Comedy club wants to take over former Spaghetti Works premises in the city centre
A comedy club has its eye on the former Spaghetti Works restaurant space on Court Avenue in downtown Des Moines, city records show.
The name of the club or its owner is not clear from the records, although its design firm met with city officials in April. But the interest coincides with a June Facebook announcement by Teehee’s Comedy Club, 1433 Walnut St., that it will “build a brand new Teehee’s at a downtown location this summer and fall.”
Contacted Friday, Teehee spokeswoman Carolyn Jenison would neither confirm nor deny that Teehee is interested in the former restaurant space. The club’s plans are not finalized, she said.
The club closed in late June in preparation for the move, but continues to offer shows at other locations.
City records show that city planning staff met with RDG Design Group on April 23 and discussed the firm’s plans to renovate the former Spaghetti Works at 310 Court Ave., mentioning a “change of use (restaurant -> comedy club).” The client’s plans include a full kitchen, the city noted in a summary of the meeting.
Spaghetti Works’ 740-square-foot space would be more than double the size of Teehee’s previous 280-square-foot venue.
More: Court Center in downtown Des Moines considers office tenants as part of its rebranding
The premises have been vacant since Spaghetti Works suddenly closed in March 2023 after 45 years in the building that once housed a hat factory.
The new owner of Teehee wants to make the club a “destination”
Teehee’s Comedy Club opened in 2019 in the former location of Found Things at the other end of downtown on Walnut Street. The club featured a bar, a stage and seating for 100 people.
AJ Simmons, a local comedian, purchased the venue in 2022 along with accountant Dave Boelman. Simmons told the Des Moines Register at the time that his goal was to make the club a home base for Iowa comedy.
“I want Teehee’s and Des Moines to become a destination for audiences and comedians from all over the country,” Simmons said. “A place where comedians want to perform in front of audiences from this city and all over the state.”
Addison Lathers covers growth and development in the Des Moines metropolitan area. Reach her at 608-931-1761 or [email protected] and follow her on X at @addisonlathers.
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