Strychnine Music Venue Will Open in Des Moines
The new live music space honors local musician Jimi Scribner and opens its doors on October 3, 2026.
Updated on Oct. 2, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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Strychnine will officially open at 2307 University Ave in Des Moines on October 3, 2026. The venue features a new interior design and maintains a dedicated focus on live music and cocktails.
Why it matters
The venue replaces the long-standing local space Lefty's, which operated at the same address for 10 years before closing in December 2025. It aims to fill the void left by its predecessor by providing a dedicated performance space for the local music scene.
The venue accommodates approximately 350 guests within its updated interior. This follows the closure of the prior establishment that served the area for 10 years.
The players
Jimi Scribner
Jimi Scribner was a late local musician whose career and contribution to the scene are honored by the naming of the new Strychnine venue.
The details
Operating out of 2307 University Ave, the space features a complete interior redesign and a name chosen to honor late local musician Jimi Scribner. The grand opening on October 3, 2026, will feature a lineup of seven local musical acts performing on stage.
Timeline
December 2025 marked the official closing of the previous venue, Lefty's.
Strychnine will open its doors to the public at noon on October 3, 2026.
Live musical performances are scheduled to begin at approximately 2pm on opening day.
Market Landscape
The opening of Strychnine follows the regional trend of independent music venues cycling through ownership and rebranding at established legacy addresses. This move positions the new venue to capture the existing audience within the Des Moines independent music venue ecosystem.
Local patrons can expect a revamped interior and a cocktail-focused menu when the doors open on October 3, 2026. The venue is designed to serve a capacity of 350, providing a renewed destination for fans of live music in the area.
The takeaway
The opening represents a fresh start for a historic local venue address that has been vacant since the end of 2025. Residents and fans of local music can support the new venture by attending the opening day performances starting in the early afternoon.
Further reading
For more information on the evolving local scene, visit Openings & Closings.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Axios.
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