Cap City Comedy Club Closes

September 9, 2020
9:19 am
CJ Morgan Show

Cap City Comedy Club certainly was a special place. It was regularly mentioned by the best in the game as being one of the top places to perform. It has hosted some of the best names in the business and been an incredible spot to develop the Austin comedy scene.

It was the best place for a first or second date. I was lucky enough to be a part of planning and hosting so many radio station events. I got to be on stage with Dudley & Bob + Matt and Charlie Hodge several times. Over the years I was asked to judge a few early rounds of funniest person in Austin (and predicted several winners early on). As a wannabe comic my entire life I also finally mustered up the courage to enter FPIA and stand on that stage.

What set some of our stations apart from others in Austin was the constant flow of local and top traveling comics coming in to hang with us. I got to see my girlfriend and eventual fiancé host, middle and perform so many shows there (before Covid I think she was supposed to open for Brian Posehn). I’ve met so many friends, fans and family inside that club.

Most importantly, the staff and owners who always made a goof like me feel at home. Also, I think I’ve only been cut off a few times which is astounding.

Austin has lost a great place and I hope we all do our best when the time is right to bring it back like a rising phoenix bursting through *insert powerful and meaning metaphor*

Press release:

Dear Austin Comedy Lovers,

We laughed until we cried. We are devastated to announce that we have to close the club. After 35 years in this location, and 17 for us as owners, the struggle of being closed since March has proved insurmountable. It is a perfect storm of pandemic, lease and wanting to be responsible to our staff, comedians and audiences.

We are part of the Austin Covid-19 story and stats- of entertainment venues that just could not survive.Being owners of this amazing comedy club has been a highlight of in our lives. From Bill Hick’s live recordings to Patton Oswalt’s “Werewolves and Lollipops” to Ari Shaffir’s Netflix special, to Matt Bearden’s “Punch” shows to Dale , Bob with Matt’s Sideshow podcasts, the magic of Maria Bamford, Ron White’s pop ins for tune ups, to the rise of Leanne Morgan to the Moontower special events, Doug Benson, the yearly JFL /Montreal showcases and of course to our crowning glory F.P.I,A. (Funniest Person In Austin) and seeing Lashonda Lester crowned at last. It has always been our mission to shine a light on, provide a space for and celebrate our extraordinary Austin Comedy Scene- the best in the country.

Our blessings are too many to mention but here are a few:Our beloved friend and partner Alex Coyle, he raised our collective bar to new heights. Chandy Popp-Kurzweil , Samantha Mitchell, our incredible waitstaff, staff past and present , our kitchen crew led by Kevin Creaney, every comedian that “brought it” from near and far and most of all our amazing audiences that supported every show, every new idea, star and newcomer.

To our future ticket holders, we ask for your patience as we begin the refund process, you will be contacted if we need more info from you.

We aren’t crying, you’re crying. Actually we have not stopped crying.

So live standup in Austin will be re-ignited at some point and please support. Cap City may be back but different. In the meantime THANK YOU to all the comedians, agents ( they are not as bad as you hear), our wonderful Austin Arts media, our partners at Moontower Comedy Festival, KLBJ, The Interrobang, The Comic’s Comic , our friends at Netflix and Comedy Central and everyone that has made this such a proud and magical experience.

THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING 35 Years at 8120.

Rich Miller, Margie Coyle, Colleen McGarr and Duncan Strauss