"My wife Courtney and I discovered one of our local favorites, Cap City, will be closing after 20 years because still not enough of their customers have returned post-COVID, and that’s not good enough," he said midway into the speech. "I will promise you this: No one is more obsessively aware of the things that are broken in this city than I am, and no one is more relentlessly committed to fixing them. I notice every piece of trash, every construction project in front of a retail store, every unhoused person still looking for services, every restaurant just too empty for a Friday night."
And Johnston no doubt noticed that in their announcement about the closure posted on Facebook July 19, the McTaggart family that owns Cap City took a swipe at the city, and warned that "the community of independently owned restaurants in Denver is literally going extinct. Here's that post:
URGENT ANNOUNCEMENT: Hi friends, family, chosen family, and supporters of Cap City Tavern. It is with a heavy heart that we share we are closing our doors permanently on Sunday, July 27 after over 18 years of business. The increase in minimum wage, cost of food, and the taxes and fees that the city of Denver is imposing on restaurants has become too much to bear. Sadly, we are not alone, as the community of independently owned restaurants in Denver is literally going extinct. We thank you for all the memories you’ve made with us. The birthdays, weddings, funerals, opening and closing nights of shows, bingo brunches, trivia nights, Colorado sporting events, Minnesota Vikings and Cornhusker games, meetings, rallies, protests, happy hours, business lunches, family, reunions, holidays, and the precious time spent with family and friends. The community here has become our family, and we are beyond grateful for each and every one of you....Please come and see us, share your memories, say goodbye, and support your chosen family as they prepare for this transition in their lives as well. Our sister bar, the Bannock Street Garage Bar @garagedenver, is only two blocks down the street, and we hope you’ll stop by and see us when you’re in the neighborhood.Dino McTaggart bought the Garage Bar in 2019, when he had just five years left on the lease for the Cap City Tavern's home at 1247 Bannock Street, which was slated for redevelopment; he said he bought the Bannock Street Garage at 1015 Bannock so that he could keep pouring drinks in the neighborhood.
"We hope you’ll stay tuned as we figure out what’s next for our family," the announcement continues. "We thank you for all you have given us, and for being our family for the past 18 years. We love you, and thank you."
And we thank Cap City Tavern for eighteen years of service. Stop by and raise a glass before this neighborhood bar closes on July 27.
