North Bergen Theater Property Changes Hands, Set for Major Self-Storage Redevelopment

A famous North Bergen, New Jersey movie theater has been sold and will be completely renovated. The big cinema theater at 3131 Kennedy Boulevard will be converted into a contemporary, climate-controlled self-storage facility.

JLL Capital Markets announced the sale for Madison International Realty. The buyer is Safely Store. The agreement describes the property as 73,398 square feet on 1.07 acres. After being a theater, the two-story building now unoccupied.

Built in 1999, the building is 57 feet tall. The new owners will turn the building into a four-story, 103,000-square-foot self-storage facility. The rehabilitation proposal creates climate-controlled storage space, which is in demand in densely populated locations where residential and commercial storage needs are growing.

According to transaction real estate specialists, the property’s structure is ideal for this type of conversion. Redevelopment is supported by the building’s robust shell, wide interior, and high ceilings. These traits limit structural modifications and make the transformation more practical and cost-effective.

JLL Senior Managing Director Jose Cruz termed the sale a unique opportunity to turn a strategically located theater into a best-in-class self-storage facility. He said the property’s location promotes long-term demand for this type of use due to solid market fundamentals.

Senior Managing Director Jose Cruz, Managing Directors Nicholas Stefans and Jason Lundy, and Senior Analyst Luke Ceccoli managed the sale for JLL Investment Sales and Advisory. They facilitated the Madison International Realty-Safely Store transaction.

The rehabilitation follows a trend in New Jersey and other urban areas to reuse previous entertainment or retail buildings to satisfy community and commercial objectives. As consumer habits change and real estate markets react, property owners seek adaptive reuse alternatives that optimize value and meet local demand.

Due to its central position in North Bergen and versatile structure, the former theater is projected to become a secure, climate-controlled storage facility for residents and businesses.