For more than 20 years, seeing a headline comic in Palm Beach County meant driving to West Palm Beach. Palm Beach Improv started at CityPlace and later operated out of the Kravis Center, according to the Town-Crier. Its stage hosted names like Fred Armisen, Kevin Nealon and Steve Treviño.
That club now sits on the upper level of the Mall at Wellington Green. The Palm Beach Post reported that the Improv reopened at 10300 Forest Hill Blvd. in September and that shows in the 450-seat room have been selling out.
The Improv's arrival is the largest step in a plan the mall has been carrying out for a year and a half: filling itself with things to do after dark. For anyone living in Wellington, that changes how far you have to go for a dinner-and-a-show evening.
The Comedy Club That Used to Mean a Drive East
The deal was announced in June 2025. Palm Beach Improv and its sister concept, Copper Blues Rock Pub & Kitchen, would share 13,700 square feet on the mall's upper level near CMX Cinemas. The original target was late 2025, but the room opened in September 2026.
Mall general manager Asad Sadiq told the Town-Crier he sees the two businesses as experiences rather than ordinary tenants, and called the announcement "a huge moment for Wellington."
Copper Blues held its public grand opening October 16 and 17. The mall's store directory now lists it as open. It's set up to work alongside the comedy club. The Town-Crier's opening coverage describes it as the Improv's official bar and restaurant. It seats up to 275 guests between the bar and outdoor seating. The menu runs to American pub food like Copper Nachos and Steak Frites, with cocktails such as the Strawberry Fields and the Champagne Supernova. There's live music, and you don't need a show ticket to eat there. Happy hour specials are already running, and brunch is planned.
Co-founder Robby Day told the Town-Crier he wants it to be "a place where people can come together for a night out, whether they're joining us for dinner, drinks, live music or a show next door." Copper Blues runs other locations across the country, including one at CityPlace Doral in Miami.
A Mall Rebuilt for the Hours After Dinner
The Improv arrived partway through a bigger change at the mall. In July, the mall's marketing manager, Julie Schalm, told WFLX what that change is. "We are transforming this mall from 'come here and shop' to 'come here and watch a movie or watch a comedy show or play arcade games,'" she said. The station reported that summer has become one of the mall's busiest seasons.
You can see the change on the ground floor. Arcade Time moved out of its second-floor spot into a first-floor space of more than 13,000 square feet beside the food court. It has retro and modern games, billiards and a kitchen and bar. The expanded Arcade Time held its grand opening July 8. Besides the games, it added immersive attractions and a restaurant and bar. Owner Jonathan Demare explained the thinking to WFLX: "Entertainment paired with dining has proven to be a model that helps bring new energy and long-term foot traffic to malls."
The department stores are still there. WFLX reported that Macy's, Dillard's and JCPenney continue to perform well, and that the Wellington Green Macy's is the highest-performing Macy's in Florida. The building's biggest empty space is the former Nordstrom. In March, Bainbridge Companies applied to tear it down and build 620 apartments on just over 18.4 acres. That plan needs advisory board review, Village Council review and a master plan amendment.
Smaller openings fit the same evening pattern. Silk & Sugga, a cookie bakery, opened this past summer on the first floor near JCPenney, between Sunglass Hut and Scoops & Beyond. Its menu includes Banana Pudding, S'mores and Cookies & Cream cookies. That gives you a dessert stop between the arcade and the show.
Across the Parking Lot, a Box Empty Since 2008
The same thing is happening outside the mall. In the Shoppes at Wellington Green, the plaza along Forest Hill Boulevard in front of the mall, the former Circuit City building has sat mostly empty since the chain closed its stores after its 2008 bankruptcy. Several proposals for the building were filed over the years, and none moved forward.
Diadem Pickleball Complex is building out the space at 10570 W. Forest Hill Blvd. The plan, reported by the Town-Crier in September, includes:
- 11 air-conditioned indoor pickleball courts
- two pickleball simulators and two golf simulators
- a pro shop and a private party area
- a restaurant and bar
Gene DeVito runs pickleball at Diadem's Coconut Creek complex. He told the Town-Crier they chose Wellington because it has an established pickleball community and few indoor options. The company has planned a soft opening for December and a full launch in January. Wellington Planning, Zoning & Building Director Tim Stillings called it "a benefit to fill a storefront that has been vacant for many years."
Diadem also has a restaurant and bar, so it can work as a second evening stop, and it's in a building that sat empty for 18 years.
The December Bill on the Upper Level
December is when the move west pays off. The Palm Beach Improv calendar lists a full month of shows, including:
| Date | Headliner |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, Dec. 2 | Cliff Cash |
| Thursday, Dec. 3 to Sunday, Dec. 6 | Damon Wayans |
| Thursday, Dec. 10 | Poly Diaz En Español |
| Friday, Dec. 11 to Saturday, Dec. 12 | Tyler Fischer |
| Saturday, Dec. 12 | Jeff Allen: The Christmas Tour |
| Wednesday, Dec. 16 | Joey Bragg |
| Thursday, Dec. 17 | Sarper Güven |
| Friday, Dec. 18 to Saturday, Dec. 19 | Trey Kennedy |
| Sunday, Dec. 20 | Michael Winslow |
The Damon Wayans run overlaps two Village events at the Wellington Amphitheater, 12100 Forest Hill Blvd., just down the road. The Holiday Cultural Celebration & Tree Lighting is Thursday, Dec. 3, from 5 to 9 p.m., with the tree lit at 6:30. The Extraordinary Kids Holiday Fest is Saturday morning, Dec. 5. Jeff Allen's Christmas show on Dec. 12 is the night before the 42nd Wellington Holiday Parade on Sunday, Dec. 13.
Poly Diaz's Dec. 10 show is in Spanish. Para quienes disfrutan de una noche de comedia en español, es una buena opción en casa, sin tener que ir hasta West Palm.
The Post reports sold-out shows, so book well ahead for December weekend dates.
Building One Evening Out of Two Floors
With everything in one building, you can plan a whole evening without moving the car:
- Start downstairs. Arcade Time sits on the first floor beside the food court, and it has billiards and a bar for anyone who doesn't want to play games.
- Eat upstairs. Copper Blues takes reservations through its official location page, and you can sit on the outdoor seating.
- Walk next door for the show. The Improv shares the upper-level space with Copper Blues, near CMX Cinemas, so a movie also works if you skip the comedy.
- Finish with something sweet. Silk & Sugga is on the first floor near JCPenney.
For more than 20 years, a night like this meant driving to West Palm Beach and back. Now it starts and ends at 10300 W. Forest Hill Blvd.
Planning a December night at the Improv, or showing visiting family how much has changed at Wellington Green? I'm happy to share where I like to eat before a show and what's opening nearby, in English or en español. Call or text "Roxy" at (561) 714‑9673, or visit Roxy Campbell.
