Somerville Theatre’s operators buy the building, ask public for help

The group that operates the Somerville Theatre has bought the historic Davis Square building for $12 million, the same price at which the property was listed for sale this summer.

CSB Theatres, Inc., formed by longtime theatre employees, took over the venue’s film and live music operations in 2025. The building, which has been home to the theatre since 1914, also houses the second-floor Crystal Ballroom, a music and events venue run by CSB, and the corner café Mr. Crepe.

“We took a leap of faith with this purchase,” Ian Judge, a CSB co-owner who grew up in Somerville, said in a Friday news release. “We dreamed of buying the building some day, but that day came sooner than anticipated. Luckily, there are people who believe in us and believe in the magic of this place, who helped make this purchase possible.”

Two private lenders helped cover the gap in the financing, according to the release. One is Ian Brownell, a CSB co-owner and longtime supporter of independent film in the Boston-area. The other is a theatre patron who asked not to be named.

“The Somerville Theatre has always belonged to the people who show up for it,” Brownell said in the release. “Our names are on the paperwork, but the Somerville Theatre will always belong to its community.”

The purchase still leaves the owners with substantial debt, though the group has not disclosed the amount. To help pay it down, the owners have launched a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of $90,000. As of late Friday afternoon, the campaign had raised more than $7,000. CSB is also selling merchandise, such as limited-edition T-shirts and hoodies, and encouraging patrons to buy memberships and tickets. The owners plan to establish a nonprofit in 2027 to support the theatre’s long-term programming.

CSB also operates the Capitol Theatre in East Arlington, whose building was listed for sale alongside the Somerville Theatre. The group said it could not afford to buy both properties but has secured an extended lease at the Capitol. Jamie Mattchen, a CSB co-owner who lives in Arlington, said the group looks forward to working with the building’s next landlord.

“While today’s headline is that we bought the Somerville Theatre building, we haven’t lost sight of the Capitol, which is an institution in its own right,” Mattchen said in the release. “Generations of residents have made memories here, including me and my own family, and that’s a tradition we will continue.”

The Somerville Theatre opened May 11, 1914, and is among New England’s oldest continuously operating movie houses. The building is on the National Register of Historic Places and sits within a city-designated historic district. Today, the theatre has three screens, including an 840-seat main auditorium.

Annie Jonas is a Community writer at Boston.com. She was previously a local editor at Patch and a freelancer at the Financial Times.