New Haven Independent

Hear The One About The Comedy Club?

by Allan Appel | September 11, 2008 7:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (10)

nhifitch%20015.JPG The joke was on Jeff Gagnon as the Board of Zoning Appeals denied his proposal to reestablish the 1980s-era Jokers Wild comedy club on Wooster Street. The unfunny punch line was, as is often the case in New Haven, parking.

Gagnon and his partner Dominic Acquerulo, who own the building in which the now defunct Casa Nostra and DelMonico’s restaurants operated, were requesting a use variance to permit a 190-seat restaurant and comedy club. That would mean nearly doubling the number of patrons and creating a patio addition.

“We see a real opportunity here to draw people,” Gagnon said, “because, believe it or not, there isn’t a club devoted to comedy in New Haven.” He and his partners would be working, he said, with John Calish, who was the owner of Jokers Wild, on Crown Street, in the 1980s.

To meet zoning’s parking requirements on the crowded, well-restauranted block, Gagnon and company arranged for on-site parking to be augmented by 39 additional spaces in the commercial parking lot at 10 Olive St. He presented a nearly iron-clad agreement from the lot operator. So far so good.

nhifitch%20017.JPG Then his proposal allowed that all the parking, both at the club and on Olive, would be valet. That led Rick Elser, a BZA commissioner with some experience as a restaurant operator, to wonder if all the valet-assisted comings and goings would further tie up an already badly congested Wooster Street.

“But it’s not like a church,” countered BZA chair Cathy Weber. “It’s a comedy club. They’re not all going to leave at the same time.”

“Unless, of course, the act isn’t funny at all,” suggested a straight-faced commissioner.

Considerable discussion ensued as to whether the prospective Jokers Wild should be asked to dispense with the valet parking, or reduce the number of planned new seats. Elser suggested he would deny the request in any event, because of the parking as well as other concerns, such as possible post-midnight drinking. And he swayed his colleagues.

Gagnon, who is the construction side of the partnership in Jokers Wild, lamented the denial. He said New Haven was losing out on great acts coming to town such as Chris Rock.

nhifitch%20016.JPG While he left, not laughing, he appeared committed to talking to his partners about lowering the number of increased seats from 190. In his view, that is what upset the commissioners the most. “But it’s got to be more than what’s there,” he added. “Otherwise the numbers just won’t work for us.

There was some urgency too: Previous tenants, he said, had stiffed him and his partners, paying no rent for eight months and stealing some equipment. He said they planned to reapply in the coming month. The show must go on.

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Comments

Posted by: JP | September 11, 2008 9:29 AM

Common sense says this would do better downtown anyway.

Posted by: Justin | September 11, 2008 10:53 AM

This club sounds like an excellent idea and the neighborhood is amazing. I live on Wooster and I think this would really add something special to the area. Is it possible that the owners could look at another lot around the neighborhood for parking? Perhaps a deal could be worked out with a local business for use of a parking lot? Just an idea. I would hate to see this fall apart due to a parking issue.

Posted by: jdavis | September 11, 2008 11:03 AM

i am all for a comedy club... but not on wooster. this would do amazing on or around temple or chapel. Just because you own the building and have an idea doesnt mean that idea needs to go in that building.

Posted by: Your Tax Dollars at Work | September 11, 2008 11:34 AM

What is it about Wooster St? Folks seem to be able to get away with a lot more there than in other parts of town.

The "Little Italy" arch is sort of nice, but how did they get it through? Then they put those neon lights on it -- looks like Vegas in the old days -- a Tony & Lucille redux. And who's paying the electric bill? Plus there's all those brass placques on it that the thieves who steal everything else (including the semi sacred fountains on the semi sacred Green) seem to ignore. And what about Consiglio's "parking lot" for which a historic building was torn down?

A few years back, at taxpayer expense, they got new sidewalks with brick pavers and planting areas which are not really maintained.

Anastasio's Restaurant put up a streeet sign renaning their corner to honor themselves.

These guys from the comedy club seem not to have been in the "loop" with the folks who make the decisions, so to speak.

HMMMM!

Posted by: fairhavendoc | September 11, 2008 12:29 PM

it is not related to the article, but the comment above about anastasio's putting up a sign in their own honor deserves a second look. i noticed it the other day...it must have been placed in the last month or two. it looks just like an official city sign! did the restaurant put it up themselves, or was the city honoring their service to destefano? (remember...last year the city relieved them of their tax burden on the place on middletown.)

Posted by: robn | September 11, 2008 12:45 PM

heck,

that yellow color they were going to paint the facade is pretty funny!

Posted by: jawbone | September 11, 2008 3:05 PM

ROBN,
That ain't yellow paint...thats exposed Densglas backer board.

Posted by: jdavis | September 11, 2008 3:27 PM

robn,
that color will be funnier the further you live away from it.
poor wooster street.

Posted by: wes on wooster | September 11, 2008 4:47 PM

The foam arches that surround the windows are perhaps the ugliest applique yet. When they were first installed, I accidentally hit one with my bike tire and a big piece of blue foam fell off! For a historic district, there is really not any sort of architectural discretion. Perhaps a strip club would be just as suiting for the kind of rowdy late-night crowd the comedy club is bound to attract. (I miss walking by Casa Nostra with the live music)

Posted by: JackNH | September 12, 2008 1:47 AM

My heart goes out to anyone trying to run a business in New Haven. Parking is a big problem in that part of town, and it will be downtown as well when (?) Gateway Community College opens. I never go to Wooster St anymore, it's too much of a headache. I agree, open it on Crown Street, where folks can continue to have time once the show is over.

Hear The One About The Comedy Club?

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