History of The Mystery (Café)

The Mystery Café was founded in 1989.

Let’s put that into perspective.

Our first show in fall of 1989 predates the premiere of "The Simpsons". We've been around longer than Jamba Juice. That same year Michael Keaton debuted as Batman, Taylor Swift came into the world and the Berlin Wall fell. 

It was a big year. 

But we don't spend a ton of time looking back. One could argue we've aged better than the Simpsons, and almost as well as Taylor Swift. Jamba Juice is still Jamba Juice.

Much has changed since the early days. When the Mystery Cafe started, the phone number in our print ads didn’t include an area code. No one ever asked if their meal could be served gluten free.

We’ve outlived most of our venue partnerships; Niklow’s Restaurant, The Venetian Inn, Bloomington Park Tavern, The Hudson House Grand Hotel, Benchwarmer Bob’s…these places are fond (if fuzzy) memories, but the Mystery Café called them all home at one point or another.

Yes, times have changed, but one thing hasn’t; people’s desire for a good laugh and a great meal. Wait, that’s two things. And free parking. That’s three.

The point is, all these years later, we are still presenting the funniest shows we know how to create, cast them with the most talented interactive comedians in town, and work with great locations who provide a quality 3-course meal. Almost 4 decades later, that remains our commitment.