Phoenix Theatres to Relaunch Movies at Governor’s Square Mall

Posted on October 3, 2024 | by Joe Bell

Media Contacts

Joe Cork – Phoenix Theatres

248-478-7170

jcork@phoenixmovies.net

Joe Bell – Cafaro Company

330-747-2661

jbell@cafarocompany.com

Phoenix Theatres to Relaunch Movies at

Governor’s Square Mall

Michigan-Based Company Invests $5 Million to Bring Back First-Run Films with First-Class Amenities, to include 5 theatres featuring Dolby ATMOS

Clarksville, Tennessee, October 2, 2024 – Movies are returning to Governor’s Square Mall as Phoenix Theatres has signed a long-term lease to bring first-run movies and first-class amenities back to Governor’s Square Mall, including theatres equipped with Dolby ATMOS®.

The 24-year-old independently owned movie theatre company plans to invest $5 million to refurbish the 10-screen theatre, creating a new premiere movie-going experience in the greater Clarksville area. Renovation plans have been submitted for the 42,312-square-foot building, which will feature all-new premium reclining heated seating, 4K laser digital projection, Dolby ATMOS, first-run movies and family-friendly pricing.

The Governor’s Square Mall location marks the 79th screen for Michigan-based Phoenix Theatres, which operates theatres in Michigan, Iowa, Massachusetts, and Ohio. This is the first location in Tennessee for Phoenix Theatres, which expects to welcome its first Governor’s Square Mall moviegoers in summer of 2025.

“This announcement signals another major quality-of-life enhancement for our city’s residents, and visitors, alike,” said Clarksville Mayor Joe Pitts. “The enjoyment of watching a first-run movie in a premier, comfortable, first-class setting is returning to our primary regional shopping center, Governor’s Square Mall, through the much-welcomed investment from Phoenix Theatres.”

Cory Jacobson, president of Phoenix Theatres, says the company was fortunate to be considered for the opportunity at Governor’s Square Mall and looks forward to bringing the brand’s own unique amenities to the greater Clarksville community. This is our third location in a Cafaro Company owned mall, and we have enjoyed an excellent relationship with them for the past 18 years.

Anthony Cafaro, co-president of The Cafaro Company, echoed a similar sentiment. “Our company and Phoenix have enjoyed a close working relationship for many years. As a result, we’ve been able to establish outstanding, state-of-the art cinematic experiences at our shopping complexes in Michigan and Iowa. This is a partnership that truly brings tremendous value to the communities we serve.”

“Phoenix was originally formed with the idea of refurbishing closed theatres in viable retail areas and returning well-operated neighborhood theatres to their respective communities,”
explained Jacobson. “We are very pleased with the vibrancy of the mall and the exceptional mix of retail. After exploring the city, we felt very much at home in the culture of the community.”

As a reflection of what residents can expect, Phoenix Theatres offers the following amenities:

Every seat in every auditorium will be a large loveseat-style (with adjustable middle armrest), fully reclining, heated chair with ample of leg room.
Specially formatted auditoriums featuring Dolby ATMOS for a premium, immersive, audio experience and 4K Christie® Digital Projection.
All 10 auditoriums will be equipped with premium Dolby Digital sound and Christie

Digital Projection.

Phoenix mobile app and online tickets that allow customers to reserve their seats easily.
Self-serve Pepsi® and butter stations for added service speed and convenience.
Combined ticketing and concession purchases in one line.
Family-friendly prices.

“We deeply appreciate what they are bringing to our community, and we know that local movie-goers are in for a real treat with their advanced theatre features and the overall scope of the project,” Mayor Pitts said.

Jordan Hohman, vice president of project development for Phoenix Theatres, shared that the company focuses on providing premier amenities along with the little details that large national theatre chains cannot provide at a local level. “We were one of the first in the United States to offer 100 percent-reclining seating in every auditorium. Our goal is to offer the highest-quality first-run movie-going experience by offering state-of-the-art digital projection and Dolby ATMOS audio for the first time in Clarksville, along with comfortable luxury amenities.”

“We are thrilled to continue to work with Phoenix Theatres and support their ongoing commitment to Dolby ATMOS presentations. They are committed to bringing a first-class presentation to the community and having auditoriums equipped with Dolby ATMOS will ensure a premium, immersive audio experience,” said Michael Archer, vice president worldwide cinema sales at Dolby.

About Phoenix Theatres

Michigan-based Phoenix Theatres was founded in 2000 and has four Michigan theatres in Wayne, Monroe, Livonia and Grand Rapids. Four theatres are located out of state in Dubuque, Iowa, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and two Ohio theatres located in Defiance and North Olmsted. Governor’s Square will mark the company’s 79th theatre screen and first location in Tennessee. For more information, visit PhoenixMovies.net.

About Governor’s Square Mall

Governor’s Square Mall, a 805,000 square-foot shopping center, offers the greater Clarksville area a wonderful mix of family-friendly indoor shopping, dining, and entertainment. Located just 45 miles from Nashville, Governor’s Square Mall is anchored by Dillard’s, JCPenney, Belk, Burlington, Dick’s Sporting Goods and Dave & Buster’s. The center features a mix of national and local brands. For more information about Governor’s Square Mall, visit governorssquare.net.

