A new form of entertainment is coming to Jacksonville with a comedy club set to open later this month.
Joshua Crumpler is the owner of Playhouse Nightclub, scheduled to open May 31 at 531 Richlands Highway in Jacksonville, the former location of The Cave and Allure gentlemen's clubs. Crumpler and his brother own several businesses in the city of Jacksonville.
“I own the Shackin' Shack Oyster Bar. My middle brother, who is a partner in this, owns Anytime Billiards. And we have several other locations around town. I have a store,” Crumpler said. “This became available. It was always The Cave, but the other places had a bad reputation. We wanted a place in town that we could do something with.”
Playhouse Nightclub's tagline is Games + Comedy + Nightlife. Crumpler said the goal is to have a comedy show every Friday night and a different type of show on Saturday nights. For example, it plans to air major sporting events such as boxing matches and UFC matches.
Crumpler laughed that if a Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight actually happened, it would definitely be an event for them to showcase.
“This site is zoned as an adult entertainment facility because that's what it used to be,” Crumpler said. “We're not going to go down that road, but we'll probably bring in a burlesque or cabaret show from time to time. It's a little bit better than some of the other adult entertainment that's out there for adults to come see.”
The playhouse has a full bar, and Crumpler said someone is planning to restore the kitchen. Crumpler's son is obsessed with Modern Warfare and online gaming, so he's considering holding gaming tournaments on the weekends.
Clubs are often open during the day to give young people a place to hang out. Crumpler said he always noticed young service members walking through Jacksonville, especially on weekends.
“We're not going to charge a cover charge during the day. We've got TVs, we've got games. We're just going to give them a place to hang out,” Crumpler said. “We know what it's like to be young. One of our partners, a good friend of ours, is a Marine Corps veteran. We've lived here all our lives, so we know what it's like to be young. I know what I’m doing.”
Crumpler is excited to bring comedy to Jacksonville and said his oldest brother and wife love going to comedy shows just like he does.
“I've always been a big comedy fan, and I've been to a few places in Raleigh when I go to Las Vegas,” Crumpler said. “So, yeah, I love comedy and my brother is more into fights and sports. There's probably eight or nine big screen TVs in there, so we could host any big sporting event. ”
Playhouse Nightclub is scheduled to open on May 31st, and several comedians are already lined up for the night. A big UFC fight is also scheduled for the next day, June 1st. It's a perfect opening weekend.
In the future, Crumpler said he is also considering holding open mic nights after comedy shows so amateurs can get up and do whatever they want. He's currently trying to book comedians for the summer.
For more information and updates on Playhouse Nightclub shows and events, visit us on Facebook or call 910-238-2585.