Home Industries Hospitality & Tourism Apple Cinemas scheduled to take over at Providence Place on Nov. 1

Apple Cinemas scheduled to take over at Providence Place on Nov. 1

By

Katie Castellani

-

10/22/2025

APPLE CINEMAS is set to replace Providence Place Cinemas 16 in the downtown shopping center on Nov. 1. / PBN FILE PHOTO/MICHAEL SALERNO

PROVIDENCE – Apple Cinemas is set to replace Providence Place Cinemas 16 in the downtown shopping center. On Oct. 20, an R.I. Superior Court judge approved a petition from W. Mark Russo, who was tapped as permanent receiver of Providence Place mall in November 2024, to enter into a lease agreement with Apple Cinemas. Court

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PROVIDENCE – Apple Cinemas is set to replace Providence Place Cinemas 16 in the downtown shopping center. On Oct. 20, an R.I. Superior Court judge approved a petition from W. Mark Russo, who was tapped as permanent receiver of Providence Place mall in November 2024, to enter into a lease agreement with Apple Cinemas. Court documents show both Russo and Apple Cinemas have already signed the lease agreement, which is being held “in camera” – meaning it is not available to the public. Russo said he expects Apple Cinemas to move into the space Nov. 1. The last day of operation for the shopping center’s current movie theater, Providence Place Cinemas 16, will be Oct. 26, according to the theater’s website. Russo did not immediately respond to PBN’s follow-up questions on the lease price and when the agreement expires Wednesday. Court documents show National Amusements, which runs Providence Place Cinemas 16, did not plan to extend its lease after it expires on Jan 31. Centennial Real Estate Management LLC, the mall’s management company, and Russo spent “well over” six months showing movie operators the space and negotiating letters of intent, according to court documents. In the end, Apple Cinemas proposed the best terms and conditions. Also, Russo had visited Apple Cinemas’ theater in Warwick and was “impressed with those operations.” Apple Cinemas operates a 12-screen standalone theater on the Warwick Mall property. The company has no relation to technology giant Apple Inc., which, in fact, filed a lawsuit against the theater chain in August, claiming trademark infringement. Last week, Russo announced that he was seeking court approval to enter into an agreement with Apple Cinemas saying the shift "represents an important step forward for Providence Place and its future.” “We’re pleased to have reached an agreement with Apple Cinemas – an experienced and growing regional operator – and we’re confident this will bring new energy and an enhanced movie-going experience to the mall,” Russo said. The mall went into receivership last year after the former owner, Brookfield Properties and subsidiary, GGP-Providence Place LLC, defaulted on more than $250 million in loans. Russo said bringing in Apple Cinemas is part of a larger strategy to position the mall for success by “taking advantage of opportunities that add appeal and value for visitors, other tenants, and the community.” Because National Amusement’s lease for the theater was signed with Brookfield, Russo was required to get court approval to end the agreement early. National Amusements has been running the Providence Place Cinemas 16 since late 2003, when it purchased the operation from Northeast Cinemas. In 2008, National Amusements announced it had purchased the Feinstein IMAX Theatre located in the mall from IMAX Corp. Providence Place Cinemas 16, which occupies just more than 128,000 square feet, was the largest contributor to the mall’s rent in 2023 – accounting for 9.8% of Providence Place’s total base rent collections for the year ending September 2023, according to a report issued by Kroll Bond Rating Agency last year. Katie Castellani is a PBN staff writer. You may contact her at Castellani@PBN.com.