After a semester-long series of delays, a new restaurant will finally be opening in a prime Campustown location.

Papa’s Corner, 2430 Lincoln Way, will be open by Jan. 1.

Owner Lynn Champlin Lloyd felt Ames lacked a true hot spot for students to relax and enjoy themselves, and she intends for Papa’s Corner to fill this vacancy. To help ensure the success of the venture, she’s teamed up with experienced managers in general manager Tim Gleason and entertainment director Mike Proffitt.

Lloyd said the main problem with the opening was the recent city building code update.

“On July 5, Ames adopted new building codes, which were much stricter than most towns,” Lloyd said. “We’re in no way complaining about the building codes, because it’s just something that you have to do and have to follow.”

The changes in the code created a lot of additional work during the renovations, as everything that was being worked on had to be brought into compliance.

“We had to tear the building down to its original wall and floors,” Gleason said.

Gleason said he would like to get the infrastructure of the building done by Dec. 15 and hopefully open before the New Year’s Day deadline.

“If possible, we will open early, even if its not at full scale, to be able to accommodate private parties before Christmas,” Gleason said.

Papa’s Corner’s look is a throwback to the past in the 100-year-old Champlin Building, but its features and amenities are quite modern. It will feature a circular cooling and heating system, stand-up bars, a platform with professional-grade lighting and audio systems, and a few TVs.

Lloyd emphasized that the food will be catered to students’ tastes, and prices will be kept within their typically limited means.

“It will be an American bistro-type menu [with] good juicy burgers and will feature items that are good for lunch too,” Gleason said. “We also aren’t planning on making food prices much higher than 4 or 5 dollars.”

Entertainment is another cornerstone of Papa’s Corner and part of the legacy of the space, which was home to People’s Bar and Grill until last May.

“We’re going to have a big improvement with the sound system and work with local acts and keep the student community involved so we can get some positive feedback,” Proffitt said.

Proffitt has been talking with performers who played at People’s and said they are excited to come back and start playing again.

“I have seen some great bands in Ames that the students could work with,” Proffitt said. “It’s going to be something that they recognize, and we’re going to make it fair and affordable.”

Proffitt has been in the entertainment business for 37 years and has been drawing on his experience to create a good fit for the intended audience.

“As a fan of music myself, I hate it when a place puts a price tag on the entertainment and I know it’s not worth that much. We want the students and the people of Ames to know that the music belongs to them – the bar belongs to them,” Proffitt said.

Lloyd is hoping to draw the community to the restaurant with its atmosphere and keep them coming back with the food.

“We aim to have good quality food, quality entertainment,” Lloyd said. “We’re going to have lots of fun, too.”