Bubbie's Market opens for Passover shopping

Harold Labush, left, and his wife Jerri Labush, of Cranston, look over the Passover cheeses in the refrigerator case at the newly opened Bubbie's Market and Deli on Hope Street.

PHOTO | GLENN OSMUNDSON

Co-owner Freda Ronkin, right, speaks with Benzion Taube, of Pawtucket.

Glenn Osmundson

Customer Barbara Goldstein, of Providence, gets an item from the freezer.

Glenn Osmundson

Co-owner, Jeff Ingber speak on the phone to a customer, while co-owner Freda Ronkin, left, helps in person customers. Glenn Osmundson/Jewish Rhode Island

Glenn Osmundson

Customers use the enter through the back door. The grand opening is not for a while, when the main entrance on Hope Street will be used.

Glenn Osmundson

Employee Isaiah Hector, of Providence, helps Rayi Margolim, of Providence, left, look over candles.

Glenn Osmundson

Co-owner Jeff Ingber, right, talks with customer Aryn Fine, of Providence.

Glenn Osmundson

PROVIDENCE, RI—Bubbie’s Market and Deli on Hope Street opened for Passover. The owners are Jeff Ingber and Freda Ronkin. Glenn Osmundson/Jewish Rhode Island

Glenn Osmundson

PROVIDENCE, RI—Bubbie’s Market and Deli on Hope Street opened for Passover. The owners are Jeff Ingber and Freda Ronkin. PICTURED IS: Co-owner Freda Ronkin, center, helps husband and wife, Harold Labush, left, and Jerri, Labush, right, of Cranston, with their purchases. Glenn Osmundson/Jewish Rhode Island

Glenn Osmundson

Posted Thursday, March 4, 2021 11:10 pm

FRAN OSTENDORF

Hope Street will soon be home to a new Kosher market and deli.

Jeff Ingber and Freda Ronkin are teaming up to open Bubbie’s Market and Deli at 727 Hope St.

Ingber, who has many years of food and catering experience and Ronkin, who owns and operates Ahava Catering in Providence, have joined together to bring Kosher groceries and prepared foods to Providence and beyond. The grocery is just down the street from the now closed Davis Dairy.

The market opened March 3 to sell Passover products. After Passover, it will close while Ronkin and Ingber finish the space. A grand opening is planned for sometime later in April or May.

The two announced the plans for the market via Facebook. And they moved quickly to fix up the space for the Passover pop-up.

“People were wondering where they were going to get their Passover goods,” said Ingber. “So we jumped in.”

Eventually, Bubbie’s will sell groceries as well as prepared salads, dips, wraps, sandwiches and grab-and-go food. Food production will continue in the Ahava kitchens at 450 Elmgrove Ave., in Providence. There will be prepackaged Kosher meat and a limited fruit and vegetable selection, depending on space. The market will also carry some of the favorites from Davis Dairy, which now sells only wholesale products.

Both Ingber and Ronkin say they are excited about the new venture and look forward to bringing fresh, healthy Kosher food to their customers. Together, they have more than 50 years of experience in the food business.

Both said they hear people say they get tired of the same old thing when it comes to food. They hope to bring creativity to the new market and mix lighter food with the traditional heavier foods.

“I want people to say that [the food] was amazing,” said Ronkin. “I want everyone to be able to walk in and enjoy the food.”

And that name. How did they decide on the name?

“[To us] The word bubbie means heimish, comfort, good-tasting food,” said Ingber. “It’s where we would want to go.”

Bubbie’s Market & Deli, 727 Hope St., Providence, will be open for Passover shopping, from March 3 to March 26, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday. It will be closed on Saturday. On March 26, the store will close at noon. During the intermediate days of Passover the hours will be Tuesday to Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. If you have concerns about shopping, you can call 401-272-4835 and arrange an appointment.

FRAN OSTENDORF (fostendorf@jewishallianceri.org) is the editor of Jewish Rhode Island.