Capitol Hill will soon welcome Comedy/Bar to the area located at 206 Broadway E Suite 200, according to Comedian and Co-Owner Dane Hesseldahl.
The new comedy bar is finalizing the lease to take over the former Highline space set to be official any day now, Hesseldahl told What Now Seattle on Tuesday. He explained the bar’s name comes from “word economy” in comedy. “The idea is the joke is better short,” he said. Wanting customers to know exactly what they were getting as they passed by, the name says it all — Comedy/Bar.
Hesseldahl felt responsible for the lack of performance space for comedians in the area with Jai Thai’s closure after 13 years of open mic events held at the restaurant. “It was passed on from comedian to comedian. Always a new steward. I was the last steward when it closed down. The effects were felt in the community.” So along with fellow Comedian and Co-Owner Jes Anderson, the two stepped up to bring the “minor leagues” of comedy back to the area.
The 4200 square foot space will have upwards of 120 seats with minimal changes aside from a new stage to be built. Hours of operation will be 5 p.m. to 12 p.m., Monday through Saturday. There will bottled and draught beer, craft cocktails, and wine served from the bar. For snacks they plan to eventually have different flavors of french fires with a variety toppings, pickles on a stick, and “fun treats.”
An open mic night will be hosted there twice a week with comedy playing on televisions otherwise. It will be ran as a community stage so everyone has access to standup with a strict Code of Conduct for performing so as to provide all sorts of shows for everyone.
Comedy/Bar wants to open its doors during the daytime as well if all goes to plan. Hasseldahl speaking of love for the community said, “We may open up for improv classes and such to support the community further. We want it to be a space for people to come together for the art of comedy.”
Plans are to open the first weekend of May with a big Grand Opening party.
