<ARTICLE> 5 <CIK> 0000899629 <NAME> MARK CENTERS TRUST <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1996 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1996 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1996 <CASH> 1,349 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 5,280 <ALLOWANCES> 469 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 0 <PP&E> 304,794 <DEPRECIATION> 69,608 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 252,497 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 0 <BONDS> 160,665 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 60,550 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 252,497 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 10,497 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 7,684 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> 0 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> (179) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (179) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.02) <EPS-DILUTED> (.02)