Ponce City Market will add a guffaw-inducing attraction this summer with the opening of a new stand-up comedy club called Whiplash Comedy.
Whiplash Comedy will offer nightly stand-up shows, variety programming and comedy classes, according to a press release.
Once built, the venue will include two performance spaces: the main showroom (called “Main Squeeze”), which seats around 130 people and will be utilized for national touring acts, as well as local and regional comedians; and a smaller space (referred to as the “Side Piece”) that can host roughly 44 people at a time and will feature more intimate programming, including close-up magic, karaoke and social events.
Additionally, the comedy club will also feature a 2,500-square-foot outdoor patio with a full bar and lounge seating.
The bar’s menu includes wine, classic cocktails, local and international beers and nonalcoholic options. Snack foods — such as flatbreads, pretzel bites and more — will also be offered onsite.
Whiplash Comedy is founded by Marshall Chiles, an Atlantan with 25 years of experience in the comedy industry.
Chiles started his career by performing stand-up comedy back in 2000 and went on to purchase the Funny Farm Comedy Club two years later.
In 2009, he opened the Laughing Skull Lounge, which he operated for 16 years and built into one of the country’s most respected comedy clubs, with high-profile comedians like Kevin Hart, Bill Burr, Amy Schumer, Dave Chappelle and Robin Williams making surprise appearances at the venue, according to a release.
Later on, he founded the Laughing Skull Comedy Festival in 2010, which has grown into a renowned showcase for emerging comics. The annual event will continue this year under a new name, the Whiplash Comedy Festival.
For his latest venture, Chiles said that he envisions Whiplash Comedy as a “community hub built around comedy,” making it a fitting addition to Ponce City Market’s offerings.
“I love Ponce City Market’s energy and sense of community,” said Chiles. “Ponce City Market and its neighborhood have been a gathering place for Atlantans for so many years, and I’m honored to be a part of its history as we aim to become one of the top comedy clubs in the country.”
The comedy club will be located at the corner of Glen Iris Drive and North Avenue, with entrances near Dancing Goats Coffee Bar and City Winery.