135

When Showcase Cinemas announced the permanent closing of its Worcester North location in 2021 at 135 Brooks St., the iris of closing credits shrank down to a black screen for a city that lamented its last movie theater. The film is rolling again as a New York-based developer is looking to build a 207,120-square-foot distribution center which, once complete, is poised to see up to 366 vehicle trips per day that will mill about in and out of its 48 loading docks and 213 parking spaces. Criterion Group LLC snatched the 18-acre land for $8.75 million in July 2021.

$246M

Massachusetts' new housing secretary, former City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr., is already busy allocating funds to selected projects, including five in Worcester County. The state has allocated $246 million in direct subsidies and state and federal housing tax credits to 27 projects in 20 communities. Two are located in Worcester - Curtis Apartments and the former Boys Club at Lincoln Square - as well as housing starts in Fitchburg, Westminster and Winchendon. The state will be supporting the projects with $105 million in direct subsidies, $60 million from the American Rescue Plan Act, and $81 million in tax credits.

135

A plan submitted by a Boston-based developer to layer the former landmark Table Talk Pies headquarters at 135 Green St. with three more floors was approved by the Planning Board Wednesday. Anthony Rossi, owner of Rossi Development, bought the building in April for $734,000. He plans to add living space to the existing two-floor building without expanding its 11,271-square-foot footprint. Rossi's plans would quadruple the living space to 45,084 square feet and include 53 apartments: 51 single-bedroom units and two with two bedrooms. Three units would meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility standards.

97

Following a dispute with the bar's landlord that prevented Café Neo, 97 Millbury St., from staying open, the Canal District bar has received License Commission approval Thursday to serve food and drinks as well as host karaoke nights at a new location on Shrewsbury Street. Café Neo's request for a restaurant all-liquor license, common victualer's license and entertainment license at 340 Shrewsbury St. of a TV and karaoke were approved on the condition of approvals for parking access changes by the Department of Inspectional Services. In April, a Superior Court judge denied a motion that would have allowed the bar to stay open.

700,000

Two warehouses with a total footprint of almost 700,000 square feet, both owned by The Kraft Group, opened for business on Shrewsbury Street on May 18. The bigger of the warehouses, a 384,000-square-foot center, will be used by Rand-Whitney to manufacture cardboard boxes for retail and protective packaging. The Kraft Group, which is headed by Robert Kraft, the owner of the New England Patriots, owns the company. On Thursday, Kraft attended a gathering in front of the building, speaking to an audience among whom were Gov. Maura Healey, state Sen. Robyn Kennedy and state Rep. Meghan Kilcoyne.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Business Matters: Central Mass. by the Numbers