THE FOUNDERS EPISODE | 10 FOR 10 | EP. 10

10 Years of The Stand NYC: From Sewage Floods to SNL Stars In this special 10th Anniversary interview, host Kieran McCann sits down with the team behind The Stand Comedy Club and Restaurant: owners Paul Italia and Cris Italia, and booker Patrick Milligan. They pull back the curtain on the brutal reality of operating a comedy club in New York City. This isn't just a victory lap—it’s a raw look at the disasters that almost shut them down (including Hurricane Sandy, a sewage flood on opening week, and a heartbreaking partner tragedy) and the triumphs that defined them. From Jimmy Fallon discovering Nate Bargatze in the front room to Pete Davidson sneaking beers at age 15, hear the untold stories of how The Stand disrupted the industry and became a staple of NYC nightlife. In This Video: 0:00 - Intro & 10 Years of "The Stand" 1:45 - The brutal reality of NYC business (Eviction & Bureaucracy) 6:30 - The Sewage Flood & Hurricane Sandy: Surviving the first month 12:30 - The Night Jimmy Fallon Walked In (And discovered Nate Bargatze) 15:00 - Fighting the Community Board & Losing the Bowery location 18:00 - Finding the New Home: The "Money Pit" build-out 21:15 - The "Pop-Up" Era: Keeping the brand alive without a building 26:40 - The Tragedy of Dave Kimowitz 32:20 - Why they started: Fixing the broken comedy club model 41:00 - Creating "The Hang": Why food & hospitality matter 52:00 - The Booking Philosophy: "Funny First" & Natural Diversity 58:00 - Launching Stars: Pete Davidson, Ian Lara, & Marcelo Hernandez Key Takeaways: The "Money Pit": The true story of the financial black hole that was the new location's renovation (formerly Brother Jimmy’s), which involved gutting the entire 10,000 sq. ft. space. Comedy Philosophy: How The Stand challenged the old "drink minimum/paper plate" model to create a "one-stop date night" venue. Scouting Talent: How the club’s open-minded booking strategy helped launch careers for SNL cast members and stadium-filling acts. Quotes: "If this was a job, it wouldn't last... It's a passion. It's a vision." — Paul Italia "Nobody who has to watch a comedy show in Manhattan should be punished." — Chris Italia About The Stand NYC: Voted New York's Best Comedy Club, The Stand combines A-list comedy with a high-end restaurant experience. 📍 Visit The Stand: 116 E 16th St, New York, NY 🎟 Get Tickets: https://thestandnyc.com #TheStandNYC #StandUpComedy #NYCBusiness #ComedyClub #PaulItalia #PatrickMilligan #PeteDavidson #NateBargatze #SNL Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices