Naples’ Off The Hook Comedy Club receives a $1 million makeover

The jokes and laughter at Off The Hook Comedy Club stopped for much of the month of August, but not because the comedians weren’t entertaining.

Owner Brien Spina of ROW Seafood by Capt. Brien & Crew restaurant revealed that the restaurant’s interior underwent a $1 million refurbishment, which is why not many acts were scheduled for the club.

It’s possible that many who visited or phoned Off The Hook last month believed the comedy club closed to give staff members time off during the “off-season.”

Rather, over the course of 20 days, construction workers tore out and redesigned a large portion of the eatery, according to a recent article by Dave Osborn of the Naples Daily News.

He announced that the newly adjusted seating will be “much more conducive to the show,” noting that there isn’t any extra seating but rather “we just have more spaced-out room with better sight to the stage now.”

What has changed from the previous design?

“The bar has been moved back into the kitchen, which is the biggest change,” Spina stated.

According to Spina, moving the enormous bar to the back of the restaurant has “opened up the entire showroom,” as it was previously located to the left upon entering.

With seating arranged around the restaurant’s perimeter and workers raising the area, the showroom is now a square with improved viewing. This translates to brand-new, raised, half-circle booths constructed of hardwood, velour, and custom-made leather.

The three-dimensional cubes and laser-emblazoned Off The Hook Comedy Club emblem are depicted on the new flooring. Additionally, the standup stage was renovated, and by mid-September, a redesigned background should be finished.

In late August, Spina declared, “We’re remodeling the front of the house top to bottom, with all new furniture and fixtures.”

According to Spina, employees of BRB Builders LLC and David Satmary Naples Renovation Services finished the project.

Off The Hook is a well-liked attraction year-round.

In the past, Naples’ alleged “off season” meant fewer sold-out performances, but not this year, according to Spina.

Every ticket was sold during the final two weekends before the remodel’s August 14 closing, according to Spina. “That was a bummer,” he continued, adding that he had the opportunity to book comedian, actor, and former cast member of “Saturday Night Live” Pete Davidson in August, but they had already committed to the project.

What happens now that the club reopened in late August?

In September, Off The Hook, which reopened on August 31, is anticipated to host more major weekends, including stand-up comedy by actor and former “Saturday Night Live” cast member Chris Kattan. Pete Correale, a native of Long Island, will perform the next weekend, and Paul Reiser, an actor, comedian, and co-star of “Mad About You” in the 1990s, will perform in late September.

Social media users who frequent comedy clubs expressed their excitement about the developments.

Jenine Shapiro from Naples commented on Off The Hook’s Facebook page, saying, “I can’t wait to see it!”

The original article appeared on the Naples Daily News.

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