Comedian Jenny Yang Brings Stand-Up to Immigrant Grocery Stores Across America

Stand-up comedian Jenny Yang has reimagined the traditional comedy club by staging performances inside immigrant-owned grocery stores across the United States. The unconventional tour, which began in June in Los Angeles and extends through September, transforms retail spaces into temporary venues where audiences browse aisles stocked with cultural products while enjoying live comedy. Yang’s approach to the venue reflects her philosophy about using entertainment to strengthen community bonds in immigrant enclaves.

The initiative emerged from personal reflection and political conviction. After undergoing a failed round of in vitro fertilization treatment in Taiwan last December, Yang found herself contemplating both personal loss and the escalating immigration enforcement actions affecting Asian, Latino and Black communities across the nation. The convergence of these experiences inspired her to create what she describes as “the most politically and creatively fulfilling project” of her career, blending her background as a labor organizer with her comedy platform.

Yang partnered with the San Francisco-based Asian Law Caucus, a civil rights organization providing pro bono legal services to immigrant communities, to identify participating grocery stores and nonprofit beneficiaries. The Caucus leveraged its nationwide network of community leaders and immigrant-centered organizations to expand the tour from an initial five performances to nearly 20 events. Executive director Aarti Kohli emphasized that the partnership recognized comedy as a healing and unifying force within communities that have historically gathered around food and cultural spaces.

At Shuang Hur Supermarket in Minneapolis, manager Henry Zhou reconfigured retail shelving near checkout lanes to accommodate 150 chairs for Yang’s July performance. Patrons purchased snacks and groceries before the show began, with Zhou dimming lights to create an impromptu stage atmosphere. The experience proved successful enough that Zhou indicated willingness to host similar events in the future, noting that attendees remained engaged long after the performance concluded.

Ethnic and immigrant-owned grocery stores represent a substantial economic and cultural force in American communities. According to a 2025 IBISWorld market research report, such retailers generate $55.8 billion annually while functioning as employment hubs and anchors for surrounding businesses including restaurants and service providers. Willow Lung, founding director of the Small Business Anti-Displacement Network, characterized these stores as essential “main streets” for communities lacking traditional ethnic neighborhoods like Chinatowns or Japantowns.

The grocery retail sector has faced considerable challenges over the past year, with international suppliers contending with tariffs and immigrant customers avoiding public spaces due to immigration enforcement concerns. Some establishments closed temporarily or permanently as a result. Yang’s tour aims to provide moments of levity and community gathering during an anxious period, with the comedian emphasizing the importance of “making room for joy” amid ongoing uncertainty.