Updated 4:30 p.m.:
Capps Club in Kenmore announced today that it will be closing down for at least three months.
The club was opened May 13 and boasted high-end drinks, a full kitchen and a large venue which attracted big-name acts like Big Bad Voodoo Daddy.
Owner Mark Capps told the Reporter the club fared well, but they are closing to make adjustments to their menu, staff training and adding a larger wine selection.
“Everythings gone really well, I think what we’re looking at now is simply stepping back now and retooling,” he said.
Finding a more stable mix of local and national music and comedy acts was also important for Capps, but said the artists that had played over the last month seemed to enjoy it.
Capps said they had intended to do a soft opening but with bands being booked they went ahead and did a hard opening on May 13, resulting in short training times for their staff.
“We didn’t get the depth we wanted to on training,” he said. “Our staff did an amazing job without having a ton of time to train.”
The food menu will also be worked out. While they will continue with what Capps describes as ‘elevated comfort food,’ the menu will be more focused and they will try and turn the venue into a restaurant destination as well as a lounge and venue.
Most importantly, Capps said, was listening to customer input.
“We want to be as good as we can be,” he said. “So we’re listening to what people told us about what was good and bad about the experience.”
Capps said the club should be open again by early fall.
The following is a post from the Capps Club Facebook page:
“Hello Capps Club Fans!
It’s been an exciting month and we’re more committed than ever to bringing quality entertainment, dining and drinks to our Seattle area “center of the universe” in Kenmore. Our vision continues to be pulling East-Siders, North-Enders and Seattleites alike into a quality venue with great sight lines and VIP-level food and drinks.
The shows have been amazing and both our artists and our fans love what’s happening on the Capps Club stage. But to reach the level we’re seeking, we know we still have some work to do. We’ve made a decision to temporarily close the doors, retool the business, rework core elements and build out a strong plan to deliver the best possible experience to our customers.
Huge thanks to our dedicated fans! Please stay in touch and keep an eye on our social and email updates. We’ll see you in the Fall with better food, better drinks, better service and awesome shows in a brand new version of Capps Club!”
The Reporter will update this story as more information becomes available.