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STUDS Bear & Leather Bar will celebrate its fourth anniversary on May 19, 2026, marking its evolution into both a nightlife landmark in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romántica and a growing force in business and community innovation. What began as owner Mike Owens’ vision after relocating from Arizona has expanded into an enterprise that spans in-person entertainment, digital content production, and an international gear line featuring clothing and specialty items.
In an exclusive interview, Mike Owens reflects on the evolution of a space that now employs more than 45 people and has constantly expanded its physical and conceptual borders.
The structure of STUDS has changed drastically since its opening. Currently, the establishment offers three levels with distinct atmospheres to satisfy the diversity of its clientele, with different vibes and music on each floor. The most recent addition is the Rooftop Garden, which opened in late October 2025.
“Now whether you are looking for happy hour, Strip Down Bingo, Trivia & Tacos or Monday’s Disco & Dancing vibes, the first floor has that and much more to offer. The second floor offers lots of sexy fun with live shows, videos you don’t want to miss and dancing in a club style environment to great DJ’s playing the best House Dance music in town. And the most recent addition, the third floor Rooftop Garden, offers an upscale space where people can sit, talk, and enjoy a great cocktail with friends,” Owens explains.
In addition to these physical expansions, STUDS Bear & Leather bar has bet heavily on its trademarked brand, The Gear Shop by STUDS, which prioritizes quality merchandise made in Mexico. What began as a small corner on the 2nd floor, is now a dedicated area at the back of the first floor, where customers can find a variety of STUDS branded apparel, as well as a wide variety of leather and pup items. The Gear Shop by STUDS is also now available on the STUDS website and has begun international shipping with orders from Mexico, the U.S., Canada and as far away as Belgium, opening up STUDS merch to the rest of the world.”
The growth of STUDS is not just architectural. The team has grown to 45 full-time and part-time employees, including door staff, bartenders, gogos, dj’s and the administrative team. Additionally, this year the club took a key step toward professionalization by integrating a full time in-house marketing team of three people to manage future strategies and projects.
The operation has also taken on a familial and collaborative tone. Owens’ brought on his partner, Agustín Ibáñez, as a co-owner, and his youngest son, Andrew Owens, who moved from Phoenix, is getting involved in all areas of the organization. “Agustin has made a tremendous difference in the growth and expansion of STUDS. He is directly responsible for the changes within The Gear Shop by STUDS as well as the new rooftop garden. Agustin has brought a fresh perspective to STUDS and plays an integral part in building our future strategies and running the day to day operations. And, I could not be more excited to have Andrew here in Puerto Vallarta. He is learning the different parts of our organization and has a voice in everything we are doing at STUDS,” Owens notes.
STUDS Studio & Podcast: The Voice of the Community
One of the pillars of this evolution is the creation of STUDS Studio & Podcast, which focuses on adult content and podcast production. STUDS Studio now has its own location on Constitución Street in the Zona Romántica. Through this media arm, the brand seeks to connect with the LGBTIQ+ community beyond the bar’s walls. Current programming includes: “Tea Time with Tía Gloria,” with Christian Boudreau from Canada’s MISTR Bear which features talks on a wide variety of topics including specific bear and leather culture topics; “What a Stud, with Woody Fox,” featuring interviews with local and international personalities; and “Lo que no se dice sobrio,” hosted by influencer York, focuses on the Spanish-speaking market. Owens also plans to host his own podcast to interview other local business owners, exploring their personal trajectories.
Inclusion as a Central Axis
The brand’s projection reached a new milestone with the creation of Leather Fever, an annual trademarked event whose second edition will take place in November 2026. The event hosts the Mr. Leather Vallarta, Mr. Kink Vallarta, and Pup Vallarta contests. The impact of these initiatives is tangible: the current winner of Mr. Leather Vallarta, Keith Ramsey, will represent Mexico and STUDS Bear & Leather bar at the International Mr. Leather event in Chicago as the only representative from the country in this prestigious international competition.
STUDS has worked hard to be a space where body and generational diversity are celebrated. The current clientele blends men of all ages, from bears and leather enthusiasts to daddies, twinks, gay muscle and everything in between.
“As a Bear & Leather themed bar, our goal is to create an environment where every person and body-type feels comfortable at STUDS. We want everyone to express themselves in the way that makes them happy from a community perspective,” Ibáñez says.
The Future of the Brand
With strategic plans projected for one, three, and five years, the STUDS brand is evaluating future expansion opportunities at a national and international level. Ibáñez says, “while any success STUDS has enjoyed has been very rewarding, the focus remains on the quality of daily service and the customer experience.”
Owens states, “We always hoped the community would embrace our vision. We are very grateful for the reception in Puerto Vallarta, but we take nothing for granted. Our bar is only as good as our customers’ daily experience.”
STUDS is located at Basilio Badillo 283, Zona Romántica. It features its now-traditional 2×1 happy hour from 3 to 8 p.m. and a themed weekly schedule ranging from Trivia & Tacos Monday afternoon and Disco Dance on Monday night to Jockstrap Night on Fridays, keeping the flame alive for a community that, after four years, continues to find this space a place to celebrate its identity.
Website: www.studsbarpv.com.mx
Facebook: Studs Bear Bar
Instagram: @studsbarpv
This article was featured in our Summer 2026 issue. Read the digital copy below.
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