The Punchline Prepares To Close Sandy Springs Location

Metro Atlanta’s most popular comedy club will soon close its doors.

The Punchline Comedy Club, which recently celebrated its 33rd anniversary, will close its location at 280 Hilderbrand Drive NE in Sandy Springs on Sunday following its final show, said co-owner Jamie Bendall.

Starting in April, The Punchline team will host pop-up shows throughout the summer at different locations and anticipate producing shows at temporary venues until they have secured a new permanent home, the company said in a press release.

Bendall added the company is scouting locations in and around Sandy Springs. He added he hopes the club can remain in the city that’s “been a very good location for us for 33 years now.”

“We are very much hopeful that we’ll have an option to be able to stay in Sandy Springs and some of the options that we are considering, in fact, are Sandy Springs locations,” he said.

• RELATED: The Punchline Could Leave Sandy Springs

Bendall stated that now is the time for residents to make one last visit before the doors close for good. With that in mind, The Punchline has a dynamic lineup of shows designed to celebrate the club’s run at the original location:

• March 25: SHARE a Laugh featuring Comedians Kevin Meaney and John Pizzi - 8 p.m., $100: Comedians Kevin Meaney and John Pizzi join forces to present a night of laughs for a great cause. Proceeds from the evening will benefit Shepherd Center’s SHARE Military Initiative, which provides comprehensive rehabilitation services free of charge to military services members who have sustained a traumatic brain injury and/or PTSD while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• March 26: Comedian Jamie Bendall of The Punchline – 8 p.m., $20: A professional comedian since the age of 20, Jamie Bendall is a comedian cut from the classic cloth. Playful and self-deprecating, his material is current, relatable and intelligent. He is also an attorney actively licensed to practice law in three states, father to three daughters, and long suffering spouse to Kelly, his adored wife. He is a sought after radio and television panelist and speaker on a variety of subjects.
• March 27 (8 p.m. to 10 p.m) and March 28 (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.) Demetri Martin - The Persistence of Jokes $35: Demetri Martin rose to relative obscurity when he started doing stand-up comedy in New York City at the end of the 20th Century. Later he became a writer at “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” and then a regular performer on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”. In 2003, Demetri won the Perrier Award at the International Fringe Festival for his first one-man show, If I. He released a comedy album called These Are Jokes and then created and starred in his own television series called “Important Things with Demetri Martin”. Martin has also appeared in Steven Soderbergh’s Contagion and Ang Lee’s Taking Woodstock. His first book, “This Is a Book” by Demetri Martin, is a New York Times bestseller.
• March 29: J. Anthony Brown & Friends – Watch out Deh Now! - 7 p.m., $25: For those in the know, “Watch Out Deh Now” is more than a heed to action, it’s the trademark catcall for funnyman J. Anthony Brown. A staple on the nationally syndicated “Tom Joyner Morning Show” for over nine years now, Brown is one of the voices that wake up millions of radio listeners in over 195 markets and now he is one of the faces to look for on the Tom Joyner TV show premiering on ABC. J. Anthony Brown began his professional career right here at The Punchline.
• March 29: Craig Robinson – Stand-Up Comedian, Actor and Singer - 9 p.m., $40: His rise to success with “The Office” and his stand-up prowess quickly brought him to the forefront with industry comedy maven Judd Apatow. Appearing in numerous movies including Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, This Is The End, and A Night at the Museum: Battle of The Smithsonian, this summer NBC will premiere “Mr. Robinson,” a show loosely based on Robinson’s life pre-Hollywood success when he was a K-8 music teacher in Chicago while performing with his band at night.

Bendall noted fan reaction to the news has been overwhelmingly positive, and folks have even offered their $.02 on where The Punchline’s future home should be located.

He also said customers have even shared stories about their experiences at the club and how much the establishment has meant to them.

Since the first show in 1982, more than 10,000 shows have been presented and thousands of comedians, both professional and amateur, have appeared in the original showroom. Some comedic legends and most recognizable names that have performed on stage include Eddie Murphy, Richard Pryor, Robin Williams, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Tim Allen, Dave Chappelle, Larry The Cable Guy, Ron White, Jeff Foxworthy, Amy Schumer, Bill Burr and Brian Regan.

It is regularly cited as one of the top ten comedy clubs in the United States.

Bendall said he’s looking forward to determining what the future holds for the business that’s entertained thousands of residents by exposing them to some of pop culture’s funniest icons.

“Now, it’s really a good opportunity for a fresh start in a new space with some opportunities to explore different ways of presenting comedy,” he added. “For those reasons, I’m excited about what’s next.”

Residents can keep track of The Punchline by visiting its website. You can also stay connected via Twitter and Instagram at @punchlinecomedy and by visiting its Facebook page.

Photo 1: George Lopez
Photo 2: Chris DiPetta
Photo 3: Jamie Bendall
Photo 4: Jeff Foxworthy
Photo 5: Pauly Shore
Photo 6: Marlon Wayans
Photos 7 and 8: interior shots of The Punchline
Credits: The Punchline