Today we’d like to introduce you to Mike Vinn.
On May 30th, 1976, what was formerly known as The Comedy Store South, opened its doors on Garnet Ave in Pacific Beach. A year later, after a dispute over ticket prices with the owner of the restaurant the Comedy Store was operating out of, Mitzi Shore, owner and mother to Comic/Actor Pauly Shore and the mother to modern stand up.
Moved locations to 916 Pearl Street in La Jolla where the Comedy Store still stands today. The La Jolla Comedy Store has been the staple of the San Diego comedy community for 40 years now. It is a place that develops new comics as well as brings in the top comics working in the industry today.
Has it been a smooth road?
Every business has its ups and downs and we are no different. However, the big boom in a competition that has hit over the past couple of years hasn’t really affected us. The biggest struggles we have dealt exclusively with our local talent showcase or as we call it, The Best of San Diego.
For those that don’t know, the Best of San Diego are the comics that live locally that have worked they’re way up from the open mic to club regulars. These are the comics you see warming up weekend shows as well as doing the opener and every now and again the feature spots (pending on talent level). Some comics even tour the country doing clubs and colleges nationwide.
Our problem is we develop the talent, get a strong stable of comics and then one by one they leave for LA or NYC. Then we have to refresh the line up with newer, less polished talent just to develop them and have them leave as well. So it’s a roller coaster ride for us. But that is also why we exist.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Comedy Store in La Jolla story. Tell us more about the business.
Other than being the 1st comedy club in San Diego, we were also the first “Road Club”. What we mean with that is we were the 1st club that a major club (The Comedy Store in Hollywood) owned and sent comics down to work. We’ve also helped in the development of some of the top comics ever. Cheech and Chong were sent down here to develop their act before they became huge stars. And when they got back together for a reunion tour a few years ago, their 1st stop was the La Jolla Comedy Store to work out the kinks before they played major theaters.
We’ve been the spot for comics to headline their 1st time like Whitney Cummings. And we are the spot that Whitney comes to work out her hour before filing it for a special along with other major headliners like Al Madrigal, Natasha Leggero and more. We are also the club that comics like to record their albums here. Nick DiPalo recorded his 1st album here, Steve Simeone recorded both of his albums here, Cort McCown is another and after Ian Edwards signed with Team Coco Records (Conan O’Brian’s lable) they recorded his debut album here.
When former WWE Hall of Famer Roddy Piper developed a storytelling show, he came here 1st to try it out and ended up throwing a pizza party for the guest and staff. And I can’t remember if it was Howie Mandel or Jim Carrey that took an entire showroom of people across the street for ice cream mid-show. We’ve also been the club to launch the careers of comics such as Bobby Lee from MadTV, Dat Phan, the original winner of Last Comic Standing, Vicki Barbolak, winner of Nick at Nite’s Funniest Mom in America, Taylor Williamson, who placed 2nd in America’s Got Talent and more.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
Comedy just hit another boom due to podcast and social media. So right now we are still on an upswing. Also, political correctness has been trending upwards more and more like it did in the early 90’s.
So it will be interesting to see how comics react to the new ways society has been forming. Comics have always rebelled against censorship and have pushed the boundaries of a normal society. With that being said, we’ll still be here but we are interested to see what the next evolution of comedy will be.
Contact Info:
- Address: 916 Pearl Street, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Website: thecomedystore.com/la-jolla
- Phone: 858-454-9176
- Instagram: @comedystorelj
- Facebook: @comedystorelj
- Twitter: @comedystorelj
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