Riddles Comedy Club in Berwyn Offers Laughs at a Good Price

There's only one profession I can think of where the best thing that happen when you speak in public, is to be laughed at.

Public speaking hard—being a stand up comedian is harder.

That's something that Ken Stevens, owner of Riddles Comedy Club, is familiar with.

"As a kid, Johnny Carson was my idol," Stevens said. "In the old days, he'd have a comic on every night. I loved watching that."

A class clown in high school, he seemed destined for a career in comedy. A teacher at his high school in Palos Hills even wrote in his yearbook that he was likely to end up there—and he did, but maybe not the way you would expect.

After running a comedy club at the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, Stevens decided to go into business for himself, and opened Riddles Comedy Club in Orland Park in the early 90s. The club later moved to Alsip, and has just recently opened a second location in nearby Berwyn, at 6910 Windsor Ave.

"Berwyn actually picked me," Stevens said of the club's new location.

The village pitched him on the idea of opening a club in their new TIF district along the Burlington Northern railroad tracks.

"It's been a great fit—Berwyn has been very supportive," he said of the club's opening.

For those looking to spend a weekend (or weeknight) laughing until their sides hurt, Riddles is proving to be a great place to head.

Featuring a 40-foot, fully stocked bar, big screen televisions, a pool table and arcade games, there's a lot more than just comedy going on. But comedy is what the crowds come for, and at Riddles, you don't need to pay much for great entertainment, Stevens said.

"The whole idea is to have a national headline comic for a good price," Steven said. "It's cheaper than a movie."

Drinks run between $3-10, and catching a weekend show will only set you back $12.50 for a ticket.

The club pulls in "coast-to-coast" national talent, many who have had specials on station like Comedy Central and HBO. They recently hosted Jimmie "JJ" Walker whose catchphrase, "Dy-no-mite!" was a hit on the 70s sitcom Good Times. Shows coming up this month include Don Reese (A&E's Evening at the Improv) and Emmy-winner Mike Robles.

If you want to catch a free show, the club hosts an open mic night on Tuesdays, featuring headliners trying out new material before hitting the road, and new talent just getting their start.

"[Open mic nights] are a great chance to literally see 15 standups for free," Stevens said.

If you think you've got what it takes, feel free to step up to the mic yourself.

Riddles Comedy Club in Berywn is open Tuesday through Saturday. For more information and a list of upcoming performances, see their website at www.MyRiddlesComedyClub.com.