THE STANDARD Nightlife Guide
A note from the editor
Happy Spring!
With the weather warming up, it’s time to get rid of the cabin fever and hit the town!
This issue will provide you with some great information about Springfield nightlife, featuring many recommendations and updates to new and old venues.
Even if you’re not yet 21, there are places for you and your friends to go out and have a fun, safe and legal time. Check out the content in this nightlife guide to find your next night out in downtown Springfield.
As we head down the home stretch of the semester, it’s important to get out of your dorm and take your mind off the seemingly never-ending cycle of homework. We have everything you need within these pages!
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Cover design by Jayden Pettus
On the cover:
South Avenue, the epicenter of Springfield nightlife.
Photo by Jayden Pettus
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Looking for a fun night out? Springfield has a place for everyone
18+ venues 21+ venues
ELIZABETH THOMPSON Reporter
Qelizabeth.thompson20
OXO Bar and Grill
2550 S. Campbell Ave., Suite 800
In need of some good food and music? With Latin music nights, DJs, and affordable cover, OXO is the place for you!
Club Rodeo
2032 W Bennett St.
For anyone interested in line dancing, Club Rodeo is the perfect place to spend your Friday nights.
Club Rodeo is one of Springfield’s better-known clubs, with cover discounts for college students on Friday nights before 10:30. Club Rodeo includes a bar for those who are 21+, as well as a DJ, dance floor, several pool tables and plenty of classic line-dancing music.
They also often have events, such as all-girls nights and themed dance nights. The club is open Thursday to Saturday, from 7 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Martha’s Vineyard
218 W Olive St.
Martha’s has your typical DJ, bar and dance floor, but also has Karaoke Mondays and regular drag shows.
In contrast to Club Rodeo, Martha’s plays typical club music, rather than line-dancing, which is perfect for anyone who wants to go out and dance freely.
Check their website for more information
on drag shows and other weekly events! They are open seven days a week with varying hours each day.
CTRL SGF
311 S. Patton Ave.
CTRL SGF is Springfield’s newest nightclub, located downtown. Due to limited space and a high demand, CTRL allows patrons to rent sections in advance to ensure themselves a good spot in the club, which the other Springfield clubs don’t do.
They also have a dress code, stating that no athleisure or overly casual dress is allowed. Bouncers reserve the right to turn anyone away at the door. While CTRL is stricter than the other Springfield clubs, it is no less crowded on the weekends.
Event nights such as Noche De Perrero Thursdays and free-entry Wednesdays keep the building busy even on weekdays. They are open from Wednesday to Saturday, 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m.
Dugout Bar & Grill, Bizarre Bar
1218 E Trafficway St., 300 Park Central East
For those looking for a more chill environment, Dugout Bar & Grill and Bizarre Bar are open late and open to those below 21.
Bizarre Bar is open 5 days a week until 1:30 a.m., hosting drag shows and other events.
Dugout often has live, local bands that play late into the night.
Both bars have a more relaxed atmosphere than a nightclub, and you can sit and eat with friends in between competing in billiards or relaxing and listening to music.
The Regency Live
307 Park Central East
The Regency Live in downtown Springfield is a different kind of nightlife, but still a blast for everyone involved.
Rather than being a regular nightclub or open every night, The Regency Live hosts parties and concerts, inviting musicians from all over to play. They have some nights open for all ages and some 18+, and nearly all the shows begin after 9 p.m.
The Flea
BRISSA MAGANA Reporter Qbrissa_m_
637 S. Kimbrough Ave.
If you’re looking for a straightforward dive bar, The Flea is the right place for you.
The Dive on Patton
313 S. Patton Ave.
Including some of the cheapest drinks in town, enjoy a night out with a more casual crowd.
Shot Shack
302 E. Walnut St.
First stop on the bar crawl! Known for its low-priced shots, this is the perfect place to start your night right.
Finnegan’s Wake
305 South Ave.
This Irish Pub has everything necessary for a good night out. Visit Finn’s for its live music, trivia nights, and laid-back atmosphere.
Inner Circle
319 W. Walnut St.
If you’re looking for a more curated menu with a specialization of vodka-based cocktails, Inner Circle has got you covered.
