Keeping a comedy venue afloat for 23 years is no joke.
Michael and Cheryl Alfano have overcome plenty of obstacles since taking over ownership of The Comedy Catch two years after it was founded by comedians Ken Sons and Les McCurdy in 1985. Despite occasional uphill battles to put bodies in seats, however, they said the experience has been worth the effort.
“It’s about producing a show, watching (the audience) come in and then seeing them leave in a much better mood than when they came in,” said Mr. Alfano, who aspired to make the club “an established, generational business” and landmark.
“If we had to sell tomorrow,” he said, “I could hang my hat saying that we accomplished what we wanted.”