Milford Now: Smiles/Milford Amusement owner talks redevelopment plans

MILFORD — The redeveloped Smiles Entertainment/Milford Amusement Center site on the Boston Post Road will likely include a cell phone store and a restaurant, a co-owner of the parcel said Tuesday.

Melvin Getlan, of New York, told Milford Now he is planning to redevelop the once popular amusement center into a 60,000-square-foot development.

The new development will feature one larger building that will house several different businesses and two smaller buildings, which may feature a cell phone store and a restaurant with a drive-thru window.

“Some tenants are not signed as of yet,” Getlan said. “We’ll get the right mix of tenants. There is a lot of interest in the site.”

Plans include demolishing the existing Smile’s building, and removing the batting cages, mini golf, boat rides, and lasertron area.

The site at 1607 Boston Post Road has remained empty since it abruptly closed in August 2011. At the time it was believed home gaming and increased competition led Smiles to close.

Getlan said he understands the nostalgia about the amusement center. Milford Amusement opened in the 1980s.

“The world changes unfortunately, it just came to an end, business was down,” Getlan said while adding home gaming definitely damaged its business. “Now the area is a major shopping store area.”

He said he hopes to begin construction in 2015. Getlan vowed the project will be of top quality, and the construction will be performed by local workers. Official plans are being prepared for the city.