"Three All the Way!"

George "Sparky" Watts experienced a roller coaster ride of emotions during the last couple of weeks after the community got wind that his famous Coney Island System restaurant, aka the "weenie joint", was in danger of closing. "It's been tougher to stay in business. I've taken loans and have exhausted all my assets to stay in business. Not sure if I can stay in business," Watts had told The Reporter and other news outlets. The bad news spread like wildfire on social networks like face book. NBC Channel 10 ran two stories which brought the plight of Sparkys Coney Island statewide. Since that point the response was huge. Two people with political interests decided to organize an effort to promote small businesses, with Sparkys Coney Island as the catalyst. Ed Doyle is from Johnston, RI and is a candidate for State Representative. "I don't think that Rhode Island is very helpful to small businesses," said Doyle. "Our state can commit $75 million to 38 Studios (Curt Schilling's failed business) but we can't help a struggling local business like Sparkys," said Doyle. Doyle, who said he never met Sparky Watts before, called his friend Doreen Costa. Costa is a Republican State Representative from North Kingstown. Doyle is running as a Democrat. "We both want to help small businesses and after seeing the first news story about this place (Sparkys) we decided to organize this rally on site," said Doyle.

"Look around, this place is hopping," said Costa. Indeed, the weenie joint was standing room only at one point as the snow began to fall this Saturday afternoon in late February. Every booth and all the tables were constantly filled. The take out line at the register was long and people were exchanging stories about how they used to frequent Sparkys and "kind of got away from it. "People are spending money and promising to come back," said an elated Costa who worked the room like a paid hostess. A woman identified as Joanne, said that she "stopped in today and got 2 all the way! Can't remember the last time I had hot wieners. Quite a crowd! Hopefully new and old customers will support and sustain Sparky's."

Another organizer of the event is Janis Mooradian who lives in EP, just nearby Sparkys. "I love this place and don't work here, but I offered to help. I like to advise and plan things," Mooradian told The Reporter. So Mooradian called Mario Hillario of Channel 10 and he showed up to do one of two news stories on Sparks plight. "I'm a take charge person and we made some suggestions to Sparky," she said. It could be debated that not all of Sparkys troubles could be blamed on the economic climate in Rhode Island. The restaurant decor hadn't been changed in years, the menu remained the same, and some long time customers moved away or just "forgot about the historic weenie joint." And so with help from Mooradian and others, Sparky did some quick upgrading. The old dark paneled walls were painted white with a nice red trim. New menus were placed in sight. Employees did the painting and others pitched in to spruce up the place. "We plan to put 50's style black and white floor tiles down and a new brighter ceiling in," said Mooradian sounding like a television reality show advisor. "I agreed to make changes but I want to keep my base menu intact. Weenies, burgers, fries, soups, etc. will remain but I am adding some healthier choices like salads and veggie burgers," said a rejuvenated sounding Watts. "We always had some pastry items but I am adding an expanded desert menu with fresh items for those who want it. I also agree with making more cosmetic changes," said Watts. A new sign of the times is that Sparkys will soon have credit card capabilities which some customers have asked about.

"Phil and I just had our fix - mine all the way, Phil no onions. Was very good especially the french fries which were fresh not frozen. Oh yea, coffee milk to wash it down from also a local business Monroe dairy," was the comment from Luci Amaral-Stoddard.

Some long time customers hope that while looking forward to Sparkys future success, they don't want the "joint" to lose its' brand. Gina Ankner grew up in East Providence and is a Townie. Ankner now lives in Narragansett and stops at Sparkys whenever passing by East Providence. She ate there many times through the years. Ankner, who is very fit and works in the medical field, said: "I understand the need for healthy menu alternatives, but when I come here I just want my hot wieners, french fries and a coffee milk!", she said as she enjoyed just that alongside her aunt, Gail DiCenzo Duarte. "I can have salad anywhere!" Ankner also recalled the New Years Day when East Providence City Hall burned down in 1977. Her late father, John Ankner, was a fireman fighting that fire which occurred during a fierce ice storm. "Jimmy Kanelos and the weenie joint fed the firemen coffee and food for a couple of days. We never forgot that," she said gazing a nostalgic look across the street to the current City Hall.

State Representative and RI House Finance Chairman, Helio Melo was a long time youthful friend of Jimmy Kanelos - the original owner. Melo once worked at Coney Island years ago. He stopped by for a take-out order and said "just got my 6 all the way" as he was leaving. Melo quickly added, "not all for me!" Sure, whatever you say Mr. Melo.

The very first Coney Island System on Taunton Avenue was opened by Jimmy Kanelos' father around 1900. The Kanelos' eventually owned 5 systems in East Providence, including the site where the current Riverside Grille exists in Riverside Square. Kanelos owned his business for some 50 years before retiring around 1985. He was a World War II veteran and served on the EP School Committee for over 23 years. During those early Kanelos years, many a patron would come in to talk about school issues "over a dog and a coffee." It was social networking of its day.

