Get Ready To Laugh In Long Island City

Comedian and Queens resident Steve Hofstetter is gearing up to open a comedy club in L.I.C. For comedian Steve Hofstetter, comedy clubs are serious business, and his business is about to put down roots in Long Island City.

Hofstetter’s new venture, the Laughing Devil, would be the only venue in the borough solely built and devoted to standup comedy, and the first such venue in decades.

“I’ve only lived in Long Island City a little over a year,” noted the Queens native, citing its “calmer vibe” and community feel as reasons why he felt the urge to open a venue here.

Hofstetter also serves the chief operating officer of Paragon, which operates comedy clubs in Atlanta and Indianapolis. His partner in the Laughing Devil is Jacob Morvay.

“The vast majority of what’s in Long Island City was a dream a short time ago,” he stated in a phone interview last Friday, Sept. 16. However, he later noted that with the growth of the area, entertainment options are relatively few, citing P.S. 1, the Chocolate Factory and The Creek And The Cave (a Hunters Point bar and restaurant that offers improv comedy and other entertainment).

Residents of the area shouldn’t have to travel to Manhattan or Brooklyn for entertainment, Hofstetter claimed, and expressed hope that Laughing Devil “will be a big step” toward the growth of the area.

“I think it can sustain a lot more than it has,” he argued.

Hofstetter did not want to reveal the location of the site, as the lease was yet to be finalized, but shared info on the vision for the site, which he claimed could open within a month.

To explain his philosophy, Hofstetter relayed a story about taking his mother to a “monster show” he produced at Lounge 87, a now-closed Lower East Side bar.

When the show ended, he was hoping to hear his mother comment on the show, only to hear her state that “the chairs didn’t have any backs; my back is sore.”

“From the second you set eyes on the venue,” he explained, “we want you to have fun every step of the way.”

The Laughing Devil would seat approximately 70 patrons comfortably, with a mix of benches and tables for those who wish to enjoy dinner or drinks at the site.

It would attempt to attract top-tier standup comedians, which Hofstetter noted would not be difficult in new York City.

Hofstetter is hoping to attract area residents who work and commute to and from the area, as opposed to other Manhattan clubs which he claim cater to tourists.

“We’re going to be about building regulars,” he stated.

The club will also offer an “micoff,” a Wednesday open mic competition where the winner would be invited back to perform later in the week with top-flight comics.

In addition, Hofstetter claimed that the club’s new talent process would be “very open and very obvious.”

Those looking for comedy of the improv or sketch variety, however, will be pointed toward The Creek And The Cave, which is beginning to garner a reputation for high-quality acts.

“Stand-up is what we do best,” he explained.

For Hofstetter, who has also lived in Laurelton, Briarwood, Forest Hills, Rego Park and Bellerose, opening a venue in Queens is a source of pride.

“While it wasn’t always my intention .... being someone that was born and raised here,” he said, “I’ll be really proud when it’s open.”