Strand Theater “Chef” Was Grilling Steak When He Was Discovered

The man who set a cooking fire in an abandoned downtown Binghamton theater pulled a knife on a person who discovered him inside the building.

A city businessman had meet a broker for a walk-through of the old Strand Theater on Chenango Street Wednesday afternoon. He said when they entered what was supposed to be a vacant building, they immediately smelled something burning.

While the broker called 911 to report the fire, the local developer who accompanied him discovered the intruder on the second floor of the former theater. He was cooking a steak over a makeshift grill comprised of a metal grate held up by a couple of cinderblocks.

The businessman yelled at the guy who indicated he didn't want to leave. After a few moments, he did exit the building.

The developer told WNBF News after he began to follow the trespasser out of the theater, the man pulled a small knife on him and said "if you get any closer, I'll kill you." The intruder was last seen walking behind a nearby church.

The small fire was extinguished and no damage to the building was reported.

Officers interviewed the businessman about his encounter with the intruder but police have reported no arrest in the case.

A Brooklyn-based LLC had owned the Chenango Street building since 2021. But the property has been in the hands of an North Carolina entity since foreclosure proceedings last summer.

WNBF NEWS VIDEO: A small fire inside the Strand Theater was extinguished before it caused any damage on November 5, 2025.

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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.