About The Cafaro Company
The Cafaro organization, based in Niles, Ohio, is one of the nation’s largest privately held shopping center developers. Founded by the late William M. Cafaro in 1949, the firm is now in its eighth decade and third generation as a family owned and managed business. Over the years, Cafaro-affiliated companies have developed, owned and managed more than 30 million square feet of commercial real estate in 14 states. For more information about the Cafaro organization, visit online at www.cafarocompany.com.

Honoring the Champions

Posted on September 26, 2024 | by Joe Bell

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

September 25, 2024

Contacts:

Joe Bell Margi Valdez

Director of Corporate Communications Marketing Director

Cafaro Company Huntington Mall

jbell@cafarocompany.com marketingdirector@huntingtonmall.com

330-743-7688 304-733-0492 ext. 102

724-730-4532 (Mobile)

Big Day for the Knights

When a school can celebrate a sports team winning a state championship, it’s a very big deal. When the same school can claim TWO state champions in the same year, that’s monumental. That’s the case for Cabell Midland High School. In the spring of this year, both its baseball and track teams captured their respective state titles in Class AAA.

Today, Huntington Mall honored both teams for their extraordinary victories at a Champions Rally in the mall’s Center Court. Cabell County Schools Superintendent Tim Hardesty and Athletic Director Jason Bankston were on hand to congratulate the athletes. Track Coach Chris Parsons recounted the season, thanked his assistant coaches and introduced the team members individually, as did Baseball Coach Tracy Brumfield.

The mall’s philanthropic arm, the Cafaro Foundation, presented the school with a $10,000 donation. Each student-athlete also received a Huntington Mall Gift Card.

Huntington Mall has been serving the people of West Virginia, Ohio and Kentucky since 1981. This 1.5 million square foot shopping complex is located off Route 60 and Interstate 64 at exit 20 in Barboursville, WV. For more information on mall tenants, hours and events, call 304-733-0492 or visit online at www.huntingtonmall.com. Huntington Mall is owned and managed in association with the Cafaro family of companies, based in Niles, Ohio. To learn more about the Cafaro organization, go to www.cafarocompany.com.

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New Business Exploding at Kennedy Mall

Posted on September 24, 2024 | by Joe Bell

5 new businesses coming to Kennedy Mall

BY GRACE NIELAND grace.nieland@thmedia.com The Telegraph Herald

A quintet of new businesses is set to join the ranks at Dubuque’s Kennedy Mall, including a new department store.

Mall owner Cafaro Co. on Monday announced the new stores, all of which are expected to open by the end of the year. The ventures represent a combined 75,000 square feet of newly leased space across the mall.

“I can’t recall the last time we had this many businesses ready to open their doors within just a couple months of each other,” said Joe Bell, Cafaro Co. director of corporate communications. “That’s a very good sign for Kennedy Mall.”

The largest addition will be World Earth Superstore, a 66,000-square foot, two-level department store expected to open in the former Younkers space near Planet Fitness and The Fun Station. It will be owned by Irvin Johnson, of Durango, Iowa, who already operates World Earth Minerals and This & That at the mall.

The new store will include a selection of men and women’s apparel, furniture, decor, cosmetics and more. It also will have a coffee bar and candy shop, as well as a large selection of kids toys and entertainment.

“It’s basically a family store,” Johnson said. “We have a little bit of everything for anybody, and it’s at (discounted) prices that they can afford.”

World Earth Superstore is expected to open in December, though Johnson said some of the larger amenities will be added over time. World Earth Minerals and This & That will continue to operate in their current storefronts in addition to the superstore.

Bell said Johnson’s newest venture is exactly the kind of thing Cafaro likes to see from its tenants.

“This is an offshoot from an entrepreneur who already has a presence in the mall who is … taking the opportunity to take a (vacant) space and turn it into something a little different,” Bell said. “I’m excited to see what he does with it.”

In addition to the department store, the mall also stands to gain two new food and beverage options.

Bubbles Boba Tea will open the same month next to Shoe Carnival. It is one of the first Bubbles Boba Tea franchise locations in Iowa and will serve a variety of boba tea and other beverages, as well as flatbreads, salads and wraps.

Owner Jen Hart said Dubuque seemed like a good fit for the boba tea business because of its relative proximity to her Quad Cities location and the excitement and support from Kennedy Mall personnel.

“It seems like post-COVID there has been this big revival to the whole mall concept, and now seemed like a good time to test those waters,” Hart said. “… We’re hoping to offer a bubble tea experience that everyone can enjoy.”

In November, two beauty stores will join the mix at Kennedy Mall. Perfume Aura will open near center court to offer a variety of perfumes and colognes, and D’Or24K will occupy the space next to Hibbett Sports to sell premium cosmetics, skin care and anti-aging products.

Bell credited Cafaro’s leasing teams with keeping their “ears to the ground” to ensure the attraction of new clients to Kennedy Mall, adding that the five new stores will be major contributors to efforts to revitalize the shopping center.

Moving forward, he said Cafaro is focused on further meeting customers’ demands as it works to fill the mall’s remaining vacancies.

He also stressed the company’s interest in adding new food and beverage options and outlined plans for the possible development of standalone buildings on mall-adjacent properties for use by local businesses and/or chain restaurants.

“There’s a great demand from people in the community for different types of dining experiences, so we’re going to put some concerted effort to see what we can do in that arena (in 2025),” he said.