Hour House
326 South Ave.
From karaoke to drag, Hour House is home to substantial entertainment. They also offer many events, including bingo nights and live music performances.
Mudlounge
321 E. Walnut St.
The perfect place for an espresso martini. Also offering comfort food, a curation of beers, and a fully stocked bar, Mudlounge is the best way to end your night out.
The Golden Girls Rum Club
137 Park Central Square
The Dive on Patton, located at 313 S. Patton Ave., is open 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday
Fans of rap, rock, metal, R&B and indie music should keep an eye on The Regency Live’s website, where they post all events and artists that come to perform.
One of the more upscale scenes in Springfield. With a unique tropical-inspired bar and a large menu of rum-based drinks, this tiki bar is the perfect place for you and your friends. File photo/The Standard Martha’s Vineyard is open daily.
Hour House will soon be opening a new dance club next door called Screaming Mary’s.
Photo by Jayden Pettus
Photo by Jayden Pettus
CTRL Where experience is everything
CAMRYN THRELKELD Reporter Qcamthrelkeld
Springfield’s newest nightclub, CTRL (pronounced control), launched in early 2026 and is located downtown in the building that previously housed Zan the Club.
CTRL was established by entrepreneur Aden Waters, who shared that his primary goal was experience.
“I’ve spent time in cities where nightlife feels elevated and intentional, and I knew that experience didn’t really exist here,” Waters said. “The goal was never to open just another bar. It was to build something people feel the second they walk in.”
Establishing CTRL was far from simple, and according to Waters, a lot went into creating the right experience, every detail was intentional and purposeful.
“Everything revolves around the experience first,” Waters said. “From there it was about building the right team, putting strong systems in place, and creating demand before we fully opened.”
Even choosing CTRL to be 18+ was intentional. With Springfield’s nightlife demographic being mostly college students, it was important for CTRL to be open for people under 21, however the club still provides specific experiences for 21-plus guests.
CTRL is not like your typical college bar, club or venue in the area. Yet it is still a place to go out, listen to music and socialize.
The difference is how the experience is delivered. CTRL is more of a production over a venue, Waters told The Standard that they are “focusing on lighting, sound, and overall structure of the night all designed to create a controlled and elevated environment.”
Unlike most of the nightlife in Springfield, CTRL stands out due to their dress code, which is no casual clothing, or athletic wear, the look is clean and stylish. This choice of dress code reflects their focus on presentation and energy.
Wednesday through Saturday,
CTRL, located at 311 S Patton Ave., is open 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Wednesday through Saturday. The club is housed in the former Zan the Club building, right next to The Dive on Patton.
CTRL has something new.
Wednesdays are free entry for everyone, and Thursday’s theme is Latin. With increase in popularity and the size of the building, CTRL has limited availability. The club does provide accommodation, however, offering VIP entries to reserve a spot and skip the line, bottle services and VIP treatment that allows a server dedicated to your group all evening.
From 9 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., CTRL has a mix of all, including a booth, a DJ, VIP, a bar and the dance floor.
“They should expect a high energy environment,” Waters said. “With strong music, immersive lighting and a crowd that is there for the experi-
ence, it is designed to feel elevated from start to finish.”
CTRL focuses on experience, but also believes in “execution, consistency, and presentation,” according to Waters.
“Every night has to meet a certain level. Every interaction matters. Nothing is left up to chance,” he said.
Waters’ experience with building and scaling high-level businesses has proven to be beneficial with influencing the values CTRL has. When discipline and structure exist with nightlife, it can completely influence the outcome at the end of the evening. One of CTRLs main goals is delivering high-level values every night
to make sure that people who attend don’t just have any night out, but a good night the whole night.
In the beginning of 2026, CTRL became a popular topic of discussion specifically with college students in the Springfield area. People have had a strong response to CTRL since it opened.
“The environment was exciting and new, the atmosphere was different, with smoke machines and mirrors lining the wall made it cool to see everyone all at once,” Missouri State student Natalie Thro said
Waters mentioned how the brand has been gaining recognition quickly – thanks in part to social media,
which allows more people to hear and see about what CTRL is all about.
