Proposed mixed-use building could replace Goodnights Comedy Club in Raleigh

Goodnights Comedy Club has been a staple in downtown Raleigh for 38 years, but its location could be changing.

2021-02-15

The club's 861 W. Morgan St. location is in the middle of a proposed mixed-use building project dubbed 865 Morgan.

HM Partners LLC has submitted a plan to the city of Raleigh for a four- to seven-story retail and apartment building that would span several acres at 865 W. Morgan St., according to site plans.

The proposal includes a parking garage, 401 residential units, two courtyards and about 9,000 square feet of retail space.

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Goodnight's, formerly known as Charlie Goodnights, opened in 1983 and has hosted nationally known comedians throughout the years, including Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres. The club was purchased in 2013 by Marc Grossman, who owns Helium Comedy Clubs.

"Moving is a possibility, but regardless of where we are, Goodnight's will continue its tradition of bringing the best comedy to the Raleigh area and will always support the local scene," Helium's Senior Manager of Development and East Coast Operations Reven MacQueen told WRAL Monday.

The coronavirus pandemic has changed the business outlook over the past year, said Ashley Cagle, assistant executive director for Wake County Economic Development.

"Every day it went on was another day longer than we expected it to go on," Cagle said. "For a lot of folks, especially small businesses, their model has changed. They are looking at different opportunities that either keep their doors open or help them to shift what they’re doing."

Zac Vuncannon, managing director in the Triangle for The Fallon Co., said the Boston-based developer scrapped plans for a 165-room hotel as part of Raleigh Crossing, a three-tower development at Hillsborough and Dawson streets downtown.

"I think we are strongly leaning toward an all residential strategy," noting the pandemic has decimated the travel industry.

The first phase of Raleigh Crossing is on schedule to be completed by the end of the year. Soon after, software company Pendo will move into the top five floors in the 19-story building.

"They are wanting to move in as soon as possible, and that was always targeted for the fourth quarter," Vuncannon said. "The big question is 'Are people still going to return to the office?'"

Despite the pandemic, officials remain optimistic about Raleigh's economic future following a recent string of development announcements.

Gilead Sciences, the California company that makes COVID-19 treatment remdesivir, plans to open a hub in Research Triangle Park, while mortgage lender PennyMac Financial Services is expanding in Cary.

"I think that stalled some confidence," Cagle said of the pandemic. "I think what we are seeing now is, as the vaccine starts to make its way around, more companies confidence is turning around to the level we had pre-pandemic."