Laughter & Community : Be the helping hand

Twice As Funny Comedy Lounge started as a healing foundation for owner Sharon Hines! As stated by Sharon, “it became something I wanted to share with others. I was going through a very dark time in my life, and I went to a comedy club and laughed the entire time! I felt so good, I thought, what better way to help our community heal than through laughter”.

In 2016, while collaborating with 5 others in the community, “Laugh it Up Comedy Lounge” was created inside a 5000 Sq/ft store front building. After a brief stint, the group parted ways and Sharon continued her pursuit of happiness in the comedy world with the now world known, Twice As Funny Comedy Lounge!

This time around, she expanded to a much larger 15,000 Sq/ft building in Northern side of Killeen, Tx.

Paving the way, for her community earning mentions on national television with “The Sherri Shepherd Show” and major radio publications such as the “Dede in the Morning Show” with Killeen’s own Dede McGuire, and the infamous “Steve Harvey Morning Show” with Nephew Tommy and Steve Harvey”.

In the 8 years of business, Sharon has been able to produce major acts such as Monique, D.L. Hughley, Cedric The Entertainer, Mike Epps, Eddie Griffin, Gary Owen, Bruce Bruce, Carlos Mencia, Kountry Wayne, Jess Hilarious, Desi Banks, Lavelle Crawford, Brandon T. Jackson, Nephew Tommy, Paul Rodriguez, Felipe Esparza, Tommy Davidson, Tony Rock, Tony Roberts, D’Ray Davis, Lil Duval, Earthquake, Cory Holcomb and many more acts in the Comedy World! Creating a consistent home for comedians to have a stage to stand on and present there art to the Central Texas area!

In 2022, a long time friend of Sharon, who worked for the city, saw an opportunity for her to purchase her own property in the downtown area of Killeen. The city was revitalizing the downtown area, and offered businesses the Revitalization Program Grant.

Considering the big name acts and events that were flourishing in the community, the city manager figured this would be a great way kick off the revitalization project and generate the traffic needed to bring value back to the downtown area. As two years has past, Twice As Funny Comedy Lounge would prove to be a good fit for the community, generating more traffic and an influx of new business in the area!

While at the other location, Sharon was leasing the venue. Having the opportunity to own her own property was a major contribution to the expansion of Twice As Funny Comedy Lounge, and the vision that Sharon set for a lively vibrant entertainment spot for her community to consider a safe space, and haven for a great time!

Each recipient of the grant was awarded $100,000. However, the city found a place for Sharon to move into that was three times the size she was asking for. Taking into consideration, the vast difference in other establishments, and loan amounts, Sharon had her work cut out for her and would need more funding to help complete renovations for the new found Comedy Lounge. After speaking with the city, they agreed that more funds would be needed to help with the start up of the new project. Here is an exert from a brief interview Sharon conducted with a local production company regarding the turning point, and uphill fight to keep the business thriving along with the completion of the renovations needed for the building.

“I went to the bank that was referred to me at the time and asked for an SBA loan, 10% down. My reward money that I received from the city was $306,000, $178,000 of which would be left for the renovation after the down payment and fees. The bank assured me that it would only be 45 to 60 days for me to close out. However, they never disclosed to me that they were going through a merger.

60 days turned into six months, and the bank took 20% with a conventional loan instead of the SBA loan I had asked for.

The branch manager then sent an email stating that he had to redo the package because the agent, who was a VP, had messed up the entire package, which held my loan up for six months. Since my building was $1,275,000, that would look better on their side of the books versus it being an SBA loan.

I was made aware of this at the signing. It was too late for me to try to get other funding because the bank had taken up so much time to get this funded. The city was threatening to rescind the award if this deal did not go through soon. No renovation money; I had to do everything out of pocket.

I was able to get one room renovated, not to the satisfaction that I would like, but enough to get the shows going.

I’ve been in this building for two years. Our first major show, we had a busted pipe, costing thousands of dollars. And we’re still in need of major renovations on the exterior and the interior.

This is a 22,000 square-foot building. Our main goal is to pay this off and do major renovations to the building. We have made history in our city by bringing all of the major acts. We want to continue, but it is important to bring the building to its fullest potential and to leave a legacy!”

In efforts to restore hope in her community, and innovate a way for entrepreneurs and small business owners in the community, to continue to build businesses, create jobs, and service the local community as it continues to grow, Sharon has made it her duty to push the envelope, and not give up her ambitions to establish a business that is thriving and motivational for the city.

“We are asking for the help of our community, our support systems, our friends in the world of comedy, and business, interested and established investors, and patrons to help us reach our Goal to keep our doors open and add the renovations we feel our community is deserving of! We thank you for your continued support, and any help offered in helpin us to continue making history in the city of Killeen is greatly appreciated and valued beyond measures.”