"The Carlton" Space at Binghamton's Centre Plaza is Now Available

A subterranean downtown Binghamton site that's been the home to once-popular Carlton restaurant and a series of other businesses remains idle.

The space on the west side of the Centre Plaza complex had been a popular eating, drinking and dancing spot for several decades. But the music came to a sudden halt last June after authorities said a patron of The Cave was shot in the chest.

The front entrance to The Cave on Henry Street on July 3, 2024. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The establishment already had been fined nearly $20,000 by the State Liquor Authority for a series of violations.

In 2022, the owners of The Cave were threatened by city officials with a lockdown because of fights and general mayhem linked to the establishment.

Interior and exterior lights at The Cave on Henry Street were shining on April 23, 2025. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Although the main entrance of The Cave had been boarded up last summer, there's been activity at the site in recent days.

James Slocum, who owns the Centre Plaza property, said a previous owner of The Cave was retrieving the sign for sentimental reasons.

"The Cave" sign was being removed at Centre Plaza on April 29, 2025. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

Slocum told WNBF News no new business is planned for the basement space on Henry Street at this time. But he indicated he would entertain proposals from people who might be interested in developing an appropriate establishment that wouldn't cause problems.

For now, Slocum is focused on a big project to convert the former eight-story office portion of Centre Plaza into a residential complex with 63 apartments.

Several dozen apartments are planned for former office space at Centre Plaza in Binghamton. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The Carlton was initially billed as a lounge when it opened in December 1976. The place proved to be a popular lunchtime gathering place for people who worked downtown.

The place also started drawing big crowds during the disco era in the late 1970s. But things started to go downhill about a decade later with assaults and disturbances involving large crowds.

A section of the now-defunct Cave on April 29, 2025. (Photo: Bob Joseph/WNBF News)

The Carlton shut down in April 1988 with a "sports rock café" called Scores opening in its place. A restaurant called Mad Moose House of Barbecue also operated there for a short time.

The Cave opened up as a dance club in its first incarnation in 2017. That business was sold and more frequent problems started to occur under the new owners.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: As we walked through the underground venue, we realized they can't take away our memories!

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Contact WNBF News reporter Bob Joseph: bob@wnbf.com or call (607) 545-2250. For breaking news and updates on developing stories, follow @BinghamtonNow on Twitter.

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