Sisyphus Brewing & Comedy gets a new (one-year) lease on life

Although it was in doubt as recently as a couple of days ago, the future of Sisyphus Brewing & Comedy is secure — at least through January 2028. “We’re staying. Not forever, nobody gets forever, but we’ve got one more year right here,” owner Sam Harriman posted on Facebook Tuesday, referencing the myth of Sisyphus, condemned to roll a boulder up a hill eternally. “A few weeks ago I was pretty sure the boulder was rolling back down the hill for good. Turns out it just stopped halfway to watch me sweat. The future of one of Minnesota’s best stand-up venues is no laughing matter.” Harriman posted in late October that Dunwoody College of Technology, which owns the property, was not interested in a new contract after the lease ended in January 2027. After both sides continued to meet, Harriman announced, the lease was extended a year, after which Sisyphus will need to find a new home. “So we’re doing the only reasonable thing with a year we weren’t sure we’d get. More comedy. The whole point is more stage time for comics, newer ones especially but honestly everybody, because the only way to get good at this is to do it a lot in front of strangers,” said Harriman, announcing that Tuesdays (other than the second Tuesday of each month, which is for magicians) will be open mic nights. Advertisement The shift means Sisyphus avoids the fate of others in the local microbrewery scene, which has been struggling. At least 20 craft-beer taprooms in Minnesota have shut down over the past three years. The 100-seat club also remains a valuable part of the local comedy world. Its intimate nature, low ceilings and unobstructed sight lines and free parking have made it a favorite destination for both comics and fans. “Sam has given me the perfect home,” said national headliner Ali Sultan, who moved from Minneapolis to New York almost two years ago. At a recent, sold-out show at Sisyphus, Sultan told the crowd that one of the reasons he supports the club is that all ticket revenue goes directly to the performers. Harriman estimates those sales amounted to almost $160,000 last year. Expanded image view Ali Sultan performed at Sisyphus Brewing, his favorite local club, in October. ( Neal Justin/The Minnesota Star Tribune ) The club, which opened roughly a decade ago, has had its share of well-known guests, including Sam Tallent, Ian Fidance and “Saturday Night Live” cast members Michael Che and Tommy Brennan. Former “SNL” players Michael Longfellow and Punkie Johnson have shows at the club in November.