Monique Hartung nominated Underground Laugh Lounge for this honor. She also wants you to know that she’s the reason they deserved it before she even finished writing the nomination.
Underground Laugh Lounge opened in September 2023 in a 100-year-old building in Niles that owners Sheila and Karl Koebel bought and rebuilt themselves — by hand, with family and equipment — because they wanted to bring something to the community that had never existed there before. The venue brings comedians, magicians, and musicians to an intimate, affordable space. Upstairs, the environment is mellow and welcoming for all ages. Downstairs, the laughs are loud.
Earlier this year, Hartung received a diagnosis that no one wants: a brain aneurysm on the verge of rupture. She needed surgery. Her deductible alone was $5,000, she had minimal local support, and she was facing months of recovery from a part-time job. When she reached out to the owners mostly just to let them know she’d be gone, Sheila Koebel acted immediately.
A fundraiser was launched. Comedians donated portions of their pay and merchandise sales. Auctions of personal items were held. A benefit show was organized, with half a dozen comedians performing free of charge to help cover living expenses. Meal trains were set up and continued for weeks after Hartung was released from the ICU. Sheila came to the hospital and sat in the waiting room through the entire surgery, without telling Hartung she was there — just to be present for the family.
Hartung asked her afterward: how do you thank someone for saving your life?
The answer, she says, is that you come back to work. Her return date was May 4th. She couldn’t wait.
The Koebels measure success in five-star reviews more than credit card swipes. They’d rather hear that someone pursued a dream they never tried before than count the night’s take. For a small business in Niles, that’s not just a good culture. That’s a rare one.