“CTRL was different than I expected. The atmosphere was more dancing than sitting at a bar, and it felt safe compared to other bars and clubs in the area,” said MSU student Hannah Shorts.
With the rate that CTRL is currently on, it is a positive addition to nightlife in Springfield. Waters is looking forward to growing this into a recognizable brand way beyond Springfield.
He said he wants to “expand into other markets and build additional concepts under the same name while maintaining the same standard.”
Photo by Jayden Pettus
From vocal cords to dance floors Hour House expands with new nightclub
BROOKE BENNE Reporter
Downtown Springfield’s nightlife scene is set to expand as the owners of karaoke bar Hour House plan to open a new dance club, Screaming Mary’s.
Together, the two venues will form what the owners call the HH Complex.
Owners Trevor Sterely and David Chambers have planned to expand since opening Hour House in 2021. When the lease became available last year at the neighboring property, formerly Legicee at 322 South Ave., they moved forward with the project.
“There’s bars that have dance nights and things like that. There’s nothing that’s fully dance-oriented,” said Chambers, Hour House entertainment director and co-owner of Screaming Mary’s. “The second you walk through the door till you close — everyday that you’re open — the idea is dance.”
Screaming Mary’s, which is awaiting final city permits, will include a full dance floor with custom lighting, themed Instagram-style rooms, an expanded food and drink menu and live entertainment, including drag shows, DJs and performances. Guests will be able to move between Hour House and Screaming Mary’s with a single entry fee.
Safety, inclusion and collaboration are central to the HH Complex. The owners plan to staff at least two security guards at all times while partnering with professional security teams.
“Making it an LGBTQ+ bar requires extra security alone just because of the world we live in nowadays, so it’s something we don’t take lightly,” Chambers said. “We like to make sure we collaborate with all of our bars nearby and include everybody.”
Chambers said one of the venue’s standout features is a blacklight-reactive “rainbow cloud wall” installation extending into the bathrooms, displaying a 10-by-13-foot cloud holding rainbow slinkies. The room will be fully blacklight reactive. The club will also feature seven themed rooms (red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple), each with a distinct aesthetic ranging from jungle and disco to a studio-inspired space. The designs were inspired by clubs the owners have visited, including in London. The expansion will also separate programming within the HH Complex. Hour House will focus on karaoke, while Screaming Mary’s will host drag shows, live music, burlesque performances and charity events.
In addition to entertainment, Screaming Mary’s will operate a full kitchen until 3 a.m.
HH Complex owner David Chambers stands outside of Hour
and Trevor Sterely plan to open Screaming Mary’s in early April pending permit approval.
and offer a more elaborate drink menu, including layered cocktails, martinis and frozen drinks – an upgrade from Hour House’s simpler offerings.
“This is the only space or platform I’ve had to have in host shows. So having another space is exciting,” said Chambers.
Screaming Mary’s will continue Hour House’s practice of hosting at least two charity events each month. The owners partner with local organizations and have raised around $17,000 for Springfield-based charities in the last year.
Screaming Mary’s was initially expected to open in late February, but permitting delays have pushed the timeline back. An opening date has not been set, though the owners are aiming for early April. The business expects to hire about 20 employees. Chambers said about 200 applications have already been received, though hiring is paused until permits are approved.
“We want them to feel like they have entered a space that is completely safe, comfortable, and they know for a fact they’re going to have a fun time the second the walk in the door,” he said.
The owners plan to continue expanding in the future, including potentially reopening an upstairs space for live music. For now, their focus remains on opening Screaming Mary’s and establishing the HH Complex as a downtown entertainment hub.
Screaming Mary’s will be within walking distance of many downtown attractions thanks to its convenient downtown location.
Photo by Brooke Benne
House on South Avenue. He
Photo by Brooke Benne
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No need to go out to have a good time Student’s guide to a night in
ABBY SOMMER Reporter Qabbys2025
For many people, the idea of a fun night includes pajamas and snacks at home instead of going out. However, sometimes it is fun to explore new things, even if it is in the comfort of your own home. Here are some fun ways to have a great weekend while staying home:
Food
If you love food, then there are plenty of fun weekend activities for you to try out while staying at home.
