Downtown Batavia Bank Building To Become Comedy Club: Reports

BATAVIA, IL — A former bank building in downtown Batavia has been given a second lease on life, so to speak, as it is on track to become a comedy club.

Modifications to the building, which requires renovations and a new sprinkler system, will be afforded in part by a $25,000 grant and low-interest $75,000 loan approved by the Batavia City Council on Tuesday, according to several news reports.

All told, renovations to the building are estimated to cost $250,000, Kane County Chronicle reports.

The comedy club will be operated by Michael Knuth, owner of EvenFlow, an entertainment venue in Geneva.

Knuth told the Chronicle the bank will be converted into a club with seating for 100 and will offer two performances a night from Thursday to Saturday each week. It will also serve as an event venue on off days.

The Daily Herald reports the funding comes from a tax-increment financing (TIF) District 1 fund, which had about $432,000 at the end of 2019.