The Great Pyramid of Rhode Island | Apex Building

[@mdemed]

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.

[@anthonyderoy9725]

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.

[@jonathangodbout6645]

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.

[@Magumba_State]

(Unrelated) Warwick's are great basses

[@mattkane3462]

Where was the one in Warwick? Just curious

[@noreaster08]

@@mattkane3462 Over by where Lowes and Stopand Shop

[@gabriellarosesanchez1591]

@@noreaster08 this is the most Rhode Island thread ever

[@MissMary821]

Yes to Rocky Point!! So many memories were had there. I’m pretty sure Rocky Point was where I had almost every end of year school field trip.

[@jamesdefrancesco7765]

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!

[@georgerocha5086]

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.

[@KeyWestNAB]

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).

[@kennethsonier1766]

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 👍✌️🇺🇲

[@newenglandlight8724]

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.

[@rontam06]

Since u said Ann & Hope Remember Zears On Elmwood ave? 😆

[@newenglandlight8724]

@@rontam06 If you mean Zayres, yes, there was one in East Providence. And also Warwick Shoppers World!

[@mikemadsen7926]

I used to go school clothes shopping and buy toys at Ann & hope...and then it became my 1st job

[@Seawizz203]

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.

[@debrapoirier4435]

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.

[@mikemadsen7926]

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

[@Tobynsocks]

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

[@jerrys9226]

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.

[@MissMary821]

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.

[@henrychacon7262]

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

[@ecardullo10]

Rhode Islanders just love their abandoned buildings so much that they can't have new things.

[@spartankeys]

As a rhode island ER I can confirm. lots of abandoned buildings next to the cranston DMB

[@benm5913]

I can also confirm. So many abandoned buildings. That said, there's a lot that are reused. I like that part at least.

[@SamuraiPie8111]

we use them to give directions

[@TheOrginalPrincessColey]

How else are you going to know where to go if you don’t take a left at the Bennys on park ave 🤣😂

[@ecardullo10]

@@TheOrginalPrincessColey or where the Almac's used to be 😂😂

[@dhutton77]

Pawtucket native with one correction; APEX started originally in Pawtucket, not Warwick, in an old building on Central Avenue, where its related company, Teknor Apex (where I once worked) still exists. It moved when they build this building. I grew up directly across 95 from the pyramid, so enjoyed this story.

[@veronicacarney8411]

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😔

[@ScammerStudio]

Amazing video! Thank you for using my footage! Very well researched too! You’re one talented dude!

[@1462JWOOD]

I’m telling you I watch a lot of these type of videos !!!! This guy is doing it completely different and I like it !!!!!!

[@rfletch62]

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!

[@JimmySting]

Stumbled upon this video by chance. Excellent photography and editing! And as a PVD resident, appreciated the history behind the Apex.

[@stephenmac23]

As a local, I’m loving learning about these buildings I’ve seen my whole life

[@DeepseaOddities]

Love your videos! Such smooth editing and high production value. Thanks for teaching us about this stuff🙏

[@laurenisquax]

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.

[@jennysanchez822]

Wow!!! Beautiful shots!!!

[@Kyroptrant]

Well done, as a Pawtucket native this was an interesting video, your channel was a great find!

[@nelsongoncalves5379]

Apex was the place 👏👏👏good times 🖐🏽

[@tallboyyyy]

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.

[@FannyGodMother]

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!

[@jkmorrison1013]

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.

[@reanneelliott8672]

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

[@rontam06]

Nice My guy I remember actually Shopping there with My Mom & Aunt many of times As Kid. Hated going there For the DMV 😩... 😆

[@yuggothproductions]

Seriously! They ruined our memories turning it into the DMV!

[@jellyjust4676]

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

[@jgoncal13]

Shout out to you man sharing the wonders of our state 💪🏽

[@753131hs]

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!

[@anthonyvaccaro]

Remember driving by this building all the time when going to Massachusetts as a kid. Cool to see a video on it!

[@Stinkyshark2001]

Im a rhode islander and when i was little i thought it was an actual Egyptian pyramid

[@JB-gf9le]

R.I. has more than one road. Apex building is not @ a state line. Not totally abandoned.

[@spych0367]

Hello neighbor

[@andoandolini5187]

I thought a dragon lived in the St Georges cathedral when i was little. I was stupid too

[@andoandolini5187]

I thought a dragon lived in the St Georges cathedral when i was little. I was stupid too

[@garyturner5204]

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!

[@cyndercc]

Live in Southern r.i. but I've driven by this building a few times. Interesting, well put together video!

[@katerwaulie4499]

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!

[@milesmorse2619]

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

[@tygeron3145]

I know there was a couple restaurants at the Pawtucket location

[@mikemadsen7926]

At some point there was a Newport creamery there

[@roadweary5252]

Haven’t had a Del’s lemonade since I went to college at J&W back in 1997. What a flashback!

[@mbaer5]

Love these videos! I'd like to see one on the abandoned Fram building in East Providence.

[@ChannelWright]

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!

[@alextirrellRI]

New favorite channel. I love local history!

[@thejoshman3843]

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.

[@ErsatzMcGuffin]

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.

[@rpurdy4821]

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.

[@nazareth8199]

This use to be DMV Jason in the late 90's. Jay big ups bro for once again showing Rhody love.

[@stephenpine1133]

GREAT video - I've always been a fan of this weird building!

[@kotabear151]

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! 😲🤫

[@Xxkr4zyk1llerxX]

You should do building 19 in Pawtucket

[@JMExplorations]

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! :)

[@frankb5693]

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!

