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Purple Comedy Club Awaits City OK to Open in Former Wicker Park Church

By Alisa Hauser | September 18, 2015 8:49am
 The Comedy Clubhouse, 1462 N. Ashland Ave.
The Comedy Clubhouse
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WICKER PARK — A former storefront church that was bought in March has sat empty for six months, as the owner awaits city approval that will enable him to open The Comedy Clubhouse in a hard-to-miss bright purple building along Ashland avenue.

One Group Mind LLC's owner Mike Abdelsayed says 300 comedians, many based in Chicago and a mix of college-level and professional performers, are eagerly awaiting the small 50-seat club's debut.

"They will be calling this place their home," said Abdelsayed, a former comic who now teaches improvisation and comedy and heads up One Group Mind, a collective of improvisers who perform all over the country, according to the group's website.

Abdelsayed raised about $22,000 in a Kickstarter campaign to help pay for renovations to the old building, which he bought in March. Formerly painted a creamy white, the exterior is now bright purple.

"We painted it purple so it could be a little obvious," Abdelsayed said.

Unexpected delays related to getting the vintage two-story building up to code have added money and time to the project, Abelsayed said on Thursday.

"We did our last inspection on Saturday and are trying to get oura Performing Arts Venue license this week," Abdelsayed said.

Late Thursday, a city spokeswoman confirmed that there was a building issue that has since been corrected. On Friday, Abdelsayed said he got the permit on Thursday afternoon and plans to open over the weekend with BYOB shows.

The 1,000-square-foot comedy club also features an eight-tap self-serve beer wall, where patrons can serve themselves, wearing wireless wristbands that track their beer consumption and cap off at two glasses or 32 ounces.

One Group Mind LLC applied for a license to serve liquor on Aug. 18, city records show.  It can take a minimum of 60 days for the city to approve a liquor license, according to guidelines, so The Comedy Clubhouse could not serve beer until mid-October.

Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd), whose ward office is just up the street at 1400 N. Ashland Ave., was not immediately available for comment on whether he supports the new liquor license. 

Beth Sholtis, assistant program manager for the Special Service Area Taxpayer District No. 33, which shares an office with the Wicker Park Bucktown Chamber of Commerce at 1414 N. Ashland Ave., said from what she knows through talking with her new neighbor, Abdelsayed, The Comedy Clubhouse "seems like a cool idea and good for the area."

"Having more business and activity on Ashland is terrific for everyone," Sholtis said.

The former sanctuary offers a small stage and 50 seats. [All photos by DNAinfo/Alisa Hauser]

The self-serve 4-tap "beer wall" in the back of the club.

Abdelsayed in front of The Comedy Clubhouse on Thursday morning.

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