The exact future of one of the region's best-known music complexes continues to be unknown, especially based on a new proposal now on the table that mentions the potential tearing down of the building.
According to an article from Cambridge Day (via a Cambridge Historical Commission Meeting notice), The Sater family--who own The Middle East along with the property itself--have put out a plan that would demolish the Mass. Ave. structure and replace it with a six-story hotel that would have two stages for live entertainment. A blueprint posted shows that the basement has a section labeled "Middle East Music Venue" while the first floor has a section simply labeled "Music Venue," and the first floor also shows three spaces for retail while the 6th floor has a restaurant/bar space. Cambridge Day mentions that there is a request to postpone the September 8 meeting which could mean that the proposal might not be heard until next month at the earliest, as the next commission meeting is slated to take place on October 6.
Nabil and Joseph Sater, who purchased The Middle East in 2014, put the site up for sale in early 2020, though the listing was ultimately taken down and no sale took place.
The address for The Middle East is 472-480 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA, 02139. Its website is at https://www.mideastoffers.com/
[September 19 update: A Facebook post from the place indicates that The Middle East apparently won't be going anywhere, with the note saying that "Over the coming months, we and our team will present a plan to improve the Middle East, in cooperation with CSQ Realty, to include a two stage music venue, a modernized restaurant and event space, and a lounge, as well as a hotel and retail space....The Middle East plans to remain open until such time as the planned renovations are to take place, which we currently expect to occur no earlier than 2024. While there may be a short interruption during the redevelopment of the space, rest assured that the Middle East will remain the venue that our customers, performers, friends, and neighbors have come to love for years and decades to come."]
[Earlier Article]
The Middle East Restaurant and Nightclub in Cambridge's Central Square Has Been Put Up for Sale
[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]
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