The Comedy Zone is returning to Charlotte after a three-year absence.

The company, which is based in the Qcity, announced Tuesday that it is building a 400-seat venue at the N.C. Music Factory near uptown.

Company president Brian Heffron said the new venue will be located just under the Black Bear restaurant and will have stadium-style seating with a stage that extends into the audience.

Heffron said he anticipates the club will open sometime in the first quarter of 2011.

After years on Independence Boulevard, followed by a shorter stint in uptown, the Charlotte club closed in 2007 rather than pay higher rent, Heffron said.

He estimates that the new location will be one of the 10 largest comedy spots in the nation. Acts will include improv and sketch artists, ethnic shows, gay shows, conservative shows, liberal shows, edgy shows, clean shows and church shows, the company said in a press release.

As for big names, Heffron said he’s working to secure Martin Lawrence, Chris Tucker and a comedy tour currently being developed by Steve O.

“If you like to laugh and you put on a good product, there is always a market of this,” he said. “Comedy is not a fad. No one is going to wake up and say laughing is out this year.”

Heffron said his company operates more than 50 Comedy Zone locations, most of them east of the Mississippi.
 

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