Vaudeville Café closes permanently after 15 successful years of business

Chattanooga, TN (WDEF) – The Scenic City is saying farewell to Hampton’s Vaudeville Café located downtown, because after spreading 15 years of laughter the improve theater is closing its doors permanently.

Over the weekend actors took to the stage for their final show, as they looked back at the good times and said their final goodbyes. Nearly 30 actors were currently working there, and more than a hundred came and went.

"She started crying, and I started crying and it was awful," said Linsy Lawson, an actor at Vaudeville for three years, "It was a horrible feeling to know something that has been such a big part of my life for the last three years is now gone."

The owner of Vaudeville, Chris Hampton, said the popular café closed due to financial burdens, but admits anything can happen in the future. "I love the unexpected. I love improve, and I love comedy and I certainly love a place that anyone can come to at any age," said Hampton, "So who knows what the future might bring, but for right now we had to say goodbye and we never know what can happen later."

Jeff Buchwald was an actor there for more than a decade, and said he was stunned to learn his experience had come to an end. "It was always about the audiences," said Buchwald, "Just the looks of joy on their face. They’ve forgotten their troubles for two hours."

Hampton said he’s currently working on a future project called the Tarzan Boat, which is like a huge jungle gym on the water. It’s already gotten millions of views on Facebook, and should make a début here in Chattanooga next Spring.