A building that’s been a brass foundry, then a small art-house theater, then empty since 2020 is finally getting a new life. Building permits filed with the city show the former Criterion Cinemas space at 1331 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd, next to the Movieland at Boulevard Square complex, is being converted into Tribeca Kitchen, a new deli concept, according to Richmond BizSense’s Mike Platania and RVAHub.
A Building With a Long History
The 5,300-square-foot space was built in 1900 as a brass foundry, converted into a small theater in the early 2010s, and ran independent and art-house films for about eight years before Bow Tie Cinemas closed it when the pandemic hit. It sat as an empty shell for years afterward. Tribeca Kitchen is the project of Inflight Provisions, a local catering company known for private aviation clients; a recent job listing describes the concept as a neighborhood market offering made-to-order sandwiches, salads, soups and chef-prepared takeaway meals, with deli meats roasted in-house. No opening date has been announced.
It’s Not Happening Alone
A few blocks east, developer Greystar is building a mid-rise apartment building with nearly 400 units at 2700 W. Leigh St., a project Level 2 Development is also involved in. Just up the street at 1201 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd, a separate ~$100 million, 295-unit building called The Ace opened in mid-2025 and has already leased nearly half of its 13,000 square feet of ground-floor retail to a restaurant. That’s the same pattern we’ve tracked with restaurant leasing at the nearby Scott’s Addition restaurant scene and with the redevelopment news at Sauer Center further down West Broad: this stretch between Scott’s Addition and the Boulevard is filling in on multiple fronts at once, not just one project at a time.
What It Means for the Area
This isn’t Scott’s Addition proper – it’s the Boulevard corridor just north of it, closer to North Side and a short drive from the Museum District than to Scott’s Addition’s core. A century-old commercial building filling a long vacancy, combined with a nearly-400-unit apartment project a few blocks away, points to more foot traffic and retail interest along this stretch of the Boulevard over the next few years. As with any pre-opening restaurant news, treat it as a signal about the corridor’s direction, not a reason to pay a premium on a specific block today – none of these projects have a track record yet, and rents at nearby new construction have already drawn plenty of local debate over affordability. Browse what’s currently listed nearby on our active listings page to see actual asking prices rather than guessing at where this corridor is headed.
Curious about homes near the Boulevard corridor, Scott’s Addition or North Side? We can put together a saved search covering the areas seeing the most new investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where exactly is Tribeca Kitchen opening?
At 1331 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd, in the former Criterion Cinemas building next to the Movieland at Boulevard Square complex.
Who is behind Tribeca Kitchen?
Inflight Provisions, a local catering company that primarily serves private aviation clients.
What was in this building before?
It was built in 1900 as a brass foundry, converted to a small independent theater in the early 2010s, and closed by Bow Tie Cinemas in 2020 when the pandemic hit.
When does it open?
No opening date has been announced as of this post. Construction was underway as of mid-2026.
Is this in Scott’s Addition?
Not quite – it’s just north of Scott’s Addition proper, along the Boulevard corridor closer to North Side.
What else is being built nearby?
Developer Greystar and Level 2 Development are building a mid-rise apartment building with nearly 400 units a few blocks away at 2700 W. Leigh St, and a separate ~$100 million, 295-unit building called The Ace opened nearby at 1201 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd in mid-2025.
