Aces Comedy Club Celebrates 1 Year of Laughter

Maybe laughter really is the best medicine.

The other secret to the success of Aces Comedy Club in Murrieta is its community involvement, said many who were on hand Thursday, April 4 to help the venue celebrate its one-year anniversary.

“They have brought life to the community, but it is not only that,” said Kim Pierce, a local resident who has become a regular at Aces. “They are very generous with charities.”

Soon after Aces opened its doors April 4, 2012 on Avenida Acacias, it began offering a fund-raising incentives for local schools, sports teams and nonprofits. Aces gives $5 of each $15 ticket sold back to the groups. Over the course of the past year, Aces has donated $50,000.

“We are just really excited about how much we have been able to give back to the community,” said Kim May, who co-owns the club with Rocky Osborn, a long-time comedian. She noted they have a goal of contributing $100,000 during the next 12 months.

When Aces opened its doors one year ago in the Murrieta Crossings center it also brought new life to the strip mall locals knew as  “Furniture Row,” and a nightlife to the city.

“This has brought life,” said Jacqui McCusker. She and her husband, Jim McCusker live nearby and have attended shows at the club nearly every weekend since it opened.

“There was absolutely nothing to do before Aces,” McCusker said, as she helped pass out celebratory cake prior to Thursday’s show.

The show was not unlike other weekends in that it brought a big name in comedy to Murrieta: veteran comedian John Caponera. Other well-known names who have appeared at Aces include Thomas F. Wilson, who played Biff in “Back to the Future,” and Dave Coulier, otherwise known as Uncle Joey from TV’s long-running sitcom “Full House,” to name a few.

In September, Dustin Diamond—Screech from “Saved by the Bell”—is scheduled as a headliner.

Though being well-connected in the world of comedy helps, Osborn said the club owes its success to its patrons.

“Being open a year is a big accomplishment obviously,” Osborn said. “We thank everyone who has been here to support us over the last year.”

Aces expanded from 180 seats to 300 in that year. There are also plans to obtain a Type 41 beer and wine license so the venue can add receptions and similar events to its calendar, according to Osborn. Currently, Aces is open for Thursday through Sunday evenings for comedy performances.

City officials who attended the anniversary celebration added their thoughts about the milestone for the increasingly popular Murrieta entertainment spot.

“Aces has been successful for a couple of reasons: one, Rocky’s got a great product and he’s good at what he does,” said Murrieta City Councilman Alan Long. “He provides phenomenal customer service and he works extremely hard, and that is the right recipe for success no matter what economy you are in.”

Another city official, City of Murrieta Business Development Manager Kim Davidson, was appreciative of the many laughs she has enjoyed thus far while spending many a Thursday night at Aces.

“I do think people need to laugh; there is so much ugly stuff going on the world today,” Davidson said.

Aces gives a mix of ingredients, she said, which combined have lent to its success.

“They have a good product, great customer service and have made this place a great location right off the freeway,” Davidson said, noting the previously vacant storefronts at the shopping center are now nearly all leased out, a sign the overall Murrieta economy is improving.

AeroSports Trampoline Park is slated to open soon in the same center, as is YouFit gym, she said.

“Aces’ timing was right in that respect,” Davidson said. “Plus with the recession, when don’t people need to laugh?”