Craig Sailor (The News Tribune)
Tacoma-based comedian and actor Nate Jackson’s Super Funny Comedy Club, which closed Dec. 31, is getting a new lease on life — but in a new, better location.
Sometime in March or April, Jackson will reopen a bigger club inside the Courtyard Tacoma Downtown Marriott, he said in a phone call Sunday from Sofia, Bulgaria, where he’s performing on a European tour. Jackson opened his first club in 2020, just before the pandemic hit. On Sunday, he didn’t walk to talk about the reasons he closed it but it wasn’t for lack of audiences or entertainers.
In a December 2024 interview with The News Tribune, he expressed longstanding pent-up frustrations with the 8402 South Hosmer Street location.
Jackson said he was inspired to reopen by the club’s fan base.
“It made me want to see if there was a place that we can still have the club in Tacoma, and I would only do it if it truly makes sense,” he said. He credits Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards for helping him connect with downtown business owners. The new location uses the events space on the lower level of the Marriott at 1515 Commerce Street, facing Pacific Avenue. It’s about the same size of the Hosmer location, with seating for about 275. “It’s beautiful,” Jackson said. “I’ve put a little bit north of six figures or so into it. We’ve completely remodeled the place. It’s going to be high class.”
The kitchen, he said, is 15 times the size of his previous one and will allow him to greatly expand his menu. He’s recruiting young talent from the region’s culinary schools
The showroom will have more booths, the latest in screen technology and will be outfitted with audiovisual recording equipment, making it easier to produce his highly popular YouTube videos. “We have more LED screens than any other venue in Tacoma,” he said.
Jackson’s connections with the comedy world and Hollywood bring a steady stream of talent to Tacoma. He says headliners like D.L. Hughely, Shuler King and D.C. Young Fly will soon be performing again at Super Funny. The various permits and inspections needed for the club make his opening date a little foggy. He returns from his European tour in early March. In an era of DEI rollbacks, Jackson wants locals to know that his club thrives on diversity in both its talent and audiences. “We have white headliners, Asian headliners … why would you segregate laughter?,” he said.
