Over the course of nearly seven years since its closing in 2006, the old Showcase Cinemas site at 230 Cherry Street, has gradually devolved into an increasingly alarming example of large scale commercial blight. But it appears that the long wait for that site to be rehabilitated is finally coming to a close.
Harry Garafalo, owner of ShopRite at 155 Cherry St., announced this past Friday that his store will be moving across the street to the former Showcase Cinemas site, which, at 68,000 square feet, is 20% larger than his current space.
Developers Louis and John Ceruzzi bought the former Showcase Cinemas site last June from National Amusements Co. for $5.7 million. The Ceruzzis announced they will build a new "flagship" ShopRite for Garafalo, and plans on file at the City Clerk's office indicate that they will also build two additional buildings, a drive-through bank and a 25,000-sqaure-foot standalone retail building. The Ceruzzis have been responsible for numerous retail development projects in and around Milford over the years. They developed the Wal-Mart plaza on the Boston Post Road, and they also developed the former Milford Jai Alai fronton into a shopping plaza that includes a Lowes Home Improvement store and a hotel.