Comedy no laughing matter

J.J. Leslie details the origins of Mottley's Comedy Club near Quincy Market:

... Going in, Tim McIntire had a list of twelve mandatory things the new venue had to meet. "I spent the better part of three years looking for a space in Boston," says McIntire. "Some of it was as simple: did the club or restaurant have a separate function room? I did not want to do comedy in a bar with the televisions on, a guy screaming at the Keno screen, and someone messing with the jukebox. Another was a focus on the restaurant. I did not want a comedy show to clash with the rest of the entertainment or ambience of the place. Nor, was I looking for a place where the comedy was squeezed between karaoke and trivia nights. ...