Demolition begins for Raleigh comedy landmark comedy club

Charlie Goodnights' Comedy Club opened in 1983 and attracted famous comedians, as well as up-and-coming talent.

When local comedians and comedy fans lose a cherished comedy venue like Charlie Goodnights’ Comedy Club, it’s nothing to laugh at.

Before the club was demolished, fans and comedians wanted to give it a decent burial.

"There was sort of, like, last Goodnights’ parties happening in April and May because we thought it was going to be torn down," said comedian Devon Roberts.

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For months, the club sat empty and disturbed.

"It was sort of like, is this building actually going to be torn down?" Roberts said.

Roberts got her start at the club. Now she’s watching it come down with only memories left behind.

"Pretty much everyone in the Triangle has gotten their start at Goodnights," said Roberts. "It’s really at the center of our comedic community."

The magic of the club Roberts said was in the building’s spooky character.

"This building was allegedly haunted, or it still is, and that is probably going to continue in the new space," she said.

Roberts said she actually is excited about the new place and building new memories.

"I’ll miss the times that all of the comedians spent standing out here after shows and open mics talking to each other, running new jokes. We really are a community and it all started here," said Roberts.

On the positive side, Roberts said at least her friends will stop calling her about it.

"Now it’s nice to be able to say definitively to people who expect me to be an expert on this construction site, that it is now being torn down."