JOHNSON CREEK -- Steve Paulet and his wife, Rachel Bauer, knew little about the Gobbler.
Steve Paulet, owner of Groovy Wood Studios in Madison and his wife, Rachel Bauer, a business executive with years of experience in hospitality, have proposed buying The Gobbler Theater in Johnson Creek. The couple want to expand the building's use as a music venue and give it a new name: Club Groovy at the Gobbler.
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Heather Ewing, a real estate broker for the future owners of The Gobbler Theater, explores the lower level of the building that was constructed in 1969 and retains some of its period wallpaper.
Rachel Bauer, who along with her husband, Steve Paulet, plans to buy The Gobbler Theater in Johnson Creek, speaks with visitors as they stand backstage. Bauer and Paulet hope to revive music shows this summer and want to invite area residents to use the building for rehearsals, recitals and recording sessions.
Steve Paulet explores the Gobbler Theater's basement where he wants to add rehearsal space and an acoustic stage. Paulet and his wife were driving from Madison to UW-Milwaukee for their son's graduation in December when they saw the business along Interstate 94 in Johnson Creek was for sale.
Steve Paulet visits with his architect, Chris Gosch of Populance in Madison, as they enjoy a moment in The Gobbler Theater. "There's always life left in these (buildings), you just have to find the right teams," Gosch said. "It's an artifact gem from a different time."
Sharing their vision to convert a lower level bar area of the former Gobbler music theater into an acoustic music stage with visitors are future owners Steve Paulet, second from left, and his wife, Rachel Bauer.
Dan Manesis, seen here in 2014, purchased the property that formerly housed the Gobbler Supper Club in Johnson Creek and spent more than $2.4 million to convert the 1969 building into The Gobbler Theater. Manesis died in 2021.
Visitors to the lower level of the former Gobbler music theater in Johnson Creek cast shadows on a wall of the soon to be reopened business.
Audio equipment fills a room behind the stage of the Gobbler Theater in Johnson Creek. The building under went a massive renovation in 2014 and 2015 that converted the former supper club and night club into a music venue.
Restored mid-century modern stereo consoles fill the showroom at Groovy Wood Studio at the corner of Sherman Avenue and Sherman Terrace near Tenney Park. Steve Paulet, seen here in 2021, started the business in 2020 and has seen his sales of restored consoles grow to include customers around the country.
Photos: Groovy Wood Studio
Groovy Wood Studio
Work orders for customers of Steve Paulet’s Groovy Wood Studio are displayed on a wall inside the Madison business.
Groovy Wood Studio
The station menu of a 1930’s-era Italian radio console is seen inside its restored cabinet at Groovy Wood Studio.
Groovy Wood Studio
The Groovy Wood Studio workshop in Madison.
Groovy Wood Studio
A vintage, German-designed radio console was restored by workers at Groovy Wood Studio, which specializes in restorations of pieces from between 1955 and 1969.Â
Groovy Wood Studio
Steve Paulet's office is filled with restored consoles, Beatles and Elvis Presley concert posters and plush furniture. This is where Paulet listens closely to each of his pieces before shipping them out to customers around the country.
Groovy Wood Studio
A mid-century modern radio console restored by workers at Groovy Wood Studio is displayed inside the Madison business.
Groovy Wood Studio
Restored mid-century modern stereo consoles fill the showroom at Groovy Wood Studio at the corner of Sherman Avenue and Sherman Terrace near Tenney Park. Steve Paulet, right, started the business just over a year ago and has seen his sales of restored consoles grow to customers around the country.
Groovy Wood Studio
Mike Weiland works on the restoration of a German-made Blaupunkt console radio cabinet at Groovy Wood Studio.Â
Groovy Wood Studio
Restored mid-century modern stereo consoles fill the showroom at Steve Paulet’s Groovy Wood Studio in Madison.
Groovy Wood Studio
Steve Paulet, owner of Groovy Wood Studio, is reflected in a vintage mirror in his office.
Groovy Wood Studio
Richard Lord uses a hand sander to restore the exterior of a console at Groovy Wood Studio. Finished pieces can sell for more than $2,500.
Groovy Wood Studio
Tools, old turntables and scores of components fill the workshop at Groovy Wood Studio. Some customers want consoles restored with tubes, but others are more concerned with the look and request that more modern technology be installed.
Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com.
