Historic Theater Buildings In Arlington And Somerville Up For Sale

ARLINGTON, MA — Two landmark theater buildings in Arlington and Somerville have been put on the market, but the operators of the venues say moviegoers and concertgoers should not expect any immediate changes.

The buildings housing the Capitol Theatre in Arlington and the Somerville Theatre and Crystal Ballroom in Davis Square are being offered for sale as part of a three-building portfolio that also includes 36 College Ave. in Somerville. According to the listing, the Arlington and Somerville properties each have an asking price of $12 million.

The Fraiman family has owned the properties for decades. According to CSB Theatres, Inc., which took over operations of the Capitol Theatre, Somerville Theatre and Crystal Ballroom in 2025, the owner of the buildings has decided to retire, prompting the sale. The company noted that it owns the theater businesses but not the real estate.

The Arlington property at 202 to 218 Massachusetts Ave. sits at the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Lake Street. The three-story mixed-use building contains six commercial spaces and 18 residential apartments totaling approximately 50,032 square feet of gross building area. The listing describes the fully occupied property as being anchored by the historic Capitol Theatre while highlighting its consistent occupancy and existing cash flow.

The Somerville Theatre building at 49 to 55 Davis Square has been a fixture of the neighborhood since opening in 1914. Melvin Fraiman purchased the historic Hobbs Building in 1984, and the family spent decades preserving and modernizing the property, including restoring the Crystal Ballroom, which reopened in 2021 as a live performance venue. The theater is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The approximately 47,566-square-foot mixed-use property is anchored by the 900-seat Somerville Theatre and the 500-capacity Crystal Ballroom. The building also includes longtime restaurant tenant Mr. Crepe and a fully leased, recently renovated 7,500-square-foot office suite.

CSB Theatres said it has multi-year lease agreements in place at both theater buildings and expects little to change in the near future. The company said it remains committed to serving the Arlington and Somerville communities while continuing to work behind the scenes to secure the long-term future of the venues.

"We are confident that little will change for us in the short term," the company said. "That, coupled with our steadfast commitment to our communities of Somerville and Arlington, and their unwavering support of these local institutions, makes us hopeful for what comes next."

The company is led by longtime theater manager Ian Judge along with partners Ian Brownell, Jamie Mattchen and John "Jay" O'Leary, who assumed operation of the Capitol Theatre, Somerville Theatre and Crystal Ballroom last year.

"Until then, we'll see you at the movies," the company said.

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