THE NEXT CHAPTER. Jake Tanner, the realty agent overseeing the sale of former Downtown Micon Cinemas, confirmed on Oct. 15 that an offer has been accepted and is currently under contract. The incoming business will not be a larger chain, Tanner said, though no other information is currently available at this time.

An offer has been accepted for the sale of the Micon Downtown Cinema property at 315 S. Barstow Street in Eau Claire, according to Trillium Commercial Realty.

In a conversation with Volume One on Oct. 15, Trillium realty agent Jake Tanner – who is overseeing the sale; both Micon Downtown Cinema and B-Framed Galleries properties were originally priced together at $499,000 – confirmed the in-progress sale, though “due diligence” will continue over the coming two months.

The 313 S. Barstow Street property which formerly housed B-Framed Galleries – sitting at 6,046 square feet – is still up for sale, he added, though no official price has been set.

This news follows locally-owned Micon Cinemas' announcement, shared via social media, that its downtown theater was officially shuttered and up for sale. The location first closed due to a fire at adjoining B-Framed Galleries in March, with smoke damage, financial considerations and more leading to Micon's decision to let the property go.

However, a restrictive deed on the sale imposes strict boundaries regarding future commercial use at both locations. Its terms prevent any competing movie theater from opening, Tanner told Volume One.

The incoming business will not be a larger chain, Tanner said.

“The offer has been accepted. I can't give you the name or the nature of the business,” Tanner said. “We're probably about 60 days out (to closing). There's still due diligence to be done.”

While that due diligence continues over the next two months – including further inspections of the building and additional financing of the purchase – Tanner said he could not share additional information related to the nature of the former Downtown Micon Cinema venue’s new owners.

The incoming business will not be a larger chain, Tanner said.

News of the in-progress sale follows the first in-person meeting with members of the “Save The Downtown Cinema” group online, which formed after Micon Cinemas' initial announcement of its downtown location's closure. The group met on Oct. 12 at The Plus (208 S. Barstow St., Eau Claire). 

The group first got wind of the in-progress sale on Oct. 14. Brianna Vodvarka, creator of the “Save The Downtown Cinema” group, stated its efforts to pursue a community-owned cinema have ended.

This is a developing story. Read previous coverage on the Micon Downtown Cinema by Volume One, online.