This Mom's Weekend, Athenians have something else to look forward to other than the mass influx of inebriated mothers. Our beloved town, which already boasts a thriving music scene, will obtain another venue for concerts and performances of all varieties.

Central Venue, located at 29 E. Carpenter next to Inhale Yoga, will celebrate its grand opening this Friday with local music and food from Athens' finest vendors.

"We're trying to do an Athens-at-a-glance sort of feel," said Jake Householder, lead singer of Scubadog and one of the masterminds behind Central Venue. "Like, if you're in town and want to see what it's all about, we'll have a fair chunk of it represented here."

The launch party will feature performances from Scubadog, Southeast Engine and Kelly Latimore. If your stomach's growling, grab a snack from the Fluff, Good Earth Farm or Donkey tables and peruse the works of local artists.

"We wanted se see this as an event that highlights the community," said Householder.

Central Venue, which was formerly an auto parts warehouse, is owned by Central Avenue Church. The church bought the building in December 2010 for extra space and more services, said Householder.

"It took a little bit of people's believing to make it a reality," he said. "It was kind of a gross warehouse. There was white paint all over this beautiful exposed brick. We had to replace the whole ceiling and add heating and air conditioning."

Although the renovation process was a tedious one, Householder thinks it's paid off.

"So many people came together and put money into it. People came out and worked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Saturday for the past year. It's been a really cool community effort from the beginning, and to me, that's 100 percent what it's about."

The 300 sq. foot venue will serve as a second site for Central Avenue Church on Sundays, but is fair game for any community arts events the rest of the week. Its large size and proximity to uptown could make Central Venue a music hotspot.

"We're gonna bring in as many and as big of artists as we can afford," said Householder. "Hopefully, each month and each year will get a little better and we can start bringing in bigger people. Athens has a knack for drawing great artists. We've just been lacking a big enough venue."

Friday's launch party kicks off at 8 p.m., and there is a $6 cover charge. If your mom is coming into town, consider attending to support the town we love so much.

"We've been working at this for a long time, so we're really excited to launch it and share it with the community," said Householder.

Interested in performing at Central Venue? Contact booking@centralavenue.net