peter kafash

The turnaround could offer a glimmer of hope for the darkened theater and for Independence Plaza. The South Broad Street shopping center lost its two anchor tenants — Destinta and a Superfresh grocery store — in the past seven months.

It’s one of several plazas in Hamilton to see occupancy rates tank in the past few years.
Michael Angarone, Hamilton’s economic development director, said he is hopeful a theater replacement can draw in new businesses.

“It’s a good thing, especially in that area where they’ve had some stores closing,” said Angarone. “Hopefully, it’ll be a catalyst for some other things.”

Down the street, construction has also started on a Bottom Dollar discount food store at a the site of a long-vacant Pathmark.

Kafash and his brother, company president Ben Kafash, said they, too, want customers back at Independence Plaza.

To do that, they’ve come up with what they believe is a winning business strategy: offering movie tickets at bargain-basement prices.