Doc’s Lab Has Permanently Closed Down

From Doc’s Lab’s instagram

It is with heavy heart that I announce yet another closure in San Francisco’s cultural landscape. I just heard the news that Doc’s Lab has permanently closed down. While I have yet to see an official announcement, there are no shows on it’s calendar. That is pretty good indicator that a venue is no longer operating.

While relatively knew to SF’s nightlife scene, Doc’s Lab made a fantastic impact while it was around. Although there was plenty of live music performed there, Doc’s Lab was first and foremost a comedy club, and it was a damn good one at that. Moving into the former space of the legendary Purple Onion was no easy feat, but the Doc’s Lab team did a hell of a job making the venue one of the best places to see comedy in the Bay Area. Talent booker Jeff Zamaria’s role as someone shepherding and grooming San Francisco’s comedy scene can’t be overstated. There is a golden age of standup comedy happening in the Bay Area and Jeff is a major part of why that is. I reached out to him to get his take and this is what he had to say:

“It’s heartbreaking and ultimately not my decision but the owner had chose to put the the building up for sale. I’ll do everything I can to continue a comedy tradition in that historic space. Even if I have to sneak in at night and laugh at myself.”

I have a personal connection to Doc’s Lab as well. For a year and a half we did The Kinda Late Show with Broke-Ass Stuart at Doc’s Lab. It was a live, late night variety show, in the vein of Johnny Carson or David Letterman, but with a distinct Bay Area twist. He had such fantastic guests as (click the links to see their segments) Boots Riley from the Coup, Kari Byron from Mythbusters, artist Jeremy Fish, celebrity chef Chris Cosentino, Burning Man founder John Law, Peaches Christ and WAY more. Plus we made really funny viral videos like Why San Franciscans Love Waiting in Line, StUber Cab Confessions, and Things that Only Happen in SF.

Interviewing Polly Superstar on The Kinda Late Show with Broke-Ass Stuart

So San Francisco culture has taken yet another hit, and for anyone who likes humor, comedy, satire, mirth, or anything else that feels good, this is a brutal one. Hopefully something great will go in that legendary space and if we’re lucky maybe it will be a place where we get to laugh.