"We're closing because we don't have a lease," Davio's owner Steve DiFillippo told Boston magazine in June, as Boston.com reported. "We can't stay in a space that's not ours."
The space belonged to the Showcase SuperLux at 55 Boylston Street, which had just been sold. Kinepolis Group, the new owner, says it puts "continuity for all Showcase customers" first. So far that holds for the theater. For the steakhouse next door, it did not.
A circuit sale that reached Route 9
Chestnut Hill's theater was one of 13 cinemas in a larger deal. On June 11, 2026, Kinepolis announced an agreement with Harbor Lights Entertainment, formerly National Amusements, to buy the U.S. Showcase Cinemas. Seven of the cinemas are in Massachusetts, four in New York, one in Ohio and one in Rhode Island. Together they have 164 screens and 17,794 seats. The announced enterprise value was $30 million for the whole circuit. No price was reported for Chestnut Hill on its own.
Kinepolis announced on September 11, 2026 that the deal had closed. That release repeats a line from the June announcement: the company "will continue to operate Showcase Cinemas under the existing brand name."
The theater's own page still matches that. It lists "Showcase SuperLux Chestnut Hill" at 55 Boylston Street, with SuperLux and LuxLite seating, concession menus and the Starpass rewards program.
Kinepolis also said something else in both releases. CEO Eddy Duquenne said the acquisition "provides a valuable real estate position, with future opportunities for further redevelopment and optimization being explored." That is the company's stated intent at the circuit level. Neither release names a specific site or a timeline.
The table next door went first
Davio's opened at The Street in 2013. According to Boston.com, DiFillippo said the closure was not caused by a lack of business. He said the change in ownership at the Showcase SuperLux property, which shares space with the restaurant, set it off, and that he had no deal with the new owners. The last day of service was June 28.
He told the magazine he hopes to come back to the area and is looking at opportunities on the South Shore. Davio's still runs its Back Bay flagship at 75 Arlington Street, as well as locations in the Seaport, Foxborough, Logan Airport and Lynnfield.
Neither Kinepolis release mentions the former restaurant space. For now, the dining room that sat next to the movies is out of the dinner-and-a-movie plan.
It was the second sit-down closure on the property this year. Limani, a Greek seafood restaurant at 33 Boylston Street, closed in January, Boston Restaurant Talk reported.
Most of the year's other changes at The Street have been counter service, sweets or retail:
| Date in 2026 | Change at The Street | Address |
|---|---|---|
| January | Limani, Greek seafood restaurant, closed | 33 Boylston Street |
| March 2 | Madras Dosa Co. opened in the former Bagel Table storefront | 9 Boylston Street |
| May 1 | The Sweetish Fish opened its first permanent storefront | 33 Boylston Street |
| June 28 | Davio's Northern Italian Steakhouse served its final meals | 55 Boylston Street |
| October 15 | The RealReal's announced opening date | 27 Boylston Street, Suite 205 |
Madras Dosa Co. is the third Massachusetts location for the Indian street-food restaurant, after the Seaport and Cambridge, Fig City News noted. Its menu covers customizable dosas, idly and chaat. The Sweetish Fish has a rotating "Catch of the Day" scooping counter and shares the 33 Boylston Street address with the former Limani. The RealReal says its Chestnut Hill shop is the company's first store in Massachusetts.
The pattern fits Newton overall. Fig City News counted at least 12 restaurant openings and reopenings in Newton against nine closings since its December 2025 summary. Newton's Director of Economic Development, Lauren Berman, told the outlet that "Newton continues to be a desirable place to open a restaurant," and said that restaurateurs are usually eager to move in when a space opens up.
Where the sit-down dinner is now
The Street's directory still has plenty of places for a meal before a 7 o'clock show, spread across its buildings.
- Legal Sea Foods, which The Street describes as a two-story seafood emporium with a fish market and a restaurant.
- Aquitaine, a Parisian-inspired French bistro.
- Bernard's, listed as a neighborhood favorite for gourmet Asian cuisine.
- Bianca, on the current tenant list.
- Pineapple Thai, serving fried rice, soups, noodles, curries and vegan options.
- Chilacates, Mexican food made with fresh, local, natural ingredients.
- Chef Dave's, with dine-in, takeout and catering.
For a quicker meal before the trailers, there are Shake Shack, Just Salad, Pink Carrot and Madras Dosa Co. Blue Bottle Coffee is on the list for anyone who wants an espresso before a late show.
After the credits
Dessert has gained the most this year. The Street now has Van Leeuwen, the ice cream brand that started as a New York City scoop truck; The Half Cookie, a woman-owned shop selling hand-rolled, freshly baked cookies; Mia's Brooklyn Bakery, with cakes, pies, cupcakes and tarts; and The Sweetish Fish's candy counter.
A short drive east, New City Microcreamery opened at 19 Commonwealth Avenue, across from Boston College. Boston.com reported it was open by May 19 after a ribbon-cutting the week before.
The calendar from here
The Street's events calendar from late October through the end of the year:
- Saturday, October 24, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Halloweek: Trick or Treat at The Street, free and open to the public. The rain date is Sunday, October 25.
- Sundays, October 25 and November 1: Sunday Storytime at Hummingbird Books.
- Every Sunday from October 25 through December 27: "Happy Hour Bites" at Legal Sea Foods, which suits a Sunday matinee.
The theater's page lists showtimes on a rolling basis, so the Starpass program and the SuperLux seats are the parts of the evening that haven't changed.
The next public news at 55 Boylston is likely to be about the restaurant space rather than the screens. Until a plan for that space is announced, Legal Sea Foods, Aquitaine and the rest of the directory above are where dinner before the movie happens.
For owners near Route 9, a change in who owns The Street's anchor buildings can also show up in how buyers see the blocks around them. If you'd like to talk through what this year's turnover means for your own home, Allison Blank & Company is glad to help you start your Newton or Brookline market plan.
