Demoulas Super Markets, the company behind the popular Market Basket grocery chain, has unveiled plans to transform a historic movie theater in Seekonk, Massachusetts, into a new supermarket. According to a Boston 25 News report, the Tewksbury-based company purchased the property at 100 Commerce Way from NAI Entertainment Holdings LLC in July for a sum of $9.5 million.
The site, once home to the 10-screen Showcase Cinemas, is positioned near an array of major retailers such as Target and Kohl's, offering a prime location for the new establishment. Detailed in a state filing, Demoulas plans to erect the new Market Basket along with other retail facilities on this plot of land. However, commencement of the proposed redevelopment is pending as Demoulas awaits necessary government approvals, according to the same Boston 25 News article.
Further details emerged in a filing to the Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act Office, where the supermarket chain laid out its plans for three new buildings on the 16.42-acre site. In a statement obtained by WCVB, the company emphasized that "this premier location provides the best reuse of the property while minimizing the impacts to the environment commonly associated with the development of previously unaltered land."
While Market Basket is confirmed for the largest building, uses for the two additional retail structures are yet to be finalized. Highlighting the site's significance, Demoulas mentioned in the filing that "Seekonk has identified this site as being within area of the largest focal point of economic activity in the community and is widely recognized as an indispensable resource for the Town’s tax base." This project appears to be a strategic move for both the company and the community, potentially boosting local economic activity and offering additional shopping options for residents.
