Peoria’s Jukebox Comedy Club is facing financial difficulty.
The comedy club, which is on the brink of losing power and may temporarily shut down for repairs, has faced several setbacks in recent years.
A car drove into the sign in April 2024, and the roof on the owner’s nearby building collapsed in April of this year. Owner Dan Conlin is also facing the highest electricity bills of his 25 years with the business.
“The local comics are worried, just like I am, because this is their home away from home for many of them. But I’m not going to give up, you know,” Conlin said.
The club is now collecting money to “rise from the rubble” on GoFund Me. The initial goal is $30,000, but the owner said much more is needed. A December 2020 fundraiser saved the club after the pandemic, and the owner is hopeful it will happen again.
“We are one of the 15 longest-running clubs in the country, approaching our 35th anniversary in November. I hope we make it to that milestone and far beyond! That quest, however, is in seriousjeopardy,“ Conlin wrote in a post on GoFundMe.
The regular comics said Jukebox is an important place in the Midwest comedy scene, a space where everyone from newcomers to industry names can try out new jokes.
“Younger comics, or newer comics, they tour clubs, so they might not have a huge following, but they need to be here. You don’t get good without doing it,” said Sara Smola, who often performs at the club.
The power might be shut off soon, but everyone at the club hopes that any setbacks will be temporary. Some of them have performed their entire adult lives at Jukebox, and they don’t want to lose this environment.
“When you get like 70 people in here, and they’re all like ready to laugh, there’s a certain buzz to the place that I don’t see anywhere else. After a show, there’s a togetherness with the audience and the comedians and everybody,” said Ryan Hallam, another regular performer.
“All I ever wanted was to keep people laughing,” Conlin said. “I wanted to have a place that I loved and pay my bills. I never cared if there was much left over after paying the bills.”
