Thayer Street

Thayer Street in Providence, Rhode Island is a popular destination for students of the area's colleges, including Brown University, RISD, and Johnson and Wales University. Similar to Harvard Square in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Thayer St. hosts independent shops and restaurants that serve as a communal center for students and locals. But while the Square has long been controlled by chain restaurants and stores, most businesses on Thayer are independent, with certain notable exceptions (such as Johnny Rockets and Starbucks).