New York\u2019s most beloved food institutions are about to moonlight as comedy clubs for five nights straight.<\/p>\n
Underground Overground Comedy<\/a> (also known as ComedyUO), the duo behind the sold-out Katz\u2019s Deli shows and that wild 99-cent AriZona Tea event<\/a>, is launching its first-ever \u201cBig Small Business Tour,\u201d a weeklong run of after-hours standup inside some of the city\u2019s most iconic food spots. The tour runs January 12\u201316, 2026, and hits Barney Greengrass<\/a>, Zabar\u2019s<\/a>, Veselka<\/a>, Economy Candy<\/a> and Russ & Daughters<\/a>.<\/p>\n The idea came about from sheer winter logic and a little ambition on the part of co-founders David Levine and Ethan Mansoor. <\/p>\n \u201cThe thing with iconic spots is that in January or February, they slow down a bit because of fewer tourists,\u201d Levine\u00a0tells\u00a0Time Out. \u201cIt felt like a perfect moment to do something big with them. We love a challenge, so we asked ourselves how we could think even bigger this year.\u201d <\/p>\n After tossing around the idea of a full-on comedy crawl (mini shows, walking between venues\u2014logistically chaotic, but still on their wish list), the pair landed on a tighter, five-night sprint.<\/p>\n Each venue is doing something tailored to the space. At Economy Candy, everyone gets a bag of candy when they walk in. Zabar\u2019s guests get a gift card to shop downstairs before the show. Veselka is serving pierogies\u2014boiled or fried\u2014plus borscht. Even the drinks\u00a0are themed: \u201cAt Economy Candy, we\u2019ll make a cocktail with gummy bears in it,\u201d Levine says. <\/p>\n The lineups stay secret, as usual, and every night is different, meaning superfans can double (or triple) up.<\/p>\n Getting these legendary businesses on board took years, patience and a surprising amount of stand-up participation from the owners themselves. <\/p>\n \u201cGary Greengrass is one of the funniest people we know,\u201d Levine says. \u201cHe did a three-minute set at the show the first time and he crushed it.\u201d Zabar\u2019s required a two- to three-year courtship before the team connected with the right person. At Veselka, the owner actually called Katz\u2019s Deli to ask whether they should do it\u2014that was an immediate yes.<\/p>\n It\u2019s the group\u2019s first time attempting a five-night sprint, which means turning over a new room every 24 hours. <\/p>\n \u201cResetting everything each night is a lot,\u201d Mansoor admits. <\/p>\n The crew is hauling equipment from the Upper West Side to the East Village to Hudson Yards and back, transforming a sturgeon shop one night and a pierogi counter the next. Still, they stick to their rule: the space must look exactly the way they found it. <\/p>\n \u201cAt midnight you\u2019d never know we were even there,\u201d Levine explains. That consistency is part of why places like Zabar\u2019s, Veselka and Barney Greengrass were willing to sign on\u2014each venue knows the team will slip in, stage a sold-out comedy show and quietly put the room back together before locking up for the night.<\/p>\n Beyond the laughs, the tour doubles as a celebration of multigenerational New York businesses. <\/p>\n \u201cA lot of people move here after college and don\u2019t know Zabar\u2019s or Barney Greengrass,\u201d Levine says. \u201cThese shows get them in the door.\u201d And the institutions are cheering for each other: apparently Barney Greengrass was thrilled Zabar\u2019s was part of it and vice versa.<\/p>\n