Barbosa Liquors
963 Narragansett Boulevard
Providence, RI

Square footage: 450

Years in operation: 41 years

By Sara Capozzi

George Barbosa has owned his namesake liquor store for more than four decades, and while he never planned a career in the industry, it was this unexpected path that became part of his legacy.

In the early ’80s, Barbosa was working in the textile industry, living in the Edgewood neighborhood and looking for extra work as a painter on the weekends. He often visited a barber on Narragansett Boulevard near Johnson & Wales University and that building, he noticed, needed a fresh coat. When he met with the owner about painting, he received an unexpected proposal: He was looking to sell the building and offered it to Barbosa for a low price. Barbosa decided to take the leap and, in 1984, took on ownership of 963 Narragansett Boulevard, which contained the barbershop, a liquor store and a dry-cleaning business.

About a year and a half later, the liquor store owner decided to sell his business and Barbosa bought it. He took some time off from his textile job temporarily to manage the store, but soon running it became a full-time endeavor.

“So, before you know it, I ended up leaving the company and running the [liquor] store until now … 41 years is a long time,” he said. “But I enjoy it, I enjoy dealing with people, it’s kind of fun. And there have been ups and downs, of course. You have to go someday, but I’ll just be glad if it’s still in the family.” Barbosa’s son, Jason, who has worked in the store since he was a teenager, has begun to take over until his father fully retires.

Barbosa offers a lot of big-name brands and staples, but he also focuses on Portuguese and Spanish products that appeal to the neighborhood’s clientele, including Passoa Passion Fruit Liqueur, which is popular as a drink mixer, and port wines. Beer brands such as Corona, Modelo, Heineken and Budweiser sell well, while the younger crowd gravitates toward craft beer, ciders and seltzers. In spirits, tequila is a top seller.

Many shoppers have frequented Barbosa Liquors and they’ve gotten to know their client base well. The Barbosas treat both new and regular customers with “gratitude,” he said. Barbosa believes the service he’s provided to his customers over the years has been what sets his business apart from others.

“We know a lot of these people and we try to provide a service,” he said. “Sometimes, it’s not the item that you sell because somebody else is selling the item. It’s more of a service thing … It’s what you do for the customer that makes you different. It’s more an appreciation for them supporting us. We try to give back little by little.”

The Barbosas often help customers bring their orders out to their cars and regularly donate to local charities and events during Portuguese holy weeks. The shop hosts regular in-store tastings in collaboration with local distributors and runs specials on the week’s featured items.

While Barbosa legally retired a year and a half ago, he still helps his son out at the shop most days and he believes the hard work has been worth it to have a business he can call his own. “It’s your business and you’re your own boss and you have to give it 200% of your time … you’ve got to be involved if you want it to grow,” he said.

“I just want to thank everybody for supporting us over the years,” Barbosa said. “It’s been great fun even though you have ups and downs … I look at them as friends not just as customers.”