High above the hustle of LA’s Fashion District, The Upstairs Comedy Club is quietly redefining the downtown narrative—one joke, one set, one unforgettable night at a time. What started as a dusty storage space on the top floor of a 6,000-square-foot building is now Downtown’s most exciting new cultural outpost. It’s not just a comedy club—it’s a love letter to Los Angeles.
Founded by veteran film producer and talent manager Sam Sleiman alongside comedy industry icons Sarah Mello and Enrique Salazar, The Upstairs is the first dedicated comedy venue in DTLA. And the vibe? It’s equal parts gritty elegance and big-hearted energy—a place where laughter feels necessary, not optional.
From Car Chases to Punchlines: A Filmmaker’s Journey to Comedy
Sleiman knows downtown the way only someone who’s shut down its streets to film car chases can. “I practically grew up here,” he says. “Downtown is misunderstood. It’s vibrant, it’s energetic, and it’s filled with life. It just needed a comedy club that locals could call their own.” After producing dozens of action films in the city, he turned to stand-up—a medium just as raw and unfiltered as the streets he once filmed on.
With Mello and Salazar—who collectively bring decades of experience booking at powerhouses like The Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store—Sleiman envisioned more than just a venue. He wanted a community hub. “We don’t treat comics like vendors. We treat them like family,” he explains. “That’s what sets us apart.”
The Space: Industrial Chic Meets Intimate Charm
The Upstairs Comedy Club seats 225 people and delivers an experience that rivals any Hollywood mainstay. The aesthetic is warm-industrial—think exposed beams, premium acoustics, and lighting that flatters both performers and punchlines. But what truly elevates the space is the sense of intention: it’s designed by people who love comedy for people who need to laugh.
It’s also incredibly accessible. Free street parking after 6 p.m. surrounds the venue, and there’s a secured $8 parking lot less than 300 feet from the door. With security guards posted on both Los Angeles and 15th Streets, and an on-site attendant, guests can arrive (and leave) stress-free.
From Fat Tuesdays to Frankie Quinones: Building a Lineup That Hits
The club’s early events have already drawn buzz. Sam points to the return of iconic shows like Fat Tuesdays and appearances by fan favorites like Frankie Quinones as proof that The Upstairs isn’t just pulling its weight—it’s raising the bar. With soft openings underway and a grand opening planned in the coming weeks, there’s a palpable sense of momentum.
And the future? Think multifaceted. “Comedy is our bread and butter,” Sleiman says, “but we’d love to host R&B nights, jazz sets—anything that builds culture. I wouldn’t mind once or twice or maybe even three times a week, where the first show is a comedy show and the second show is a jazz show and so forth” As Sam notes, the venue was never meant to be limited to stand-up—the space is built to evolve, to spotlight live arts in ways that amplify the club’s cultural reach and creative purpose.
Why The Upstairs Comedy Club Matters
Downtown Los Angeles has long deserved a stage like this. More than a performance space, The Upstairs is a creative sanctuary—a place where local residents and out-of-towners can come together and share something primal and profound: laughter. “Nothing brings a community together like sitting in a tight room and laughing shoulder to shoulder,” Sleiman reflects.
Grand Opening Coming Soon
For now, The Upstairs is in soft-launch mode, quietly testing its rhythm with limited shows while fine-tuning the experience. But the big moment is just weeks away. “It feels like it’s about damn time DTLA had a comedy club,” Sleiman says—less as a boast, more like a promise kept to a city that’s long been ready for its own comedy renaissance. Upstairs Comedy Club is located at 1415 S Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90015. https://www.theupstairsla.com
