ESCONDIDO — A new business hopes to bring laughter and cheer to North County in a way that’s never been done before.
San Diego County native Adam Wasserman opened the long-awaited Grand Comedy Club in Escondido last month. Featuring star-studded, comedic talent, including comedians Chris Franjola, Billy Bonnell and Escondido native Josh Nelson, Wasserman’s club has already gained hundreds of followers on social media and five-star reviews.
Wasserman, a comedian himself, said the Grand Comedy Club is an entertainment venue that’s long been needed in North County. Prior to his business, residents would drive to La Jolla or downtown San Diego to watch live, stand-up comedy, Wasserman said.
“I grew up here and always thought it was strange to have to drive all the way down to (the city of) San Diego to see a good comedy show,” Wasserman said. “There are no clubs in North County.”
Wasserman, who previously co-owned ACES Comedy Club in Murrieta, said he searched North County for quite some time before setting his sights on the up-and-coming Grand Avenue in Escondido.
“I was trying to find the right location and space that was not going to break the bank when it came to rent, and boom, I found it,” Wasserman said. “The space is amazing. The sound is great. The room is perfect. The patio is amazing. The audiences have been awesome.”
Thus far, attendees have been pleased with what the Grand Comedy Club has brought to North County, Wasserman said.
“Customers have been very happy when leaving the club and thanking me for bringing the club to Escondido and North County,” Wasserman said. “People from the coast are buying tickets too, which excites me. I see addresses on ticket sales from Del Mar, Carlsbad and Oceanside.”
Nelson, a North County native who performed at the new comedy club several times since its opening, echoed Wasserman that the public response has been overwhelmingly positive. Many of the attendees are thrilled to have a comedy Club in Escondido, he said.
“I think a comedy club in North County is amazing,” said Nelson, a longtime comedian. “Before this club there wasn’t anything close by for comedy. I feel like this is a huge untapped market. North County has tons and tons of people. I’d assume they like to laugh.”
Nelson said he’s also excited to just be able to perform in his hometown familiar faces can watch him perform.
“I can’t wait for the word to get out even more and the shows can even be better,” Nelson said. “It’s going to be a good time.”
Wasserman said he hopes to continue to bring top-level, national talent to Escondido while also giving guests the opportunity to have a taste-worthy meal and drink.
In the coming weeks, Wasserman said attendees can expect to see headliners such as John Caponera, who is popular for his 1990s television series with Drew Carey; Tamer Kattan, the winner of the World Series of Comedy in Las Vegas last year; and Morgan Jay, who was a finalist on NBC’s “Bring the Funny.” Other acts throughout the country have also contacted him for a spot to perform in Escondido, Wasserman said.
Wasserman said he hopes the Grand Comedy Club will continue to thrive in the next five or 10 years while helping to introduce new customers to downtown Escondido and its other offerings. He might even open another comedy club in San Diego County.
“I hope people enjoy themselves, laugh, drink and eat, so they can forget about life for a while and want to come back and support live comedy and our club,” Wasserman said. “I hope we are known as the place to go for stand up.”
For more information about the Grand Comedy Club, go to grandcomedyclub.com.
1 comment
Well there are a couple of spots that have had comedy nights for years in Oceanside. I have gone for over 2 years on Tuesday nights to the Privateer In South O.
Also for those over 35 you may remember Oceanside even had its very own comedy store like La Jolla and LA. Unfortunately, Oside didn’t change quick enough and shake its ghetto image BUT now the same can’t be said. Actually most comment about how very Caucasian Oceanside is and it cracks me up as everyone knows until late we have been the ugly step relative of Carlsbad. I’m just glad Oside is getting it’s justified due and so is comedy!!!
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