone footage is so well done and it must make your explorations so much easier to get into places that would ordinarily be inaccessible. I’m next door in Massachusetts so I can relate to a lot of your explorations.
Just a small point. The original Apex in Pawtucket was located on Central Ave where Teknor Apex offices are now. I believe it was their first retail store and opened in the late 50's. I've watched most of your videos and find them fascinating. I like that you provide the history. It must take you many hours to out them together. Thank you for doing them.
It's a shame that Apex has now gone, I thought they were a great department store. But the saddest closing was Benny's. Thanks for bringing these awesome videos and history 👍✌️🇺🇲
Bought clothes, records, sporting goods. Apex and Ann&Hope had everything you needed. Sears on N Main was a go to as well. Downtown Prov. had the Outlet Co. with the skyway from the parking garage to the store. Iconic buildings everywhere. Don't forget the Superman building!
I work for the landscape company who does a lot of the maintenance on the bushes and trying to keep it clean like once or twice a year we go through there and neaten it up it's pretty cool to learn the history find movie intricacies of the building that I've noticed
Born and raised in Pawtucket, Apex was a nice place to go shopping, as a teen i'd take the bus to the storefront and hang at the newport creamery next store to wait for school to start up the street... yes we see it all the time on the highway it stands out as you pass... i moved from Pawtucket 18 years ago and sad to see it run down and fate unknown... to tell you the truth when i grew up Pawtucket was a small town where you're related to people or know everyone else.... sadly i do not recognize it any longer.. time has just taken over, the woods i played in are gone to development, the train tracks i ran down to chase the passing trains with the neighbor kids have been electrified .............. the roller rink behind my home is now black... who knows my memories are good though and... i guess as i got older i have to accept the world just keeps on going around me.
Yea I been in Pawtucket for over 20 years...it seems kind of abandoned now..but still everybody knows everybody and there’s a lot of related people
Great video! I shopped at Apex in Pawtucket and Swansea Mall at least once a week for years. I miss all these great stores, Benny's, Ann & Hope, etc, etc. It's a very different world.
Since u said Ann & Hope Remember Zears On Elmwood ave? 😆
@@rontam06 If you mean Zayres, yes, there was one in East Providence. And also Warwick Shoppers World!
I used to go school clothes shopping and buy toys at Ann & hope...and then it became my 1st job
This video brought me joy and sadness. I can’t believe this place is still standing. So many memories. At one point it had a DMV which was supposed to help the Providence and Woonsocket DMVs from being so busy. It didn’t help. They all had such long waits. I’m going to have to look up the info on the PawSox. I had no idea they moved. 😔 I remember going to games there with my dad. I agree with other comments please do a video on Rocky Point. That would be so awesome to see again.
thank you for confirming this i thought i was going crazy ! i remember going there as a kid for DMV purposes with a relative to translate ! but thought maybe it was a made up memory
As a local, I’m loving learning about these buildings I’ve seen my whole life
Another great video, Jason! Thanks for showcasing this property in Pawtucket, my hometown. I remember shopping there and later as the DMV. Sad that the surrounding area is so blighted😔
I’m telling you I watch a lot of these type of videos !!!! This guy is doing it completely different and I like it !!!!!!
The Bucket is the reason for lack of development. Losing the Paw Sox didn't help either.
I would argue the closing of Apex and its subsequent blight, was the catalyst to Pawtucket's downturn.
Amazing video! Thank you for using my footage! Very well researched too! You’re one talented dude!
Loved this one - I bought a refrigerator at APEX in 1974 - it went with me to a new home in Massachusetts and then to my upstate NY lake place. Still running well! Every year, as I open, I think back to going to APEX to get it. Great landmark indeed. Sorry to see the disrepair there now.
And thanks for promoting all the Rhode Island stuff -- my family goes back in RI to about 1650 (Burdicks of Burdickville).
Rhode islanders are like 'hey man leave it there its an icon , we like abandoned buildings!, in fact, we are working on making more!"
Way back, to buy vinyl records. There was an aisle near the jewelry counter, that had grandfather clocks. Would try to pop in there, in time to hear the chimes. Thanks for the drone view! Never knew the steps were open at the top!
Well done, as a Pawtucket native this was an interesting video, your channel was a great find!
Nice My guy I remember actually Shopping there with My Mom & Aunt many of times As Kid. Hated going there For the DMV 😩... 😆
Seriously! They ruined our memories turning it into the DMV!
There is nothing wrong with McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, they already did a remodel...not to long ago...
Now we have Apex property empty..and soon McCoy stadium empty ..
Great Job Pawtucket...but the taxes in Pawtucket keep going up...and up and up...
Born and raised in Pawtucket...and it only gets worse every year...So sad...Keep up the great Drone Videos ..they are awesome!!!
