A new karaoke bar and cafe is opening on Welch Avenue, but there is a twist — no alcohol.

Golden Wok, 223 Welch Ave., is expanding its business into the recently vacated space under the restaurant to open a new Asian-style cafe that will be open from late afternoon until 2 a.m.

“We want to have an Asian-style cafe that is a safe, fun place where you don’t have to be drunk to have fun,” said Casey Pang, manager of the cafe side of Golden Wok. “I have a lot of Chinese friends that don’t know what to do on the weekend when they just want to hang out.”

The cafe is targeting more than just the Asian culture at Iowa State.

“We want everyone to have fun on the weekend,” Pang said.

Golden Wok plans on having karaoke contests with both English and Chinese music. In order to appeal to as many people as possible, there will be no cover charge.

The cafe and lounge is a more authentically styled Chinese cafe with tables, couches, TVs and a patio to relax and catch up with friends. In addition to the main room, it will have smaller VIP karaoke rooms to share your singing with just your friends and not the whole cafe.

The menu consists of a variety of homemade ice cream, 15 Asian-style teas and authentic Asian snacks. Customers can also order food from the restaurant upstairs and have them delivered down to the lounge.

Plans for the grand opening are not set in stone yet, but Pang says they would like to be open within the next few weeks.

“We are still working things out with the hours and finishing the renovations,” she said.

Pang added that she and her staff are excited about expanding, and they have some surprises planned for the opening.

Keep checking the Iowa State Daily website for updates on the grand opening date and to preview pictures of the venue before it opens.