Revised Paragon Boardwalk design to include new beer garden, arcade

By Carol Britton Meyer

A revised development plan for the Paragon Boardwalk property that will be presented to the planning board on Wednesday will include design modifications and some version of the current beer garden and arcade.

Paragon Boardwalk owners Diana and Chris Reale are selling the property to the Procopio Companies, which is seeking a special permit for a 40-foot-tall mixed-use building, with 7,000-square-foot retail space on the first floor topped by 132 residential units. The plan features 177 parking spaces under the building and along the former railroad bed that runs behind the property, along with public open space.

PARAGON BOARDWALK OWNER CHRIS REALE

On Wednesday, Jan. 10, Procopio will unveil a new plan that includes a new version of the current entertainment venue – including the beer garden and arcade – adjacent to the proposed development, Chris Reale told The Hull Times.

“While the current venue will be closed during construction [if the project is approved], we’re excited that a brand-new, indoor-outdoor entertainment center is now part of the proposal,” he said.

Full details will be presented at the hearing.

“We agreed to sell the property to the Procopio Companies because the business is not financially viable in the current space, given the size and age of the facilities,” Reale said. “We offered to sell the property to another operator to keep it as-is, but we could not get our investment back, and the investment needed for a new facility can only happen as part of a larger development.”

Paragon Boardwalk closed for the season and paid its staff through the end of the year.

“We are looking for a viable and profitable path forward in 2024 and hope to reopen for one final season,” he said.

At next week’s meeting, other changes to the Paragon Dunes development plan by Procopio also will be presented to address community feedback about the size and design of the project, and adequacy of the parking plan.

Contingent on project approval, the Reales would be involved with the new family entertainment center, he said.

“We’re pleased that after seven years, this popular business would be rebuilt as a first-class venue within the new development,” he said.

The Procopio Companies earlier withdrew a request for a variance to build a 75-foot building at 183-197 Nantasket Ave. in the Nantasket Beach Overlay District, which limits building heights to 40 feet.

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