History of the M-Shop
The History of the Maintenance Shop
On January 4, 1974, something new opened in the basement of the Iowa State Memorial Union. The Student Union Board had an idea to turn what used to be the Memorial Union's maintenance shop into a live entertainment venue, and decided it was fitting to keep the name, The Maintenance Shop. Over thirty years later, the sound of singing and vibration from the bass can still be heard and felt from the basement. The good news is, the program is still being run by students with their contemporary viewpoints, guided by a professional staff member.
The Maintenance Shop is now Ames' oldest continuously operating nightclub. English folk musician, Richard Thompson, was asked how many clubs he played in the mid-seventies that are still around today. He responded, "One place in Dublin and the M-Shop." Throughout the years, the M-Shop (as it is lovingly called) has hosted thousands of patrons, hundreds of performers and a couple of internationally syndicated TV series. Located just inside the west entrance of the Iowa State Memorial Union, this tiny brick room has presented a startling range of local, regional, national and internationally known talent on its stage.
In this intimate setting, patrons have heard the best local talent performing music, comedy, musicals and theater and established artists performing blues, jazz, rock, alternative, reggae, country, folk, and everything else. From blues greats Muddy Waters and Koko Taylor, jazz masters Chick Corea and Pat Metheny, guitar virtuoso Leo Kottke, folk legend Arlo Guthrie, the amazing Taj Mahal, R & B / funk icons War and Tower of Power, to modern rock monsters Jack Johnson, Smashing Pumpkins, Ok Go, The Replacements, Soul Asylum, Tripping Daisy, Silversun Pickups, Matt Wertz and The Academy Is.... In 1994 the M-Shop was the winner of the W.C. Handy Award for Best Blues Club in America.
But it's not just the roster. The 195 seat capacity means you can see these artists up close and personal like nowhere else. There's literally not a bad seat in the house. The Shop also hosts many of the Student Union Board's film, theatre, multicultural and lecture programs. All things to all people? Maybe not, but it's about as close as you're ever gonna get! But don't just take our word for it - come down and see for yourself!
As if live entertainment weren't enough, by day the M-Shop has served as a deli and coffeehouse, serving the best food and drink on the Iowa State campus. Food service was discontinued in April, 2005. Still open Monday through Friday, the M-Shop offers students, faculty, and guests a relaxing place to have lunch, visit, study, or listen to music.
The M-Shop is Ames' only full-time, live entertainment facility open to all Iowa college students, even those that aren't 21. Students from Iowa State University showing a current student ID card can buy M-Shop tickets for a reduced rate (for most shows) since the programs are subsidized by student fee money.
Traditionally untraditional, the M-Shop will continue to be the place for central Iowa's best live music and entertainment for some time to come.
