A familiar business on Welch Avenue will close its doors May 31 after 18 years of service to the Ames community.

In an open letter to the Iowa State Daily, the owner of Lumpy’s and People’s Bar and Grill, Tom Zmolek, announced the closing of both bars at their current locations on Welch Avenue and Lincoln Way.

His letter states the lease on the property has expired and the owners of the building have decided to start their own restaurant in the same location.

The bar has hosted several celebrities who have gone on to become very popular, such as Tracy Bingham, Carmen Electra, Helen Hunt and Billy Baldwin.

The bar has also hosted more than 1,500 bands during its time in Ames as well as filmed a music video that was shown on MTV.

“I always enjoyed the bands; it didn’t really matter who was playing because they always had someone who would cover songs that everyone loved,” said Josh Petersen, senior in civil engineering. “It made going to People’s with my friends that much more enjoyable.”

Katie Olson, junior in construction engineering, said the main reason she goes to People’s is for the bands. Some of her favorites include Three Dollar Cover and Kentucky Fried Mullet.

“What are we going to do on Thursdays now?” she said. “My friends and I always go to People’s for the bands on Thursday nights. It’s a blast every time.”

Olson said it’s been an important part of her time in Ames and it will be hard to find a replacement.

“It was part of our college,” she said. “Even my mom remembers it from when she was at college. I guess it just hasn’t hit me yet that it will be gone.”

Zmolek’s letter stated they are opening a new location at the corner of 3rd and Court Avenue in Des Moines that is scheduled to open in the next few weeks. The new site has a capacity of 900, state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, a piano bar and much more, as well as many of the same staff who have worked there for years.

Although they have not found a new location in Ames, they are currently looking at several options in Campustown and hope to reopen by the fall semester.

“My friends and I always went to FAC at People’s, relaxed from a long week and had a good time,” Petersen said. “The best were the mugs and the bands that always covered songs. It was just a good way to hang out and have some beverages with my friends.”

People’s will hold a “Celebration of Music” during May, featuring some of the best bands of the past years. They will have a final celebration on Memorial Day weekend.

Zmolek could not be reached for comment.