Austin News

After 35 years in business, Cap City Comedy Club in Austin announced its doors will remain closed permanently after being shuttered in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Owners Rich Miller, Margie Coyle, Colleen McGarr and Duncan Strauss made the announcement.

“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,” they told the Austin 360 in an email.

The club, at 8120 Research Blvd., No. 100, for its entire history, was opened by Howard and Sandy Marcus from Houston.

The club has hosted nationally known comics like Maria Bamford, John Mulaney and Patton Oswalt, the club’s website reported. Local comedians including Matt Bearden, Chris Cubas and Maggie Maye frequented its stage. Both the Moontower Comedy Festival and the Funniest Person in Austin contest took place inside the club.

Groundbreaking Texas comics Sam Kinison and Bill Hicks treated the comedy club as a second home, as did Ron White several years later before becoming a Blue Collar Comedy regular, the club’s website said.

Ellen DeGeneres, DL Hughley, Dave Attell and Joe Rogan also made the Cap City Comedy Club a stop on their comedy tours. On Sunday nights, the club staple was open mic night.

In March 1986, the club launched as the Laff Stop. The name change to Capitol City Comedy Club happened in 1996.

Those people who bought advance tickets for future shows will receive refunds, the owners told Austin 360. They also said the club “might be back but a little different,” the newspaper reported.