[@carnevale401]

Thanks for sharing. I really enjoy watching your videos.

[@gronmic]

Another good history lesson. Love it

[@matthewhanson4157]

Absolutely love the flow of your docs! Music adds so much🤘🏼

[@ldbagge]

Shopped in Swansea as a child, wow, brings me back!

[@zacharypeloquin340]

Dude these RI videos are awesome! Keep em comin! Good work👍

[@joshdolman7941]

Love these videos man. I live out here and you said Pawtucket right lol . Ever since the DMV left Apex hasn't been anything

[@gennaro4941]

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!!!

[@mikemadsen7926]

There’s pretty much no where to go in Pawtucket now

[@gennaro4941]

@@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

[@mikemadsen7926]

@@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

[@gennaro4941]

@@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

[@mikemadsen7926]

@@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

[@tundraportal]

5:05, I just realized looking at the cars that the footage is being reversed.

[@tomcarberry4445]

Hahaha, good eye.

[@owen_korb]

I Would come in as a kid at the end of summer for school cloths. Awesome video

[@vincentf1649]

i dont see any media about RI online, especially not of this quality. Awesome video!

[@lukequigley121]

Grew up in THE MINI STATE and often went to Joyland in Woonsocket often..Learned to skate there..

[@seawall5102]

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.

[@Goodwalker720]

I know, why won’t people just allow themselves to be gentrified out of the neighborhoods and businesses that that know.

[@mikemadsen7926]

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

[@sammonicuslux]

Great stores???? Starbucks?! Chipotle? Um...that is no vision at all.

[@heathercruz8282]

💘 the store

[@Lional]

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 👍

[@haddonfieldradio666]

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...

[@julianalvarez440]

That's really interesting, do you know any more details about this RI legend?

[@haddonfieldradio666]

@@julianalvarez440 Ill do a little local research and re comment some info asap!

[@rauldelossantos7464]

Thanks for this!!! Great video 🙌🏾🙌🏾

[@derbagger22]

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.

[@seanm6215]

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.

[@KBOSGroundAgent]

The Bucket is the reason for lack of development. Losing the Paw Sox didn't help either.

[@dudehere1100]

I would argue the closing of Apex and its subsequent blight, was the catalyst to Pawtucket's downturn.

[@aodwyer]

Nice work

[@fernandotx2895]

Thanks for this video. I miss RI sometimes.

[@maryannchandonnait8094]

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 😢

[@SimianScience]

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.

[@raypeloquin5875]

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

[@harrisonhanson2998]

Serves em right! I worked for apex as a 17 year old during Xmas season & I really wanted to stay on after Xmas BUT bc another girl there “had quit high school to work there they had to go w her!” Actually got me so upset I got home on Xmas eve & was crying, while sure I now understand how silly that was for me to cry, but that just goes to show how serious I was about having a job.

[@debralady9934]

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

[@watermelonheadiego]

Rhode islanders are like 'hey man leave it there its an icon , we like abandoned buildings!, in fact, we are working on making more!"

[@richardderry8453]

This is really a great video. Very well done. The aerial shots of the Apex Building are gorgeous. Beautifully shot. Did you do anything to the images is post/editing?

[@JasonAllard]

Every aerial shot has some degree of color correction and balance so they all blend together. I try to get all my shots around sunset for the best lighting - I waited a week to shoot some of these scenes until there were clouds I liked 😁 It makes it much easier to edit when the raw footage is already pretty. Thanks for watching

[@richardderry8453]

@@JasonAllard Great work!

[@pattyfarghaly1821]

Apex had some good stuff. We would go all the time from Fall River.

[@sneakersonfeet9045]

So Well Done 👍 thanks for this video!

[@johnmccarthy2152]

Excellent video! Very informative.

[@fancycoat9900]

Hey man your last 3 video were about Rhode Island. I happen to be from RI, its cool to see a total of 5 videos of RI now lol

[@SB-vp8yy]

Jason. Didn't know Teknor Apex was associated with the department store. Have you ever been to the world war one bunkers on Prudence island? Very cool looking. Very creepy.

[@Selenassoto]

This is awesome! Thanks for the video 😃😃😃😃

[@jennysanchez822]

Have you done the RI Superman building? If not, would love to watch that too!!!!👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

[@therealglo2101]

Very interesting video and amazing edits !

[@greglemieux9809]

This is cool. I'm a not to far from here in Massachusetts. I've passed by this many times heading to work for the union . I wonder if this was build directly on lay lines.

[@MattEastwood]

Good stuff ... I was an Apex Warwick shopper for many many years. Anne and Hope too :)

[@johnzangari3432]

My brother sold radios in the original Apex store on Central Ave. in Pawtucket in the 60s.

[@Gity444]

Used to run around that place as a kid in the 80s!!

[@UndergroundLookingUp]

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.

[@smileprettymusic]

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.

[@DarkerImageTV]

Cool shit.. great video

[@MatthewSkiba]

Awesome video dude! Very informative and I appreciate the Pyramid of Giza comparison. Is it funny to note I only know about Pawtucket because the brewery from family guy? 😅

[@MarcSpectorComics]

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

[@BurningQuestionLLC]

Great work as ALWAYS

[@nans969]

I haven't lived in Rhode Island for 30 years. And I've been back every couple years because all my family os still there. Since I haven't driven north of Providence to drive by there, I would have thought it would have been torn down by now. In the late 80s , I preferred to shop anywhere else. But, as a native Rhode Islander, I get the fact we do embrace our landmarks.

[@tmambaye]

@4:30 what beat is that?????

[@2eyeluvmac2]

Another great video. Thank you.