Riot Comedy Club is moving on up. For six years, the premier destination for Houston comedy has hosted stand-ups, themed nights, and variety shows out of Rudyard’s pub in Montrose. Recently, Riot announced that it would be leaving its space in Montrose, as it maps out a standalone comedy venue on Washington Ave.
The new Riot Comedy Club brick-and-mortar will be located at 1925 Washington Ave. Located in the company of Julep, B&B Butchers, and Aiko, the 4,700-square-foot space will house a 150-seat showroom.
“This wasn’t an easy decision, but as we’ve grown, it became clear we needed a space that fully delivers the experience we want to give our guests, our comedians, and our staff,” The Riot Comedy Club Founder Brian Gendron said in a press release. “We’re not just changing locations – we’re building a dedicated venue for comedy that supports Houston’s growing scene, bringing together live shows, hospitality and an expanded food and beverage program.”
Whereas Riot formerly occupied the upstairs in Rudyards, whose second space in Conroe is located inside GuadalaHARRY’s restaurant, Riot Comedy Club’s new location on Washington Ave. is a space designed solely for comedy.
The Washington Ave. comedy venue will also feature a full bar, full food and beverage service, daytime coffee shop, ADA accessibility, and ample parking.
“Houston has an exciting, emerging and very underrated comedy scene, and we want to be the place that helps it grow,” Gendron said. “We’re committed to building a venue where local comedians can develop, national acts want to stop, and audiences can be part of something that’s genuinely good for this city.”
Ahead of its debut, Riot Comedy Club will announce its grand opening programming for its new location. Those ticketholders for shows at its former Rudyards’ space are entitled to full refunds as well as a complimentary show at its Washington Ave. space.
Riot Comedy Club plans to open its new space in August – though it hasn’t specified an exact date. Meanwhile, the club will continue to host shows at its Conroe location at GuadalaHARRY’s.
In addition to being one of the most popular destinations for comedy in Houston – hosting various comedy shows in two locations in Houston, as well as one in San Antonio – Riot Comedy Club also produces The Riot Comedy Festival. Taking place in the spring, the festival is the largest of its kind in Houston.
