The future of the Somerville Theatre came into clear focus today when it was announced that ownership of the Hobbs Building, which houses the historic theater, was transferred to CSB Theatres, Inc.
CSB is co-owned by longtime theater managers Ian Judge, Ian Brownell, Jamie Mattchen and John O’Leary. Judge’s name is listed as owner of the limited liability corporation, but he called that a formality.
Judge called the deal “equal parts excitement and nausea.” CSB has launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise $90,000 to back monies used for the down payment. “It’s scary,” Judge said, “but it’s basically our only chance to make sure that the theater stays around, locally owned in its current form for as long as possible.”
CSB took over management of the Somerville and Capitol Theatres in 2025 when longtime owner and operator Richard Fraiman and Frame One Theatres decided to step back from the day-to-day operation. Fraiman’s father Melvin bought the Hobbs Building in 1984 and died in 2022.
The two theater buildings were listed for $12 million each when the Fraiman family’s Chatham Light Realty trust put the Somerville Theatre and Arlington’s Capitol Theatre buildings up for sale in July. The holding company also listed another Davis Square asset, the Bryant Chambers apartments on College Avenue, for $16 million, which remains on the market.
Judge said CSB was able to secure a loan through First Citizens Bank thanks to a large sum supplied by an anonymous donor and to Brownell’s tireless fundraising. “It happened really quickly,” he said. “Normally, you anticipate something like this, and you raise money in anticipation of it, but we really kind of had to do it backwards.”
Richard Fraiman and the Fraiman family wanted to keep the Somerville Theatre as is to honor the memory of his father, said Carl Christie, executive vice president of investment sales and capital markets at Hunneman Realty, the listing agent. “There were other offers, but this is the one they wanted,” Christie said. “It [the theater] will now remain a theater for decades.”
Relief and joy from local cinephiles
The Somerville Theatre has been in operation since 1914. Somerville Mayor Jake Wilson, who had pushed hard for the theater to remain as is when the sale was announced, said in a statement, “From the days of Vaudeville to the 70mm screenings of “ The Odyssey,” the Somerville Theatre has long been a cultural hub for our community and region. Thanks to the CSB Theatres team, that timeless marquee will be lit up well into the future, but they will need our community’s support.”
“I’m thrilled,” said Brian Tamm, executive director of the popular Independent Film Festival Boston (IFFB), which is based at the Somerville Theatre. “There had been a little bit of concern over the last month or so about what would happen. Now that the same people who are running it own the building, I feel like it’s in good hands.”
Tamm was also appreciative of the city and the community’s involvement, saying, “I’m glad the city was so supportive, and I think it just shows what a strong film town this is and what a strong film community.”
Also in the Somerville Theatre is the Crystal Ballroom, which Judge and Frame One converted from two smaller movie rooms in 2021. The ballroom has a bar and a capacity of 525 for live music, comedy shows and special events like Movie Trivia night, hosted by Brownell and his crew of merry stumpers the third Tuesday of every month. In addition, the building is home to the Mr. Crêpe cafe and creperie.
The Capitol Theatre building remains on the market. CSB is not in the running for that property, but it does have a 20-year lease to continue to exhibit there. Mattchen is the longtime manager of the theater. The Capitol building also is home to a number of other retail stores and apartments.
Judge, who lives in Teele Square, said owning the building is something of a homecoming. “I actually grew up about three blocks from the theater, behind Hodgkins Park. So, it was my neighborhood theater when I was a kid.”
Judge hinted that CSB may consider a nonprofit structure like that of the Brattle Theatre. But day-to-day, “We just plan to keep the theater in the best condition we can and continue to do what we do.”
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