Federal Hill Pizza in Providence Closes Castle Cinema Location — Another Blow for Historic Theater

Federal Hill Pizza in Providence Closes Castle Cinema Location — Another Blow for Historic Theater

Federal Hill Pizza on Chalkstone Avenue has now officially closed. It was located in the historic Castle Cinema location.

It was the latest effort to re-invigorate the historic theater.

A sign in the window reads, “Thank you for your patronage. This location closed permanently. Come visit us at our Warren location.”

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The space is still available for rentals. Owner and chef Billy Manzo had purchased the location of the old Castle Cinema for both food and entertainment. 

 

Latest in Providence Pizza Moves 

In the fall of 2021, Manzo had indicated he would be closing the Providence location sometime in 2022, to focus on his original East Bay location — as well as a new line of frozen pizzas. 

“The timing is absolutely perfect to meet the increasing demand for convenience foods, specifically frozen pizza,” said Manzo last fall.

On Sunday, Manzo told GoLocal he expects to have an announcement about the frozen pizza line shortly. 

"I was very fortunate to be able to use Italy’s number one cheese company," said Manzo of his new venture. "The final packaging is being approved through the FDA process."

 

 

Another Loss for the Castle Cinema

The departure of Manzo is another blow for the historic theater.

Prior to Manzo coming in with Federal Hill Pizza, one of the previous groups that tried to bring the theater back to glory was the Gemma family.

The business was co-owned by one-time Democratic Congressional candidate Anthony Gemma — he received a $242,600 loan through what is now known as the Providence Economic Development Partnership (PEDP), GoLocalProv reported.

Gemma and his three brothers received the loan in 2000 (just over 2 years before Congressman David Cicilline became Mayor of Providence) and was eventually paid off in full, but like many of the businesses that received funding during Cicilline’s eight-year tenure in City Hall, the Castle Cinema struggled to remain profitable and was closed by 2004.

Gemma and his brothers received a no-interest loan (most loans range from 3 percent to 12 percent) for $242,600 and were required to pay it back in 120 months.

The loan was part of the more than $1 million the Gemma family sunk into the movie theater, which had been a landmark in the city since 1925.

According to a 2002 report, “The new proprietors gambled that they could save the old theater by turning it into the Castle Cinema and Café, offering full meals to diners who sit in seats made for Lincoln Town Cars and watch a movie. The theater also hosts live performances and the café serves diners who are not going to a movie or a performance.”

A Brown University report wrote, "The Castle Theatre on Chalkstone Avenue is one of those typical old neighborhood movie houses, which became popular in American suburbs, when the movies had arrived a certain respectability. The marquee has retained the art deco detailing of the stainless steel and enameled metal marquee, which announces the films featured, underneath the green neon letters with its name. The façade still contains the porcelain tiles and terracotta in its brick walls. Built in 1925 in the Mount Pleasant area of Providence, then a middle-class neighborhood of mostly one or two-bedroom houses, the area has changed from rural to slightly more suburban, yet has retained much of its rich history."

In 2000, the Castle was the site of Tipper Gore and members of the Democratic Party gave speeches on behalf of Al Gore for the presidential bid.