Those students wanting to try something new on weekend nights might try a coffee house, nightclub and church all in one package.

A year and a half ago, Ben Bainbridge of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church got together with some other church members to try to figure out a way to make an extension to their church.

They came up with The Salvage Yard.

“It doesn’t feel like a church, it doesn’t look like one and it doesn’t smell like one,” Bainbridge said. “When you hear the words ‘Christian’ and ‘nightclub’ put together, people kind of get a notion in their mind of what that would be. I just hope people have an open mind. I think when they come in here they won’t see what they’re expecting.”

A little bit of everything can be found in a visit, with a sound booth for recording music, performance stage for live acts, coffee bar, pool tables and rooms for bible studies.

Bainbridge said his main goal in opening The Salvage Yard is to reach people and make a difference.

He said he thinks that this could be the place for those who spend night after night in a bar and look for some place different.

“I spent many years in [the bar scene],” Bainbridge said. “There’s just a better way. People use that to fill what they’re missing or what they’re looking for. It can be a waste of life.”

The doors opened two weeks ago, however a grand opening is set for Feb. 9-11 with live music each night.

Anything from hip-hop and rap groups, to heavy metal, to acoustic bands and some blues, but everything Christian based will be playing.

“There’s a whole other world out there entertainment wise that has a positive message that people just aren’t aware of,” Bainbridge said. “Give it a try, see what you think.”

Worship services are planned to start up in March, but these are not the traditional service one can see anywhere else.

A church is not what Bainbridge wants people to think of, but he would rather have people think more along the lines of a place for people to get together and have a good time.

The Salvage Yard isn’t necessarily just a teen-oriented center, any ages are welcome, although children under the age of 16 have to be accompanied by an adult.

“Last weekend we had 70 to 80 people in here ranging from teens to late 1960s,” Bainbridge said.

The hours are Thursday- Saturday, 6 p.m. to midnight. For more information, The Salvage Yard can be found online at www.thesalvageyard.com or contact 623-YARD.