Tucked away in the Bevo neighborhood at 5228 Gravois Ave., Arkadin Cinema & Bar is not your standard movie theater. A must-visit for cinephiles, the microtheater offers a unique selection of screenings you won’t find anywhere else around the StL—on the calendar for February, you’ll find everything from His Girl Friday to Slumber Party Massacre II.
The Arkadin is the brainchild of husband-and-wife team Sarah Baraba and Keith Watson. Native St. Louisans, they spent some time in Washington D.C., where they enjoyed unique movie-going opportunities, especially microcinemas. When they returned to St. Louis in 2018, they saw the opportunity to bring more diverse film options to the region. “We saw a gap when it came to independent film,” Baraba says. “A microcinema would give us the opportunity to be more creative and take risks with our programming. We only have 50 seats, so we can try out movies that aren’t picked up for wide release or might not sell out a larger theater.”
And the name? It’s borrowed from the titular character of a 1955 Orson Welles film. Baraba and Watson are big fans. “We wanted to have a name that harkened back to old movie palaces,” Baraba explains. “Arkadin has that old timely quality to it, and it evokes the spirit of neighborhood theaters.”
The Bevo neighborhood seemed like the perfect place for the Arkadin. “Bevo is really up and coming right now—there are so many great local businesses setting up shop” Baraba says. “It felt like a great place to add more independent cinema.” She and Watson purchased a building in 2019 and planned to start renovations in March of 2020. However, the pandemic threw a wrench in their plans. Luckily, the theater’s neighbor, The Heavy Anchor, reached with an offer to partner on patio screenings. The Arkadin began showing outdoor movies in June of 2020, and that kept it in operation until indoor renovations were completed in 2023.
All programming is handled by Baraba and Watson—although they sometimes work with local film enthusiasts on selections. The results are eclectic, ranging from classic silent films to campy Lifetime movies to independent new releases. It also hosts special events, such as VHS movie nights and Drinkolas Cage—a blind screening of a Nicholas Cage film with an accompanying drinking game. “We’re more like a community gathering space than a traditional cinema—it’s about sharing an experience,” Baraba says. “Our size also allows us to pivot on dime. We can pick films that reflect what’s going on in the community and world around us.”
For February, the Arkadin’s programming is focused on quirky romances, and every Sunday, it’s showing $5 matinees of old school screwball comedies. For a full calendar of screenings or to purchase tickets, visit arkadincinema.com.
