Commissioners to Consider Approving New Performance Venue for Bijou

Traverse City commissioners will vote tonight (Monday) to approve a five-year agreement with Studio Anatomy for the Bijou by the Bay/Con Foster building – a contract that would bring a new performance venue to Clinch Park and downtown Traverse City. If approved, Brian Chamberlain of Studio Anatomy says building improvements will start soon with the goal of hosting concerts and events this fall.

The vote follows a protracted, at times contentious process to find a new tenant for the city-owned building. The property has sat vacant since the Traverse City Film Festival departed at the end of 2024. Commissioners voted in January to issue a request-for-proposals (RFP) to find a new tenant for both the Bijou and the city’s Carnegie Building on Sixth Street. Applicants had a tight turnaround: The RFP was posted January 13, applicants had to attend a mandatory building tour January 21, and full RFP bids were due February 4.

Confusion around the extensive RFP requirements and communication issues led to both Bijou applicants – Studio Anatomy and a proposed sauna/wellness center from Paper Birch Properties – initially being rejected. But in May, commissioners revisited the proposals and voted to have staff enter contract negotiations with Studio Anatomy.

City Manager Benjamin Marentette said then that the group – which plans to operate a performance venue for live music and theater, comedy, film screenings, all-ages shows, and community rentals and events – “demonstrated a stronger potential to activate the space for a broad audience.” That approach fits Parks and Recreation’s vision for a “flexible, multi-use gathering space,” Marentette said.

Following several weeks of negotiations, staff are now ready to present a contract to commissioners for approval. Under the agreement, Studio Anatomy will manage and the operate the venue “as an independent contractor at no cost to the city,” according to Parks and Recreation Director Michelle Hunt. The contract proposes an annual operating fee paid by Studio Anatomy to the city that will start at $20,000 in year one and gradually increase over the five-year term to $40,000 in year five.

The group will be required to cover utilities, insurance, trash disposal, and other operational costs. Studio Anatomy must “provide a minimum of one ticketed public event per week and one free public event per month, submit quarterly event reports, and maintain annual programming standards throughout the term of the agreement,” according to Hunt. Studio Anatomy is proposing to invest approximately $58,000 in building improvements, including “construction of a performance stage, lighting and sound systems, seating modifications, lobby and interior renovations, marquee restoration, security enhancements, and accessibility improvements,” Hunt says. Any improvements will be subject to city approval and become city property upon installation.

Chamberlain says the renovation costs are based on initial estimates and could evolve. Some amenities have stayed with the building – the film screen, for example, which will remain in use – but new equipment is needed for most areas. Studio Anatomy intends to remove a significant portion of the fixed seating to push the building’s capacity higher; Chamberlain is hoping to get close to 300 with standing room. Removable chairs would then be used to fill space for seated shows. 

Once a contract is approved, Studio Anatomy has architects and other building consultants lined up to immediately come in and begin finalizing improvements, Chamberlain says. That includes addressing the marquee. Studio Anatomy doesn’t intend to keep the Bijou name – Chamberlain says the new name will be announced soon – so the marquee will need to be modified. That’s not typically a cheap endeavor, however, so his team plans to “get creative” in addressing it.

“We love having the sides of the marquee so we can list events and artists,” he says. “We will just need to disassemble or take down the front with the Bijou name.”

City officials have agreed to allow Studio Anatomy to acquire a liquor license for the venue, a key component of the group’s business plan. Chamberlain says there will still be alcohol-free and all-ages shows, but that booze revenues at other events will ensure the venture remains sustainable. Soda, popcorn, and other concessions – including a partnership with a local pizza shop – are also planned, Chamberlain says.

Studio Anatomy has nearly $130,000 in funding commitments through a combination of private backers and SBA financing. Though timing could fluctuate depending on renovations, Chamberlain says the goal is start hosting events this fall. Both he and Hunt describe the agreement as a positive outcome for all parties involved.

“Approval of the agreement will activate the Con Foster Building as a year-round community venue, leverage private investment to improve a city-owned facility, expand cultural programming opportunities for residents and visitors, and provide a clear framework for accountability, maintenance, and ongoing public benefit,” Hunt says. Chamberlain adds: “I think it’s the perfect partnership, and the community is excited. As soon as we have the keys, we’re ready to get going.”