The curtain officially rose on the Mary Jane’s era on Friday, May 15, with surprises, thrills and an atmosphere overflowing with love and kindness.
The venue at 119 Main Street in Ames has hosted live music and events for well over a decade under the names Deano’s and Angry Irishmen. Now, six veterans of the Ames music and arts scene have partnered to purchase the bar, renovate the space and relaunch it as Mary Jane’s Bar & Stage.
Tom Russell, one of the new owners, grew emotional during a brief ribbon-cutting ceremony as he reflected on his late wife, Mary Jane Brotherson, for whom the venue is named. Brotherson died last August after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer and inspired many in the Ames community with her courage, creativity and compassion. The owners said naming the community-focused venue after her felt like a fitting tribute.
Just before the ribbon cutting, Russell performed “10,000 Healing Hands,” a posture from Qigong, the ancient Chinese mind-body practice to which Brotherson was deeply devoted. Russell stood with his feet apart and gently raised his hands above his head, touching his palms together, before bringing his hands in front of him. Russell said he performed the movement onstage “to bring the spirit of Mary Jane’s love to the here and now and this moment.”
Russell and his fellow owners all have deep roots in the Ames music scene, and envision Mary Jane’s as a hub for creativity and connection. Brotherson herself performed an unforgettable standup comedy set on the venue’s stage in the midst of her cancer battle. The performance showcased her ability to find humor and positivity even while facing a terminal diagnosis.
“We’ve all played on that stage many times over the last 15 or 18 years,” Russell said. “This has always been an important downtown stop for musicians and artists, and we want to keep building that community vibe.”
Inaugurating a new era with a surprise
The grand opening began with the ribbon-cutting ceremony and immediately shifted gears with a surprise performance by Leslie Hall, the Iowa-born performer known for blending dance-pop, hip-hop, comedy and flamboyant costumes into a one-of-a-kind live show.
Hall performed two songs and managed a lightning-fast costume change between them. Two backup dancers joined her onstage holding signs reading “No” and “Pants.”
“I got a no pants policy, if you’re dancing next to me,” Hall sang as the crowd erupted.
Audience members who had lingered near the bar quickly rushed toward the stage to dance, sing along and snap photos. The performance had not been advertised beforehand, making Hall’s appearance one of the night’s biggest surprises.
After her brief set, Hall shouted, “Long live Mary Jane’s!” before disappearing from the stage almost as suddenly as she had appeared.
The evening then continued as scheduled, with an electro-punk performance by Pink Kodiak and a heavy set of original music from Ames band No Lights Tonight.
New and improved
As Deano’s and Angry Irishmen, the venue built a reputation as a rough-around-the-edges dive bar. Before reopening, the new owners spent several weeks renovating the space while trying to preserve its character.
Improvements included a new door behind the stage, new flooring behind the bar, updated paint throughout the venue and a modernized sound and lighting system intended to improve the experience for both performers and patrons. The exterior also received a new sign and logo.
Co-owner Bryon Dudley said the goal was to preserve the venue’s gritty charm while creating a more welcoming and artist-friendly atmosphere.
One piece of Ames music history remains untouched: the wall beside the stage covered in signatures from local musicians accumulated over the years.
“We wanted to retain the dive bar feel of it,” Dudley said, “but also sass it up a little bit and make it more vibrant.”
Dudley said the owners hope Mary Jane’s evolves beyond being simply a bar and becomes a true arts and community space. In addition to live music, the venue plans to host comedy shows, film nights and gaming events, while also expanding its nonalcoholic drink offerings and food menu.
Perhaps the most poignant addition to the room is a newly installed photo of Mary Jane Brotherson behind the bar, serving as a constant reminder of the venue’s mission to foster creativity, compassion and community.
“We’re all musicians who bought a bar, and we’re still figuring out how to run a bar,” Dudley said with a laugh. “Sales will keep the doors open, sure, but what really matters is whether this becomes a place where people want to be. If people come here to write, make art, meet friends or start something creative together, then we’ll feel like we did something right.”
