The Laugh Zone is the first black-owned comedy club in Dayton, Ohio.

Dayton, Ohio, has its first black-owned comedy club. Tony Sanders opened The Laugh Zone House of Comedy on August 29 with a quiet start.

Sanders said that in the panic he returned to Dayton after living in Atlanta for 17 years, where work in the entertainment industrybooking musical and comedy acts for various agencies and managing stars throughout the world. His faith is the reason he ventured into local comedy.

“Part of me believes this is another area where God is leading me,” said Sanders, who also serves as chief operating officer.

“In terms of the entertainment industry, I went to comedy shows that people invited me to, but a lot of them weren’t really suitable for comedy.”

Sanders is partnering with Nolan Hibachi on the food side, where the menu will reportedly feature chicken and fish baskets. The intimate space can seat about 70 people.

“Our facility is dedicated to providing local comedians a platform to showcase their talent through stand-up comedy and improv nights,” reads an announcement on its website.

“We strive to create a friendly and open space for laughter and creativity, making us a center for entertainment and social engagement.”

The band is calling September their “Grand Opening Month” and will likely be celebrating the official grand opening with a series of events, including an Open Mic night.

The venue will likely host greater than just comedians. The website features a “sign up to perform” section where comedians and poets can share their work with a talent panel that may vet the artists.

Ohio boasts a formidable list of black comedians hailing from the state, including Katt Williams, who got his start lower than an hour away from Dayton in Cincinnati.

Dave Chappelle was born in Washington, D.C., but was raised in Yellow Springs, Ohio, where his father lived. he became a professor at Antioch University, based on . Arsenio Hall, an icon of the late 80s and 90s, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.