On the second floor of Lloyd Center, in the space of an old retail store, there’s a new shop where the impossible becomes possible every day.
For more than 30 years, Mark Benthimer has performed magic and he recently joined the Lloyd Center community. The magic veteran and co-owner of All American Magic started performing solo shows at just 12-years-old. Magic is his life. And he just might be one of Oregon’s last true magicians.
Magic has taken Mark to California, Arizona, Mexico, Las Vegas and more. He eventually landed in Oregon in the 90s. He has called many places home including Beaverton Mall (now Cedar Hills Crossing), Jantzen Beach, Mall 205, and now Lloyd Center. Benthimer says he is happy to be at Lloyd Center and it is his favorite venue thus far.
“Shows can fit 100 seated people, with room up front for kids to sit right by the stage,” said Benthimer. We have five performers in each show, and in the past have brought in guest performers from Las Vegas, The Magic Castle and more.”
When he’s not at Lloyd Center, you might catch him at a Blazer game, where he is the resident magician, or at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall downtown. He works diligently to ensure his shows appeal to audiences of all ages.
“It’s really family-oriented, but it’s definitely not just for little kids,” said Benthimer. “You get to see someone float in mid-air ten feet away from you. That’s not something you usually get to see up close. People leave our shows amazed and say it’s comparable to those in Las Vegas.”
While performing is the fun part of the job, Benthimer really loves the opportunity to teach people the art of magic.
“The teaching part is really important to me. People come into our shop, and we figure out what their age is, what their interests are, what their personality is like and try to custom fit the magic for them,” said Benthimer. “We pretty much guarantee they can do it, and if they can’t, they just got a free lesson!”
As Mark and his team approach their one-year anniversary at Lloyd Center, they look forward to adding more weekly shows and hope to open a kid’s summer camp in 2023 for additional learning opportunities.
To learn more about All American Magic and how you can get involved visit magicpdx.com.
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