There’s pretty much no where to go in Pawtucket now
@@mikemadsen7926 nope... every side of Pawtucket.. it's a toilet.. Woodlawn was always the bad side... and now Woodlawn.. Fairlawn.. Darlington.. Quality hill... all the same... it's one big mess
@@gennaro4941 I actually used to have fun in Pawtucket as a kid..now we have to go to Attleboro to shop and outside of Pawtucket for fun...it’s kind of an abandoned city now
@@mikemadsen7926 yup..I agree.. C.F.. and Pawtucket.. family from there.. born and raised.. all of them.. and to see how bad it's got.. makes them sad.. in less than 60 years.. how much it's changed and not for the better
@@gennaro4941 historical Pawtucket..I can’t believe that gi joe and mr potato head started here..they even used to make wwf wrestling figures here...hey at least we will always have memories
I went shopping there on a visit to Providence from NH back in the late 80s. It was still going strong at that point and the whole building was in use. I still have the shirt I bought that day over 30 years ago. I really liked Apex but only had the opportunity to go there that once.
There are going to be a lot of people who will be overjoyed to see this covered. The City Goverment in Pawtucket (and RI as a whole) simply don't know how to have good relationships with business owners. Its why it takes decades to move forward with anything and why they are constantly losing architectural icons. There is a lot wrong in Pawtucket when it comes to how they deal with historical abandoned buildings, the only part of their history they briefly care about is the aspect of child labour from the industrial revolution.
I lost my faith in Rhode Island with how they just let the Paw Sox leave when the had one of the best minor league baseball fields in the country.
Inside the store was just as amazing as the outside! I was lucky enough to shop there as a kid. Thanks for sharing about the architect and history of Apex.
You do what very few other Urban Explorers do , You actually put the effort into sharing the history which I think makes the Video far more interesting
Stumbled upon this video by chance. Excellent photography and editing! And as a PVD resident, appreciated the history behind the Apex.
Wow!!! Beautiful shots!!!
Haven’t had a Del’s lemonade since I went to college at J&W back in 1997. What a flashback!
These videos are so fun! I live in Florida now but I grew up in North Smithfield, so I’m just loving all the shots of places I know so well!
I was born and raised in RI and lived in Johnston, the village of Thornton for 31 years. In the summer of 1979 I worked at the Air Guard base in North Smithfield, Slatersville, where my brother had once been stationed as a captain the ANG.
Shout out to you man sharing the wonders of our state 💪🏽
in the 80s my grandparents lived in providence & my family would always make a trip to apex as a to-do event. back in the day dept stores had unique charms in their style & inventory. no longer.
Absolutely love the flow of your docs! Music adds so much🤘🏼
Thanks for this!!! Great video 🙌🏾🙌🏾
Ah, the ole Apex store. I have faint memories going there as a young child. As an older one I used to walk from my mother's apartment on Olive st to the Newport Creamery restaurant that was fitted just inside the Apex store. I used to get a coffee frappe. I no longer have a reason to visit Pawtucket, but I remember hanging out in that area where Slater Mill is sitting on the opposite bank of the river with a drawing pad sketching out the old mill.
New favorite channel. I love local history!
GREAT video - I've always been a fan of this weird building!
Remember driving by this building all the time when going to Massachusetts as a kid. Cool to see a video on it!
Correction: the original Pawtucket Apex store was on Central Ave. I remember going there with my older brother in the early sixties. It was a great store with quality merchandise and f a ir prices. Also they had great customer service especially in the shoe department! I miss that store and the personalized service given to their customers 😢
Thank you Jason, that was fascinating...educational and entertaining like all your videos. By the way I am a fan of the big blue bug!
I think there was a restaurant at the Apex in Warwick. I remember eating there with my parents regularly as a little kid. Always wondered about the pyramid though. This is great stuff; really well done esp the editing and typography :D
I know there was a couple restaurants at the Pawtucket location
At some point there was a Newport creamery there
As a Life Long Rhode Islander for 35 yrs now, I would like to Thank You for your Video, very educational, I actually learned some things that I didn't know about my Tiny State
Excellent video, Jason! Apex was a favorite place to shop when I was a child. Both my parents and grandparents took me there. Thank you for this!
Another good history lesson. Love it
Dude these RI videos are awesome!
Keep em comin! Good work👍
Nice to see something good said about Rhode Island!
Just north.... in Taxachussetts.... they like to say Rhode Island is so small that it's basically the same size as most other states landfills! 😲🤫
This is awesome! Thanks for the video 😃😃😃😃
Cool to watch your video. It is a visual icon, I remember driving by it countless times. You always knew you were back in Rhode Island when you saw the APEX!
Yeah, I went there at least once as a kid - I’d forgotten about the other branches though - and thanks for the background info - hope it lasts a little longer!
Thanks for sharing. I really enjoy watching your videos.
Shopped in Swansea as a child, wow, brings me back!
Great work as ALWAYS
Excellent video! Very informative.
This use to be DMV Jason in the late 90's. Jay big ups bro for once again showing Rhody love.
