A New Stage Opens in Swampscott

The town’s approval for a new performing‑arts venue at the old Hawthorne restaurant marks a fresh chapter for Swampscott. After three town meetings, residents and business owners finally agreed to let the building host ticketed shows, thanks in part to assurances that sound and crowd control would stay within limits. Owner John Nicastro, who also runs a nearby comedy club, promised that the venue would not become a noisy roadhouse. He said professional staff would manage sound, security and parking to keep the neighborhood calm.The plan is to hold concerts and shows through late night, with most music ending by 11:30 p. m. and the venue closing at midnight or 1 a. m. , depending on the event. When no tickets are sold, the space will serve the community for birthdays, recitals and meetings. An upstairs comedy area is also in the works, linked to Nicastro’s Boston club. The town granted a 30‑month lease while it develops the property, which was bought for $7 million in 2022. An open‑house event is scheduled for July 3 so locals can tour the new center and watch fireworks from its grounds.