Studio 13 is a 19+ nightclub catering to the LGBTQIA+ community. It is the only queer nightclub in Iowa City, and this summer, a branch will open in Ames. They host a variety of entertainment, including DJs, karaoke nights and drag performances.
The CEO of Spectrum Hospitality, Jason Zeman, spoke about the history of Studio 13 in Iowa City and how they have expanded to more venues over the years.
“Studio 13 started as The Alley Cat in March of 2000, rebranding to Studio 13 less than two years later,” Zeman said. “I took over in 2011 to redefine the space to be more community-focused and with a greater variety of more inclusive events. I have been fortunate over the last eight years to be able to expand this to additional venues, including the new AlleyCat in Iowa City, Basix in Cedar Rapids, Studio 13 Waterloo and soon, Studio 13 Ames.”
Zeman went on to describe that they are now opening a venue in Ames.
“We take pride in the fact that people reach out to us asking if we’d considered bringing our type of space to communities around Iowa and the Midwest,” Zeman said. “I spent the last several months looking at places where we’ve seen a significant interest to make sure they’d be viable and have enough support. Ames stood out, especially with the lack of a current dedicated LGBTQIA+ nightclub and college, as the right place for our next venture.”
Zeman went on to talk about the venue’s larger goals for the community that comes to it.
“Our goals are to provide a diverse, engaging and fun LGBTQIA+ safe space for every community we are fortunate to be a part of,” Zeman said. “Though we are bars, our focus is on our events and community engagement to make sure everyone can enjoy our spaces, regardless of whether they enjoy alcohol or not. We offer a range of mocktails, non-alcoholic beverages, and, at some locations, food, along with the typical array of drinks you’d expect. We work hard to provide spaces where everyone can feel welcome and express themselves.”
The new venue is also looking to support and partner with the LGBTQIA+ community at Iowa State. The show director of all Spectrum Hospitality venues, Myling Belle, described what the organization hopes the impact venue will have in Ames.
“We plan to work closely with local organizations and LGBTQ+ student groups,” Belle said. “Ames has such a big student presence, and we want Studio 13 Ames to feel like a natural extension of that community. Working with campus orgs, LGBTQ+ clubs and student leaders just makes sense for us because it strengthens our queer community. We want students and customers to feel like Studio 13 Ames is their space too and that they have a voice in the events and entertainment we provide.”
Belle went on to discuss the kinds of entertainment hosted at the Iowa City location and what can be expected at the new venue.
“We’re best known for our drag shows, which run throughout the week and cover pretty much every style you can think of from pageant queens, glam queens, campy performers, alt drag, kings; if you love it, it’s probably on our stage at some point,” Belle said. “Outside of drag, we host all kinds of community‑driven events like burlesque shows, musical theater nights and poetry readings. It’s the kind of place where you can walk in alone and still feel like you belong.”
Belle also described her hopes for the new location and the events planned for it.
“As the show director, I’m especially excited about launching an open stage night for drag performers, which is basically an open mic night, but for drag,” Bell said. “I think the university has so much untapped talent, and we’re thrilled to give people who’ve never tried drag, or never had the opportunity, a real chance to step onstage and explore their creativity. Open stage is all about helping new performers find their voice. It’s a fun way to build confidence, experiment and connect with the community.”
The venue is expected to be open in early August at 400 Main Street. Events already planned beyond the open stage are trivia, specialty shows, contests, karaoke and DJs. For more information and updates on the venue, check the Studio 13 Ames Instagram.
