A stand-up comic warms up the crowd at Yuk Yuk’s on Elgin Street on a recent Saturday night.
Two months after Yuk Yuk’s new location opened on Elgin Street, the comedy club’s manager Howard Wagman says business has been great.
The business moved from Albert Street to Elgin Street and is now located in the Bytown Tavern, which is in the basement of Hooley’s Pub.
The Bytown’s owners, who also run Hooley’s, developed a partnership with Yuk Yuk’s, aiming to attract more customers and increase public exposure.
And as recent numbers have shown, the three businesses have financially benefited from their recent agreement.
“Comparing [the Bytown’s] sales prior to Yuk Yuk’s, there is an increase in sales and profits,” says Hooley’s manager Jacques Bisson.
The arrival of Yuk Yuk’s, he explains, has caused more customers to visit the bar, increasing the food and drink sales considerably.
The Bytown previously did not generate any money until 11 p.m.
“There was little or no risk for us to bring Yuk Yuk’s in, there was only gain.”
Yuk Yuk’s new location improved its shows’ attendance significantly, Wagman says.
The street’s traffic has the advantage to attract more people, he explains, while the Bytown’s bigger space increased Yuk Yuk’s seating capacity to 150.
The bar’s non-carpeted floors and lower ceilings, he says, allows for better sound quality, while its gritty atmosphere attracts new customers.
“The new location appeals to a younger crowd . . . an audience we never really saw before on Albert Street,” says Wagman.
Hooley’s kitchen, which services the Bytown and the comedy club, has noted a 25 per cent increase in food sales since Yuk Yuk’s joined the business.
The food production not only went up at Bytown, but also at Hooley’s. This was after Yuk Yuk’s introduction of a dinner/show concept, in which customers can have dinner at Hooley’s and enjoy a comedy show downstairs.
But the arrival of Yuk Yuk’s has caused some problems.
Bytown manager Shawn Manchester says Hooley’s loud music and people on its dance floor disrupts Yuk Yuk’s shows downstairs.
Hooley’s made significant efforts to improve the situation, says Wagman.
They elevated the base bins from the floor, lowered the music’s volume and delayed the bands’ performances until Yuk Yuk’s last show ends at 12 a.m. The noise is still a concern, says Wagman, but Hooley’s adjustments improved the situation.
The presence of the comedy club has also affected Hooley’s and the Bytown’s evening programming, says Bisson.
Yuk Yuk’s shows, he explains, has forced us to delay the start of two popular night events – Karaoke at the Bytown and live band music at Hooley’s.
He says the partnership has forced both businesses to make compromises and such issues were inevitable.
Bisson and Wagman say Yuk Yuk’s and Hooley’s high brand recognition has made their affiliation a good marketing strategy.
They say since customers from Hooley’s and Yuk Yuk’s are drawn to the same building, they can be exposed to both types of services. The partnership is enjoying successful outcomes, they add, and all three businesses have improved their turnover.
Yuk Yuk’s, which is celebrating 25 years of business in Ottawa this year, takes part in the Yuk Yuk’s Great Canadian Laugh Off every Wednesday night until April 8.
The local winners will have a chance to win $25, 000 and be televised on the Comedy Network.