Rock Row (née The Ridge, née Dirigo Plaza) | Westbrook, ME

The Press Herald today has a cover story on the reopening of the Clarks Pond cinema as "Entertainment Luxury Cinemas", and it also mentions Rock Row...

At the same time, the developers of the Rock Row complex in Westbrook have signed a long-term lease with Cinemark Theaters to open a 12-screen movie theater by the end of 2026, a spokesperson said...

The Cinemark movie theater in Westbrook is scheduled to open with the next phase of Rock Row, which will include stores, restaurants, an Element Hotel by Westin Marriott and residences, said spokesperson Angie Helton.
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So they're finally giving us a date of sorts for the cool part?
 
This is actually now looking quite substantial and impressive. The Dempsey Center will be here. Our own Hollywood celebrity back in town only now with a building. They can put his headshot in the lobby.

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And now that we are on a kind of roll with Rock Row, look at this: In Shanghai, China there is an Intercontinental Hotel set down into a rock quarry that doesn't look much different than the one at Rock Row (the quarry, not the hotel). It dips down a bit underneath for viewing under the water (am assuming the water is filtered). I like the waterfall feature. That can't be too expensive, simply pumping water up to fall. You know, water falling (or Falling Water, Frank Lloyd Wright). And with an array of colorful LED lights, it could be quite the visual. Okay, maybe we don't get an ICH, but what about something less, perhaps a more spectacular version of a Hilton Garden Inn? I could see tourists getting off 95 to spend a night here. And go nuts with the light show. It works for Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. I haven't seen their light displays though I've read it's massive. People could watch the light shows reflecting in the water from their room windows and decks (and from under too). And parking would be on the roof for a fun arrival first impression. It might be a dream here, but looking at what Portland had twenty years ago versus what's been built now was too. And what will there be twenty years from now, in 2044? I would guess a 30-story building, for sure.

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/china-build-worlds-first-subterranean-hotel


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There was supposed to eventually be a light and fountain show in the quarry. However, I've also been told that every time they go down into the quarry, Westbrook Fire Dept. throws a fit.
 
markhb said:
There was supposed to eventually be a light and fountain show in the quarry. However, I've also been told that every time they go down into the quarry, Westbrook Fire Dept. throws a fit.
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Maybe it's because they don't have a well thought-out rescue plan, and what if there are traces of "forever chemicals"? I don't know the process for extracting the raw materials to make cement, but I do know that with oil shale it takes high pressure water and chemicals to get it out of the rock. They will use explosives to get the materials out for making cement. I remember growing up hearing something about blasting controversies from this quarry, that it was done at certain times of the day. To me, or the way it is now, it still reminds of a cesspool or unnatural body of water created from an industry.
 
markhb said:
They've announced another new restaurant: Asador Grill, by the folks behind a place in Kennebunk I've never heard of, The Lost Fire. I have no idea where it's going to go unless it's going to be part of the unbuilt stuff.

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The Lost Fire in Kennebunkport is phenomenal ... has a sister restaurant Ultramar ... outstanding decor, pretty good food, but from limited experience seemed less vibrant (it was off season) ... anyway both are by chef / owner German Lucarelli ... I would rate The Lost Fire easily in my top 5 restaurants in Maine so if this is anything like that it is good news!
 
I did see an update to the Press Herald story that said that indeed, the new grill place will be part of the Phase 2 build we've been waiting for. Hopefully they get the application going soon after the medical place opens!
 
PWMFlyer said:
Came across this new listing under Boulos. Alot of Class A space in today's market.

Buildout Connect

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Wow. Interesting that that's the piece they're putting on the Portland side of the line.

I still hope the Italian place from DC they mention in some of their collateral is coming!
 
PWMFlyer said:
Came across this new listing under Boulos. Alot of Class A space in today's market.

Buildout Connect

buildout.com buildout.com
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This really feels like they're just "throwing Sh*t at the wall to see what sticks" They haven't even been able to lease out the first (much smaller) proposed office building closer to Market Basket....They also seemingly haven't made any progress on their myriad of other "phases" (residential, hotel, movie theater, food hall, convention center)

I'm not saying there's no future for new office space.....But if Portland Square hasn't been able to lease out new Class-A office space in the heart of the downtown business cluster... Rock Row certainly isn't going to be able to find a tenant for this kind of suburban buildout (Unless they've got a handshake agreement with some major company)
 
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