Ben & Jerry’s is also expected to open in December. Other stores damaged by the Cross Creek Plaza fire could open a few months later.
By Jonathan Friedman/ Assistant Editor
Movies and ice cream could return to Malibu before the year is done. Cross Creek Plaza owner Steve Soboroff said this week that the New Malibu Theater and the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream shop that were destroyed in an April fire are expected to be rebuilt and be ready for business by December. He said he hopes the other fire damaged stores could reopen a few months later.
An electrical malfunction caused a fire on April 17 that destroyed nearly a third of the plaza. It is not known what caused the electrical failure. Captain A.J. Cunningham from Los Angeles County Fire Station 88 told The Malibu Times in May that it could have been a number of things, including old wiring, wiring that was chewed by rodents or a bad connection.
Last month, Bay Cities Beauty Supply, Casa Escobar and Fast Frame were torn down in preparation for the rebuilding. Soboroff said the same thing would not need to be done to the movie theater and ice cream shop, because the damage was not as significant. Gregory O’Connor, the optometrist at Malibu Eye Center, said he is only certain for now that a damaged wall must be removed.
“I’m not exactly sure what has to be done with the unit,” O’Connor said. “There may be other issues, I don’t know if the roof needs repair.”
Fast Frame owner Chris Cavette said it has becoming a waiting game for him as he is not certain when his store will be able to reopen. He was recently updated on when the store could possibly open, but said he was disappointed he was unable to find out sooner.
“It’s just real frustrating,” Cavette said. “Then I got angry. I’ve been taken out of business completely. I’ve had a great client base for over six years.”
Cavette said he has business interruption service, which has gotten him through this period and that he has been uplifted by support from his clients.
“So many of them have called me and wished me luck,” he said.
John Hunter, chief operating officer of Wallace Theaters, which runs the New Malibu Theater, said in April that the theater might be significantly redesigned with the possibility of stadium seating. When asked last week if this was still a possibility, Hunter said he did not know and would have more information later.