Barstow Theatre Eyes Former Micon Cinema Site
Co-owners are converting the downtown Eau Claire property into a live music venue and have requested alcohol licenses from the city.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Other — General
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The former downtown Micon Cinema property at 315 S. Barstow St. is becoming the Barstow Theatre, a live music venue. Co-owners have requested Class B Fermented Malt Beverage and Class C Wine licenses, which are scheduled for the Eau Claire City Council session on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Why it matters
The project would bring a live music venue to a downtown Eau Claire building that formerly housed a movie theater. Its alcohol license requests are the next step before it can operate as a performance venue.
The venue's projected operating hours run from 5pm to 2am depending on scheduled events, and the property at 315 S. Barstow St. went under contract in October 2025. Council action on the alcohol licenses has not yet taken place.
The players
Max Koehler
Max Koehler is a co-owner of the Barstow Theatre and a co-founder of Antic Studios, an audio-visual entertainment company whose productions have supported large regional events such as the Eaux Claires and Force Fields festivals.
Eau Claire City Council
The Eau Claire City Council is the municipal body that will consider the Barstow Theatre's Class B Fermented Malt Beverage and Class C Wine license requests.
The details
Co-owners Sarah Kozuch, Kevin Anger, Max Koehler, and Derrick Koehler signed the City of Eau Claire's Center for Visual and Performing Arts designation paperwork. A premises map in the council packet outlines planned changes including front-of-house areas, backstage spaces, dressing rooms, and a balcony viewing section.
Timeline
October 2025: The 315 S. Barstow St. property went under contract.
Nov. 5, 2026: Council packets with the alcohol license requests were published online.
Nov. 10, 2026: Alcohol license applications are scheduled for the Eau Claire City Council session.
Local Arts Context
The Barstow Theatre's co-owners signed the City of Eau Claire's Center for Visual and Performing Arts designation paperwork, placing the venue within the city's formal arts district framework. The project follows the reuse of a former downtown cinema as a performance space.
If approved, the Barstow Theatre would host live music in downtown Eau Claire with alcohol service, with operating hours projected from 5pm to 2am depending on scheduled events. Residents would gain a new downtown performance venue in a former movie theater building.
The takeaway
Residents interested in the Barstow Theatre's plans can follow the Eau Claire City Council's Nov. 10 session, where the alcohol license requests will be considered.
What happens next
The Eau Claire City Council will consider the Barstow Theatre's alcohol license applications at its session on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Further reading
For more on local live entertainment, see Other — General coverage in Eau Claire.
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