Comic Strip Live, Famed UES Comedy Club, Is Up For Lease

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — After almost a half-century on the Upper East Side, the longtime home of Comic Strip Live is up for lease, with a new tenant now able to replace the storied comedy club.

The venue at 1568 Second Ave. between East 81st and 82nd streets has more than 4,300 square feet of retail space spread across a ground floor and a lower level, both of which had belonged to Comic Strip.

Update, April 1: Comic Strip Live May Stay Open On UES Thanks To New Lease

Like most venues, it has been closed since last March due to the pandemic.

The listing by Winick Realty Group was first reported Monday by The Real Deal. But it has been on the market for months, as early as Jan. 21, an archived webpage shows.

"First time available in 45 years," the listing boasts.

First opened in 1976 as The Comic Strip, the club initially featured singers, magicians and novelty acts before narrowing its focus on stand-up comedy, according to its website.

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Its first big bookings included an 18-year-old Eddie Murphy, who later discovered Chris Rock on the very same stage. Jerry Seinfeld, Adan Sandler and Ray Romano all made early-career appearances at The Comic Strip, according to the New York Times.

Richie Tienken, one of the club's co-founders, died in February. The widow of fellow co-founder Robert Wachs sued Tienken and the club's manager in 2018, alleging they had neglected the space and used it to enrich themselves.

The Times reported this month that the club's "post-pandemic future is unclear."

"We’re hoping to work things out with either them or a new tenant," a representative from landlord Eberhart Brothers said when reached for comment Tuesday.

No one answered the club phone on Tuesday, and an email did not immediately receive a response.