Over the next few days The Reporter also visited with East Providence's other "Weenie Joints". They are either New York System's or Coney Island. Which is an anomaly as the real New York City - as in Times Square - doesn't sell wieners like these. "Actually in New York they sell more of a chilli dog," said Jared Aronson of Riverside Kitchen on Willett Avenue in Riverside. Aronson has been running his NY System diner for just over 10 years. "This place has been here for about 35 years and I have many loyal regulars. But I know what Sparky (George Watts) means. It's been tough." Aronson said he, too, is barely staying in business. "It's the utilities which are killing us. I've done all the right things, installed the right energy saving stuff, even had R.I.S.E. in here, but the high cost of electricity and water, etc. is hard to keep up with," said Aronson. The cost of utilities was mentioned by each of the wiener systems owners with whom the Reporter met with. "We don't get a break from the city or the state. We have strict health regulations which I agree with, like hot water, separate sinks and more, but the cost of all this has skyrocketed," he said. "I also try to add some things to keep customers coming in like video games - and this just added more costs for annual permits. Aronson also dislikes the inventory tax. "I pay a tax twice for some supplies, once when we buy it and again when the city taxes our inventory. All of this doesn't even start to address the high cost increases in food supplies. Aronson said that the wholesale price for eggs, meats and oil has gone up much beyond fairness. "Cooking oil alone has gone up from $9.00 to $32.00 over a short time span. Even coffee has gone way up," he said. But Aronson and a counter person, Samantha Hernandez, had smiles for the customers coming in. "We're hanging in, we have loyal regulars. They love our weenies, we now ship to some customers in Florida, New Hampshire and Vermont," said Aronson with a chuckle. "We're probably not too far behind Sparkys if things don't get much better soon. Our weenies, and omelets are big sellers and are coffee is great," he added with a self-promotion wink.

Paul Mello and Bobby Medeiros run M&M's New York System on Waterman Avenue in the city. Using the first letter of their last names, gave them the M&M idea. "When Bobby and I went to the state to register the business after buying it, we ran into an impatient clerk. You can't just call it a NY System, she barked at us. So we took our last initials and came up with a name," he laughed. M&M's also has a long history in EP. It has moved from its original location, under a different owner, in "six corners" when they were across the street from Bovi's Tavern. And true to its' name, the diner is decorated with hundreds of M&M toys and memorabilia. In its' hey day the six corners NY System was a bustling diner and was swarmed with late night weekend crowds who walked across the street for wieners, home fries, eggs and coffee between dance sets at Bovi's. The N.Y. System moved a few blocks down Waterman in 1983 and Mello and Medeiros bought it in 2002. "We were in the restaurant business and we wanted to run our own place," said Mello. "We've done okay but things really went downhill in 2007. Before that we were in decent shape but after '07 things have never been totally back," said Mello. "Our problems now are rising energy costs and supply increases," he said seconding the concerns of others we talked to. "Eggs, coffee, bread, meats have all almost doubled in wholesale costs. We're the bottom of the chain and we can't pass on those increases on our menu. All the ingredients to make our weenies has gone up a lot." So to make ends meet, Mello and Medeiros have adapted a bit. "We now deliver in the area. We have a few elderly high-risers nearby and we put the word out, we deliver. We are averaging about 100 deliveries a day, just enough," said Mello. "We can't handle too much more than that, we just want to build business slow and steady," he said. The other thing M&M does now is picking up much of their own supplies such as bread, coffee, soda and other items. "Delivery costs from our wholesalers have gotten out of hand. So we go to the stores and buy our supplies at much lower prices. We save money that way," he added with a shrug. Ordering weenies to go this day was Diane Blais Martin. "I've been coming here for 6 or 7 years. I'm getting 9 to go today. I usually stop in Fridays for breakfast," she said. M&M has also added to their menu by offering homemade stuffies, chowders and soups. "Dogs (wieners) are the lifeline of our business," said Mello, "but we have a big breakfast business. We don't stay open too late." Retired trucker Rich Pina stopped in for a late afternoon coffee and snack, "I'm 75 and retired now. But truckers love to stop at these diners. And you know truckers appreciate good diner food!", he added. In fact, over the road truckers were a staple at all of the EP weenie joints at one time. When the oil farms and tanks and ships were all active along the waterfront in EP and Providence, the drivers would stop every day. That has mostly stopped now that the oil tanks are not what they used to be.

And finally, we visited the Riverside Grille NY System in Riverside Square. We made a couple of stops but the owner was out of state and hadn't returned in time for this story. But we did talk to employees and the owner's wife who was helping out in her husband's absence. "We've renovated and have been under new management and things have been pretty good," said the counter person. The "Grille" as locals called it through the years has an expanded menu. The requisite hot weenies and burgers and fries are available of course, but one can also get steak tips and pizza. Local business contractor A.J. Adams was having lunch during one of our visits with his crew. "I go to all of these diners. I like them all. My office is near here and I stop here a lot for coffee or breakfast and lunch. I know their struggles as a small business owner myself," said Adams. "Small businesses are important. I wish them all well."

"I saw it on face book and decided to go to Sparkys and help rally support for small business," said EP City Council At Large member, Tracy Adams Capobianco. "I'm really here as a fellow small business owner and resident, not so much as a council person," she added. "If I can help another Townie, I'll be there," Capobianco said. "Tracy always supports local businesses. She wanted to get here (Sparkys) today and I'm glad we came," said her husband David. "I think East Providence is trying to be business friendly," said Tracy Capobianco. "Social media helps and people now know more about this issue. Maybe as a community we could pitch in. Maybe a breakfast club of sorts. We could go to all of these places in groups. Take turns and go to all of them. Even if it's just one day a week. Something to think about," said Capobianco as she and her husband finished breakfast.

Not a bad idea at all. A community breakfast or lunch club. Maybe several with some for breakfast, some for lunch, some for late night. This writer is always ready for a linguica omelet, home-fries and a weenie all the way with, of course, a coffee milk.