Bijou Square is part of the City of Bridgeport’s $800 million planned renewal and redevelopment of its downtown. The goal was to create a complete and vibrant 24-hour urban neighborhood with commercial, retail, residential, arts and entertainment spaces and activities, restoring to use many old, dormant commercial buildings.
The Bijou Theater (1910) is America’s longest continually operated movie house and following the renovation, now offers independent, foreign, art and cult classic films. Space on the second level was remodeled as Class A commercial office space. Restaurant and other support retail stores surround the theatre to complete the mixed use urban center.
NDC’s $3.2 million Qualified Equity Investment in the $4.2 million project was combined with financing from Citibank, resulting in the projected creation and/or retention of 125 jobs.