For lovers of baking, cookie decorating is an amazing way to relax on the weekend. It can be as simple as grabbing some store-bought dough or premade cookies and icing, or you can really get creative and find recipes online - websites like Allrecipes.com are a great place to start!
Taste testing is also a fun way to try new foods that you’ve never had before. You can order takeout from a few different restaurants and have fun rating them or comparing them. You can make it as simple or as complicated as you want, from ordering from a couple of different restaurants to making it a multi-course meal. You can even make a game out of deciding which restaurants to choose from! If you have a competitive spirit, then a cookoff is perfect for you. Grab some friends and see who takes the win as the cooking champion. You can decide on a dish for all of you to cook, or you can all choose a different dish. This is also a perfect opportunity to try new recipes or make things that you’ve always wanted to try.
Book Club
If you’re a book reader, then sitting down
with a good book in a quiet spot might already be the idea of a perfect weekend night. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t have a little fun with it!
A good old-fashioned book club will end your week on a good note. Grab some friends and a good book, and gab away. Dissect your favorite scenes, characters and twists with your favorite people.
A book swap is also an amazing way to find your new favorite book. A little bit like a white elephant gift exchange, each person brings a book and takes turns swapping them. You will find books that you might never have read otherwise!
Movie Night
A good movie can make any weekend night magical. Pop some popcorn, get your favorite snacks, and enjoy your favorite movie.
Game Night
Get your favorite games and play away! Board games and video games are awesome ways to have fun on the weekend. Classic games like Monopoly and Uno are great for game night, or you could go with games like Codenames or Exploding Kittens.
Arts and Crafts
If you’re feeling creative, why not grab some supplies and do some arts and crafts? There are many exciting ways to channel your creativity. If you want something simple, grab an adult coloring book! They are a very effective way to relax and destress from the week.
Having a painting night is also super fun. Grab some watercolors and some paper and create your own masterpiece. If you are 21 and older, you can also turn it into a paint and sip night and grab your favorite wine!
File photo/The Standard
Movie nights with friends are a great way to have fun without spending too much money out on the town.
Retro fun lives on at 1984 arcade
AYRICKA POINTER Reporter
Long before 1984 arcade became a down town staple, it started as a simple problem: too many vintage games and nowhere to put them.
Owner Devin Durham remembers the mo ment clearly. He and a few friends had accu mulated a growing collection of classic arcade cabinets.
“We needed to do something with them or
File photo/The Standard 1984 features many retro arcade-style game machines, all of which are free to play upon paying an entry fee.
get rid of them because there were so many,” he said. “One day we decided to put them all together in one place. It probably started as a club, then one thing led to another and some body said, ‘Let’s invite the public.’”
Durham wasn’t in terested in counting quarters all day, so the group landed on a dif ferent model: a single entry fee that made ev ery game free to play.
“That’s how it start ed,” he said.
The concept worked almost instantly.
“About five minutes after the first day I opened, I realized it,” Durham said. “I didn’t expect anybody to show up, and the first weekend I covered my rent. I should have done this a long time ago.”
A Nostalgic Escape
For Durham, the appeal of classic ar cades is simple.
“I think today sucks,” he said with a laugh. “People look at this place and it’s in the right spot. The whole arcade thing is tangled with the ’80s feel. If you talk ’80s — you know Pac‑Man and stuff like that — I think
that’s what drives people to come here.”
The Springfield community seems to agree. Since opening, Durham said the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
His mother, Gloria Durham, joined the staff after retiring from Mercy Hospital, where she worked for 30 years.
“As I retired, my kids said, ‘You’re gonna come up and work with us all the time,’” she said.
Gloria wasn’t new to retro games — her kids grew up playing them — but she quickly discovered what makes 1984 different from other arcades.
“It’s a family place, no alcohol, nothing like that,” she said. “My kids don’t drink. They don’t want to mess with that. It’s hard enough as it is.”
A Community of Characters
Working at 1984 comes with its share of memorable moments. Gloria recalls one night in particular.
