Comedian Jenny Yang has transformed cultural grocery stores into temporary comedy clubs on her summer tour, according to ABC News. The project, called The Good Egg Immigrant Grocery Store Standup Comedy Tour, is meant to bring humor and support to immigrant communities.
Yang, who immigrated to the United States from Taiwan, said the tour was inspired in part by immigration crackdowns and headlines affecting Asian, Latino and Black communities. She said she wanted to perform in places with immigrant enclaves and work with local organizations to identify nonprofits to support.
The tour began June 5 in Los Angeles and has expanded far beyond its original five shows to nearly 20 performances. It has already stopped in cities including Minneapolis and Phoenix, and after upcoming dates in New York and San Francisco, it is scheduled to end Sept. 26 in Los Angeles, where Yang plans to film a performance for a proposed comedy special.
At a July show at Shuang Hur Supermarket in Minneapolis, staff reworked the store layout to fit about 150 chairs, according to the store manager. Yang said she enjoys the unusual setting and sees the shows as a way to create joy in difficult times while also reminding people that immigrant spaces matter.
Supporters of the project, including the Asian Law Caucus, say grocery stores serve as important community gathering places as well as businesses. Yang said her goal is to help people feel seen while giving them a chance to laugh together.
