Hangar 9, a legendary haunt for generations of SIU Carbondale students on The Strip, will reopen in August with exciting updates and under new ownership by two alumni.
Andrew Perlmutter and Scott Moller recently purchased the venue from longtime owner Sally Carter. Hangar 9 closed its doors on December 31, 2024, after 47 years of operation.
The new owners are launching a two-phase revitalization plan. The first focuses on increasing occupancy capacity, expanding entertainment offerings, enlarging the dance floor and the upstairs viewing area, and transforming the parking lot into an outdoor beer garden.
The second phase, scheduled for summer 2026, includes a comprehensive interior redesign featuring a new bar, an upgraded stage, advanced lighting and sound systems, an enhanced beer garden experience, and the addition of food service and premium drink offerings.
Hangar 9 is expected to reopen in early August, just ahead of the Fall 2025 semester. Carter will remain involved as a consultant, and several former staff members will be returning.
Perlmutter and Moller bring extensive marketing expertise to the venture. Perlmutter previously served as CEO of Funko, the pop culture collectibles company with annual sales exceeding $1 billion, and was part of the team that took the company public in 2017. Moller founded Marketing Werks, which became the largest experiential marketing services firm in the U.S., growing it to $100 million in annual revenue. For both alumni, reopening Hangar 9 is a passion project aimed at supporting SIU and the greater Carbondale community.
Longtime owner Sally Carter is excited about the next chapter for the business—and to be working alongside Perlmutter and Moller.
“They can’t get rid of me!” Carter joked. “Seriously, I could not think of a better duo to continue the work I’ve done over the past several decades. I love their ideas and energy—and we’re having fun already.”
“Our fall lineup will feature something for everyone,” said Perlmutter. “Whether you’re 18 or 80, you’ll find a reason to visit Hangar 9.”
The venue will offer entertainment most nights, ranging from dance parties, themed nights, karaoke, and trivia to Latin nights, drag shows, fundraisers, local bands, stand-up comedy, and select national touring acts. Hangar 9 will also a bridge to connect artists from larger music hubs, such as Nashville and Chicago, to Carbondale's diverse music scene. The expansion will allow the venue to attract national acts and more widely-known bands, elevating Carbondale to the next level as a destination for live music, owner said.
“We’re especially excited that our renovations will create The Strip’s largest dance floor,” Moller said. “Women have told us, ‘We want to dance!’—and we will provide the space, the music, and the atmosphere for a fun night out.”
Moller emphasized that community involvement will be a key measure of success. He currently serves as president of the SIU Alumni Association National Board of Directors, is a member of the SIU Foundation Board, and is active in ongoing campus initiatives. He hopes to use the relationships he’s forged to further connect SIU with downtown Carbondale.
“We’ll be a major sponsor of this fall’s Homecoming/Halloween Festival on the Strip. We’ve also established partnerships with the Fermentation Science Institute, SIU School of Journalism, the Carbondale in the 80s/90s B.E.E.R. scholarship group, and we’re actively working with Registered Student Organizations and various SIU departments.”
“Our goal is to make every alum feel like they’ve come home when they walk into Hangar 9,” Perlmutter said. “The new décor will celebrate SIU and Carbondale’s rich history, while our programming will help reengage students and bring them back downtown.”
“Scott and I believe college should be fun, and Hangar 9 will continue to be a place where students make lasting memories.”
Several key partners are contributing to the project’s success. Local architect Thad Heckman is leading the design plans, with general contractor Chuck Korando overseeing construction. Nate Armstrong and Blake Bledsoe of 618Pro are managing upgrades to the venue’s sound and lighting systems. The City of Carbondale—particularly Steven Mitchell, John Lenzini, Brice Dion, Cody Lueker, Dena Haun, and Eva Fisher—has provided vital support throughout the process.
Originally built to resemble an airplane hangar, Hangar 9 opened its doors in 1978 and quickly became a staple of Carbondale’s nightlife and music scene.