Two historic movie theaters bought by group of longtime managers

Local News

“While the ownership on paper is changing, it’s really not new management, it’s the same people who have managed the businesses for years,” new owner Ian Judge said.

Somerville Theatre in Davis Square. (Nic Antaya for The Boston Globe)

Two historic movie theaters in Somerville and Arlington will now both be owned and operated by a group of longtime managers, their lawyer told the Somerville Licensing Commission last week.

The commission approved the transfer of the license of Somerville Theatre to CSB Theatres, Inc. during their Jan. 21 meeting, where the new owners’ lawyer Anne Vigorito told the board to expect the “status quo” with no planned changes when the managers take over as owners.

“Richard Fraiman has been the owner for many, many years. When he told me about this, I said it makes complete sense, they know what they’re doing,” Vigorito said.

CSB Theatres President Ian Judge said the new company was formed to take over the leases of Somerville Theatre, Capitol Theatre in Arlington, and the Crystal Ballroom, a live venue and event space above Somerville Theatre. Fraiman will still own the building, and CSB Theatres will be their tenants.

“While the ownership on paper is changing, it’s really not new management, it’s the same people who have managed the businesses for years,” Judge said in an email.

Former owner Richard Fraiman and Ian Judge, then director of operations, right, in 2014. *Suzanne Kreiter/Globe staff*

The change in ownership of the historic theatre was first reported by local outlet Cambridge Day.

Judge, a 23-year employee and the creative director at Somerville Theatre, told Boston.com that operations of both theaters should be completely transferred to CSB within the next two months.

“Presently the Fraiman family owns the buildings and also operate the theaters but under this change, they will remain landlords only,” Judge clarified. “It is actually how it was for them when they started out owning these properties years ago — both theaters were tenants then, and so it has come full circle in a way.”

CSB Theatres also includes Jamie Mattchen, a 16-year employee and general manager of Capitol, and Jay O’Leary, the Capitol’s food and beverage director who began as an usher in high school nearly three decades ago. Their other partner is Ian Brownell, a Brattle Film Foundation board member and a Screen Boston creator.

“The reason we are doing this isn’t because we think we’re going to get rich,” Judge told the commissioners last week. “It’s because we value the roles that these theaters play in the community that we live in.”

Somerville Theatre and Capitol Theatre were previously owned by the Fraiman family of Fraiman Enterprises, who have run it since the 1990s.

In 2014, Somerville Theatre turned 100, and at the time, Judge told The Boston Globe that the theatre was his “baby.” The Capitol Theatre turns 100 this year, according to its website.