Ames’ “alternative to anything in town” is ready to make a break in the dance club and restaurant scene, and it’ll try without a drop of alcohol or a drag of a cigarette in sight.

Voltaire, 604 E. Lincoln Way, made its grand opening on Thursday. The owners hope for a bright future, featuring a substitute to the normal bar scene on Welch Avenue.

“We’re not a bar, but an entertainment venue,” says Shannon Howard, co-owner of Voltaire.

“What sets us apart is that the owners actually care about the music and the people,” says co-owner Shane Howard. “We don’t see them as giant wallets with pig tails.”

Open to all ages, Voltaire plays an assortment of music, including hip hop, disco, ’80s and techno.

A different theme is featured each night, Shannon Howard says. “Wednesday will feature hip hop, Thursday will be open mic night, Friday will feature a local showcase, Saturday will be our techno and house night and Sunday we’ll rotate it each week from ’80s or to ’70s music,” she says.

“We truly have a genuine love of music, and not just any one style,” Shane Howard says.

The club is located where Studio Caf‚, a former gay and lesbian bar, used to be, and the owners haven’t forgotten that audience.

“We’ve talked to the LGBTAA and are going to have Tuesday night just for them,” Shannon Howard says.

Renovations of Studio Caf‚ to open Voltaire include a 440-square foot dance floor, and Shane Howard says the sound and dance lighting are an improvement on other clubs in the area.

“We gutted everything,” he says. “We pulled out the bar, we pulled out the booths and we ripped up the floor to make room for the DJ and sound booth.”

On the restaurant side, Voltaire has several sandwiches and pizzas to choose from. The establishment also has a game room with video games and pinball.

Open to all ages, Voltaire is a safe environment, Shane Howard says.

“If I was a 19-year-old college freshman, I would definitely feel more comfortable here,” he says. “[Voltaire] is not a dumbed-down, token place to go. This is a true, big city-style nightclub.”

Voltaire is open from Tuesday through Sunday, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m.