Flink Grocery Store

Flink Grocery Store

Account Book

This account book, dated 1898-1900, has entries in both Yiddish (made by Benjamin Flink, the founder) and in English by his son, Abe. The Yiddish entries are in the back of the book, the pages moving right to left, and the English ones are in the front, the pages moving left to right. The Flink family started out in Fall River and moved to Providence in 1899, establishing a bakery supply business at 1224 Chalkstone Avenue, with warehouses located at what is now the Marriott Hotel, as well as in Attleboro, MA. According to records at the RI State Prison, B. Flink and Son Wholesale Flour and Groceries was a wholesale food supplier for the prison between 1915 and 1920. By 1920 it was considered a grocery store. It was a profitable business, with over 250 employees. Finally it went public and was sold in 1979 after Benjamin’s grandson, Ellis, President and Treasurer, retired; he died in 2005. It is interesting to note the prices charged!

Benjamin Flink

Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association

1898-1900

Yiddish and English