Nashville, Tenn. (WKRN) — A staple of the Nashville comedy scene is looking for a new home in another neighborhood.

Third Coast Comedy Club, a venue known for hosting improv comedy classes, open mic nights and more, will soon be moving out of its current location in Marathon Village, the place the club has called home for the last nearly nine years.

According to Third Coast Co-Founders Scott Field and Luke Watson, the move is no surprise.

"The owner has decided that he would prefer some daytime only retail business, which doesn't suit our business, so we're having to move," Field said. "We've known for over a year now."

With the ownership looking to shift to all daytime operations, a comedy club — which necessitates nighttime activity — is no longer the right fit for the location.

Luckily, Field and Watson have already found a location they think would be perfect to serve at Third Coast's new home, and people have already been dying to get in.

The former Eastland Funeral Home will likely be the new hot comedy spot in East Nashville, according to Field and Watson.

"Even just months ago, it was operating as a funeral home, so there's already a lot of built-in jokes and comedy of turning that space into a comedy club," Watson told News 2. "It's between a church and a halfway house, so there is built-in character, if you will, in that space, but we're excited to make something work."

Despite the comedic nature of the property, Watson said the size the building would allow for Third Coast to double the size of its operations. Things like ample parking, a larger bar and more classroom space are already things Watson and Field have been looking at for the future of Third Coast.

Not only does Third Coast offer open mic nights and plenty of improv comedy shows, they also offer a robust training center for comedy classes. The new location would offer the chance to increase the number of comedy classes offered at Third Coast, Watson said.

"We have a really passionate group of students that really make what we do worthwhile," he told News 2.

Additionally, according to Watson, the new space "checks all the boxes," except for one thing: financing.

The building needs significant TLC, according to Field, including electrical upgrades and repairs to the fire sprinkler system.

"The number we're consistently hearing is $750,000," Field said, though he's being cautious and keeping a higher total in his mind for any other potential hiccups.

At least a third of that cost would come from basic site improvements, he added, and that comes before anything related to customer experiences.

Another complication is the lack of financing options from lending institutions.

"Given that it's a build-out on a leased property and it's an uncollateralized loan, that has been the biggest challenge that we continually keep coming up against. We just can't get past that piece of the puzzle," Watson said.

With their backs somewhat against the wall, Field and Watson have instead turned toward their own community.

They recently held a town hall and began asking for pledges from the comedy crowd. Through the strength of the comedy community, Field and Watson said they've been able to make a little headway with their fundraising goals — and all without a formal fundraising platform, though that is coming.

"We held the town hall just over two weeks ago, and the response has been overwhelming," Watson said. "We just basically reached out to the community and said, 'What would be an amount that you would be comfortable pledging either as a donation or as a loan to Third Coast, because we'd love to crowdsource the loan from our own community.'"

Through pledges alone, the pair have seen more than half of the total money needed possibly flowing their way, which has been promising.

"That's super encouraging. I think it really shows the strength of our community and the desire to keep this home for local comedy and classes alive for decades to come," Watson said.

"I think that is indicative of the strength and commitment and the size of the local comedy community," Field said. "I think it's a good sign. If there's anybody who doesn't really know about us but can kind of appreciate what a small venue like this brings to the nighttime ecosystem of Nashville and wants Nashville to remain fun and vibrant, they're going to back a winner."

The biggest challenge right now is time. According to Watson, the club's current lease expires at the end of September, though they plan to ask for an extension of that lease to allow for more fundraising time.

"While we're hopeful that we can hopefully get it extended through December, we're still under a time crunch," Watson said, noting the paperwork and permitting process for the new location also takes time. "We feel hopeful."

For those who want to learn more, Watson said they plan to keep everyone updated on their progress on their website, ThirdCoastComedy.Club.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/middle-tn-neighborhood-news/third-coast-comedy-club-moves-out-marathon-village/