Very interesting Jason! Thanks for sharing
Love these videos! I'd like to see one on the abandoned Fram building in East Providence.
Live in Southern r.i. but I've driven by this building a few times. Interesting, well put together video!
Another great video. Thank you.
Very interesting video and amazing edits !
grew up in RI. i used to go to all the apex stores listed here including this one. i remember going in the late 90's to buy clothes and shoes for school.
Nice work
5:05, I just realized looking at the cars that the footage is being reversed.
Hahaha, good eye.
Very nice history on this pretty cool building but I (Marcel) have to keep my eyes open more because for as many times as we've been to Rhode Island, I've never seen this building!! I have see the BIG BLUE BUG though!!! lol Great job on this one Jason! :)
I'm from Pawtucket but I now live in Providence. I remember passing it all the time as a child, going to my Slaterettes baseball games. Since I don't live in the city anymore, I hadn't heard about the plans for this building! It feels iconic and I do have a weird nostalgia for it despite it being kind of ugly lol I remember always wondering what it was tbh because I only knew it from the car view off the highway. Thank you for the information!
Grew up in THE MINI STATE and often went to Joyland in Woonsocket often..Learned to skate there..
Very nice!
So Well Done 👍 thanks for this video!
There was a story of “The Apex Ape” that is a RI legend, wherein multiple people one night in the 1980s witnessed a huge albino ape of some kind climbing around on this building. Sort of one of the great urban myths of Rhode Island and Ive always found it a fascinating story...
That's really interesting, do you know any more details about this RI legend?
@@julianalvarez440 Ill do a little local research and re comment some info asap!
🥰 Loved it
Cool shit.. great video
Nice vid! Thank You! I'm from Pawtucket and while I understand why people feel nostalgic I always felt it was urban renewal gone bad. Starting with the S curve that cut the neighborhood like a scalpel. I recall Water St area from my youth in the 1950's &60's. Went to school with folks from there and spent alot of time hanging out around there. It was kinda, hip. Yes, it did get shabby and run down but I remember my Grandparents telling tales of it's hey day and how nice it once was there, as they tried to encourage me not to hang out 'down there'. Seems that area of town is doomed. I don't have any idea's for the place but it seems everyone in town lost out with the PawSox move. A new stadium might have been great for business' and jobs. Thanks again for an enjoyable vid.
I remember when the dmv moved there. Been a while since I gave that place any thought. Weird thing is that I never realized until you said it that it's shaped like a ziggurat. As a Rhode Islander, I always took it for granted and never paid much attention to it. Thanks for the video 👍
Thats great that someone noticed that I posted something regarding the pawtucket (step pyramid) not great pyramid 3 months ago right before I mentioned its possible uses and designs to the mayors office..ive lived within a mile of this location for 30+ years
Apex was the place 👏👏👏good times 🖐🏽
Well done!
Great video.
This caught my eye cause I grew up going there. My mom used to work downtown and we'd go after she got out of work.
I Would come in as a kid at the end of summer for school cloths. Awesome video
Loved it
I've driven up and down I-95. Never knew what kind of store it was or that it was still open! Nice job. And I'm glad the Sox are coming up to my city of Worcester.
Thanks for this video. I miss RI sometimes.
Im glad to no about apex we went there when we was little an when it was a few other things also my brother lives down the street so now i no what happened to this but there are some store un there
Love these videos man. I live out here and you said Pawtucket right lol . Ever since the DMV left Apex hasn't been anything
I got my license there back in 06
2000
Thanks... great video 👍
Great video. I would just add that one of the main reasons that Pawtucket has not moved forward with the demolition and revitalization of the area is because of the stuburness of the owner. Can you do a video about the Stop & Shop plaza on Newport Avenue, the same thing has happened there. The 2 towns Pawtucket and East Prividence can’t come to an agreement to get this area revitalized. Take a look at the Attleboro area, packed with great stores that need to be in Pawtucket...Starbucks, Walmart, Chipotle, and Chick-Fil-Ajust to name a few.
I know, why won’t people just allow themselves to be gentrified out of the neighborhoods and businesses that that know.
Yea seems like there were more places to go back then.I live off Newport ave now..and my only convenient food shopping store is save a lot
Great stores???? Starbucks?! Chipotle? Um...that is no vision at all.
Omg this is my home town. 👍👍
i dont see any media about RI online, especially not of this quality. Awesome video!
Fond memories going here as a kid and buying Atari video games! 🤘
Great thank you
You should do building 19 in Pawtucket
Yea agreed, what we knew as apex from the old days may be gone but teknor apex is doing really well. The head quarters is still in pawtucket as for the iconic building who knows what they have in stored for it. I see it being used for future development to help revitalize the city as the new stadium is in development
401!!! reppin haha seen this n had to watch
Good stuff ... I was an Apex Warwick shopper for many many years. Anne and Hope too :)
Used to run around that place as a kid in the 80s!!