“There was one time that Ghostbusters came in. They show up every so often,” she said, smiling.
She loves watching first‑time visitors expe rience the arcade for the first time.
“They’re so in awe with it,” she said.
For newcomers, she has one recommenda tion: start with Pac‑Man. “It’s free,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Even as the arcade continues to draw crowds, the Durhams are already planning their next attraction – an escape room according to Durham.
For now, 1984 remains a neon‑lit time cap sule – one where Springfield families, longtime gamers and curious newcomers can step back into the golden age of arcades, one free game at a time.
Screenshots from collegestationtheaters.com
College Station Theaters provides a wide range of Hollywood and local movies. All movies above are currently showing at the theater.
College Station Theaters sees success in first year of business
MAKANAKA BGONI Reporter
Qmakanakabgoni
College Station Theaters, a local cinema located where Hollywood Theaters was formerly housed, has now been open for almost a year and a half. According to an article by Sartorial Magazine, Hollywood Theatres was active from 2009 to 2013 until bought and rebranded by Regal Cinemas. The theater building was then leased by Regal for about ten years before its parent company filed for bankruptcy and shut down the Springfield location.
Paul and Scott Tillman, the father-son duo of Tillman Redevelopment, LLC, owner of the property, then had a decision to make. Which company would occupy the theater next, and how would it affect the community?
Ultimately, the Tillmans chose to keep it local and operate the business
themselves.
“What we kept coming back to is no one’s going to love Springfield as much as we do,” Paul Tillman said in an interview with Biz417 last May.
“They’re not gonna care about Springfield as much as we do, and they’re not gonna make the choices for this site the same way we would.”
In the same article, Tillman spoke of the reason his father built the theater in 2008 – to ensure there was a place for people to go see movies downtown. Despite having no prior expertise with running a theater, the Tillmans were determined to continue to provide that.
Tillman credits his amazing team for helping make the transition so smooth, especially his general manager Danielle Signaigo and assistant manager Curtis Killingsworth for showing him the ropes. Signaigo had been a manager for Regal before its closure, as reported by the Sartorial.
Despite their experience and
knowledge, it still took some time for them to adjust to an independent structure rather than a corporate structure. Tillman and his managers now have more liberty but also more responsibility with decision-making.
“Some of those decisions that, historically, one of their superiors had made, now they get to make or I’m having to make,” Tillman said of his managers. “It’s just been a huge learning curve, but it’s been a fun one.”
His goal for the first year of College Station was to survive, and the theater not only survived, but thrived thanks to the rousing support of Springfield. The fears often accompanied with starting a new business, such as covering expenses and more, eventually faded as it showed clear success.
The theater also became a huge asset to the downtown Springfield area, bringing in business and providing entertainment for the community.
“Our goal is for downtown to be a vibrant, welcoming place for everyone, and the more opportunities we have for entertainment that meet the needs for our residents and visitors, the happier we are,” says Downtown Springfield Association director Crystal Quade.
Like other theaters in the area, College Station shows the big-name, first-run Hollywood movies, as well as some classics. It also occasionally plays local movies, from documentaries such as the “Gold Fields in Donbas” to short films made by students.
The screening rooms feature laser projectors for a crisper and bright picture, Dolby Atmos sound, and heated reclining seats.
Open seven days a week, it offers showtimes as late as 9 or 10 p.m. Adult tickets range from $10 to $12, while $5 discount Tuesdays and its location less than 10 minutes from campus make it an affordable place
to experience movies for students.
One of Tillman’s biggest goals was to create a distraction-free setting so patrons can enjoy their movie undisturbed. The seamless and simple flow of getting in, buying tickets and snacks, and getting directed to the right auditorium allows for that.
A special factor of College Station that sets it apart from other theaters is its collaboration with local businesses. The concession stand sells Big Slice pizza and coffee from The Coffee Ethic. Pineapple Whip can be bought outside from the box office booth, starting April 1st. The arcade by the entrance of the building is run by 1984, the retro arcade in downtown Springfield.
Tillman’s next long-term goal for the theater is to expand it from 10 screening rooms to 13, creating a bigger and more comfortable atmosphere for Springfield moviegoers.
