Mark Rothman is bringing his London-based comedy club concept to New York, and it is all because of a dream — literally.
Rothman has found success with his brand Top Secret Comedy Club, which he launched in London in 2010, and he has had the idea of bringing the concept to New York in the back of his mind for a while. So when Rothman was out to breakfast with a friend last year and heard that his friend had a real dream about him owning a comedy club in New York City, Rothman took it as a sign to get the ball rolling on a New York expansion.
Pieces fell into place to make it happen, from connecting with a realtor to finding an ideal location — the former Upright Citizens Brigade space at 44 Avenue A in the East Village. Rothman told What Now New York that he began touring locations last October and finally worked out a deal for the location.
“I told my friend, ‘Your dream made me feel like I was in a really strong negotiating position,’” Rothman joked. “If it was fated by the dream, it was going to happen.”
Rothman is hoping to bring plenty of laughs to the space, UK-style.
“We do it a little bit differently in London,” Rothman said. “In America, there are tables everywhere, there are servers throughout the show, there are people ordering, there are people getting food, there are waiters running back and forth and there’s all this chaos going on. And there’s a comedian on stage trying to do a comedy show.”
The spot will place the comedy front and center, rather than becoming mired in two-drink minimums and extensive food menus. The menu will be simple: pizza, alongside a beverage program featuring beer, wine and cocktails.
The minimalist design of the space will also be aligned with the goal of making the comedy shine. Instead of tables and chairs, the space will offer rows of seats akin to a small theater so that people can truly enjoy the show.
“The comedian gets on stage and does the performance without any distractions. It’s just different,” Rothman said. “And then there’s a break and you can go get a drink, and then come back and watch more comedy.”
Paperwork filed with the community board indicates plans for 242 seats.
An exact opening timeline is still forthcoming, but Rothman is hoping to soft open sometime in October. He said they might start by opening up a few nights a week and then expand operations from there.
“We always play it by ear and improvise and work it out,” Rothman said. “We don’t have any fixed plans because things can change and you can get surprised and you just have to see what you discover.”
Rothman’s laidback philosophy applies to his future plans in New York, as well. He is focused on making this initial location a success, and from there, he will see how the brand might grow on this side of the Atlantic Ocean.
“Originally, it’s just a bit of fun and silliness,” Rothman said. “The idea is to have fun and just see what happens.”
