REVERE – National Amusements, Inc. has reached an agreement with Massachusetts-based real estate firm NorthBridge Partners for the sale of its historic Showcase Cinemas de Lux site in Revere.
According to published reports, NorthBridge is likely to lease the 22.5-acre, Squire Road property to Amazon, making the site Amazon’s second in Revere.
In a statement provided to The Item Thursday, mayor Brian Arrigo praised the online retailer — which opened its first site at the former headquarters of local candy company NECCO in July — for its successful ongoing partnership with the city.
“Creating Revere jobs for Revere residents is my top priority when it comes to economic development,” said Mayor Brian Arrigo. “We’ll continue to position ourselves as an attractive partner for growth industries, to both diversify our job base and grow our corporate tax base.
“COVID-19 has brought more urgency to this work as our city experiences some of the highest unemployment rates in the state. Amazon has been a good partner to the City of Revere and we look forward to our continued collaboration for the benefit of Revere residents.”
Mayor Arrigo’s office also stated that Amazon’s existing delivery station has hired 200 employees and 200 delivery personnel and is currently on track to hire 500 more employees and 500 more drivers by the end of 2020.
“Amazon has been a good neighbor at its first Revere location, meeting or exceeding our expectations and their promises, and we fully expect that would be the case in a second location,” Arrigo said.
Showcase Cinema de Lux employees have been instructed not to speak to the media, but a press release from National Amusements, Inc. confirmed the company had “signed an agreement for the potential sale” of its site.
“Showcase Cinemas is deeply committed to our Massachusetts and US theatrical exhibition business,” the release said. “We have been a business leader in the Revere community for more than a half-century. As part of looking towards the future, we continue to focus on the development, design, and evaluation of the theatrical experience through the opening of our new Showcase Cinema de Lux at Hanover Crossing in 2021.
“We also are diligently looking at potential new sites for future Showcase Cinemas locations, including the Revere area.”
