The iconic club from L.A. that brought comedy to La Jolla
La Jolla offers a stunning seascape, entertaining sea lions, perfect weather, and many activities, but did you know it’s home to stand-up comedy? La Jolla is an iconic part of the stand-up comedy scene, providing visitors to La Jolla with laughter-filled nights.
It’s the perfect mood booster, and you’ll walk away from the night with a piece of Comedy Store magic and connection over laughter. The legend of The Comedy Store in La Jolla began with comedy greats and emerging stars bringing their acts down from L.A.
The Comedy Store remains a thriving fixture in the stand-up comedy world and La Jolla. It’s for fans who like to come out to get a healthy dose of laughter and for new and seasoned comedians who want to be a part of this historic club.
Discover how The Comedy Store became the renowned, highly respected comedy club pioneer it is, and what to expect when visiting the Comedy Store in La Jolla.
History
The Comedy Store is a legendary comedy club in Los Angeles founded in 1972 by Mitzi Shore, a legend in her own right. The store on the Sunset Strip has been the launching pad of some of the most famous and successful comics in our history.
Well-known comedians like Robin Williams, David Letterman, Jim Carrey, and Richard Pryor were some of the greats who came out of the Comedy Store machine. Every night, there was a rotating roster of comedians feeling the rush to perform in front of audiences and hone their craft.
Comedy is a rough business, and the store was the gathering place for hungry comics hustling their way through the chaos of L.A. trying to make it in comedy.
Getting passed
The store became a cultural institution and continues to impact the comedy world today. Owner Mitzi Shore was the mother of comedy, and the Comedy Store was home.
The goal of any comic coming up to work on their material on an amateur night was waiting for their shot to become a paid regular at the club.
But first, Mitzi had to ‘pass’ them, and she’d let them know when they were ready. For decades, Mitzi passed every comic herself. Until then, comedians stuck around, surrounded themselves with the greats, and worked on improving their acts.
For many years, the standard was that if you passed in L.A., you were good enough to be sent down to The Comedy Store in La Jolla.
That model eventually shifted, and although comics in L.A. still looked forward to coming to La Jolla, comics getting their start at the La Jolla store are working their way up to L.A. instead. For example, popular comedian and San Diego native Bobby Lee started at the La Jolla Comedy Store in the 90s.
Coming to La Jolla
As the Comedy Store grew in popularity, Mitzi and her son Scott saw an opportunity to expand the store and took the club to the bottom floor of a Pacific Beach restaurant in San Diego, where the P.B. Shore Club is now. They ran the club there for a year before moving to La Jolla.
Mitzi was happier with this new La Jolla location because the building used to be a disco and had ideal acoustics, perfect for comedy. Comedy veteran Argus Hamilton told sdnews.com that it was “the best comedy room in the country.” In 1977, The La Jolla Comedy Store opened at 916 Pearl St, where it remains today.
Paying dues
In the early days of operation, comics couldn’t get to La Jolla before they had already paid their dues in L.A. So by the time comics made it to La Jolla, Mitzi had already passed them, and they were seasoned in their craft.
Comics knew they were good enough if invited to work at the La Jolla store. The Comedy Store in La Jolla was also more relaxed because comics weren’t worrying about having eyes on them to determine if they were good enough. They paid their dues.
The comics even had a condo in Pacific Beach that Mitzi bought so they could stay while working and enjoying the town. She wanted them to enjoy their time in San Diego before returning to the chaos and grind that comes with doing comedy in L.A.
The Comedy Store in La Jolla Today
Today, the Comedy Store in La Jolla invites lovers of Comedy to come out to be a part of its history and experience a place where comedy legends live on in spirit.
The store keeps its calendar full, featuring national touring comics and headliners, open mic nights, locals nights, and roast battles.
As you approach the Comedy Store, you’ll notice its iconic sign and black exterior with names written in white all over the building, naming all the talented comedians in history who are part of the Comedy Store family.
Inside, the room is small and cozy, with black walls and the stage at the focal point, with the neon Comedy Store sign casting an orange glow over the audience.
Drinks and showtimes
There’s a 2-drink minimum per person for all shows, guests must be 21 and over to enter, and seating is on a first-come, first-serve basis. For weekend headliners, there are usually two show times per evening, at 7 pm and 9:30 pm., with weekday events between 7 pm and 8 pm.
Shows are uncensored, ranging from “clean” to “blue.” Clean means free from profanity, vulgarity, and sexual content, and “blue” contains explicit language, sexual humor, and other mature themes.
You can hear all genres of comedy come through the store, so each time you come out is a fun and unique experience.
Parking
Parking is available on nearby streets. The store only serves hot fresh popcorn you can enjoy during the show, so take your party to dinner at one of many delicious restaurants in La Jolla before the show.
If you’re looking for a great spot for cocktails in La Jolla, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites here. The two-drink minimum at the club does not have to be alcoholic, just in case you meet your cocktail quota for the night while out at dinner.
The legend lives on
The Comedy Store is a cherished landmark that has left an indelible mark on the world of stand-up comedy.
They’ve proven resilient and enduring through the years, and their special place in La Jolla will forever be held in high regard for future generations of comedy lovers.
So if you’re looking for fun activities in La Jolla, consider filling a night with laughter at this beloved club. Check out their calendar to see what’s coming up, and get out to enjoy a show with friends.
What to do in La Jolla before the show
Shows at The Comedy Store are typically after 7 pm, so there’s plenty of time to fit a few other activities in before heading to the show.
For example, you could walk the Village of La Jolla to browse the variety of boutique shops, take a self-guided tour to find the murals of La Jolla, go watch the sea lions of La Jolla Cove, or take the short hike of the Coast Walk Trail. There’s no shortage of things to do in La Jolla.
Where to Eat Near the Comedy Store in La Jolla
La Jolla’s restaurant scene is vast, with various options, whether you’re looking for casual or upscale. Here are a few restaurants near the Comedy Store, perfect for grabbing a bite with friends before the show.
El Pescador Fish Market
When the New York Times spent 36 hours in San Diego, El Pescador Fish Market in La Jolla was one of their stops. El Pescador has been a popular fish market in La Jolla for over 40 years, serving the freshest seafood, plates, sandwiches, tacos, and more. Beers on tap too!
The Taco Stand
You may have to arrive with plenty of time before the show if you want to order from The Taco Stand, but it’ll be worth the wait. The Taco Stand is known for its authentic tacos, with carne asada, pollo asado, and al pastor being the favorites. They also have burritos, quesadillas, and beer!
Pizza Pronto
Pizza Pronto is a great spot to go to before the show to share gourmet pizzas, filling sandwiches, salads, wraps, kabobs, and pasta.
For even more tips on where to dine out in La Jolla, check out our blog posts, The Best La Jolla Bars for Cocktail Hour, and La Jolla Restaurants With a View.
