A new coffee shop is pouring lattes on NW 23rd Street in Oklahoma City, but none of the profits are headed to shareholders. Cap City Coffee holds its grand opening Saturday at 417 NW 23rd St, right next to the historic Tower Theatre, and all of its profits are set to flow back into local charitable work rather than a private owner's pocket.
The shop is owned and operated by Bring Life OKC, a nonprofit that reinvests 100% of shop profits into community outreach and Oklahoma City causes, according to a Facebook video from Adventures in OK. The grand opening date and address were confirmed in that same post, which also noted the storefront sits directly beside the Tower Theatre. As The Oklahoman reported in its own look inside the new space, Cap City Coffee's mission centers on supporting the nonprofits attached to OKC Community Church and other causes around the city.
A Pandemic-Era Idea Grows Into a Storefront
Cap City Coffee didn't start as a shop at all. The concept traces back to late 2020, when OKC Community Church's “Let There Be Light” campaign launched a mobile coffee bar and student outreach program during the COVID-19 pandemic, per the church's own account. That original project offered online-school space for high school students, tutoring for elementary students, and opportunities for college students. Cap City Coffee now has a brick-and-mortar location on 23rd Street.
OKC Community Church was founded in 2013 by Lead Pastor Tim Mannin. Oversight of Cap City Coffee, along with Ministry Care and Hospitality, falls to Director of Worship Leaders Christie Mannin, according to the church. The leadership team has run local church ministries in Oklahoma City since 1998, per that same account.
Sunday Worship at Tower Theatre
The connection between the cafe and the church runs deeper than shared branding. OKC Community Church gathers at the neighboring Tower Theatre every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. The Tower Theatre next door, originally built in 1937 along Route 66, closed as an adult cinema in 1989 before a multi-million-dollar renovation reopened it as a venue in 2017, as Hoodline previously reported.
Flat Pricing and Local Dairy on the Menu
Beyond the nonprofit structure, Cap City Coffee is also experimenting with how it prices drinks. All beverage and food items carry tax-inclusive pricing, meaning the number on the menu board is the final price at checkout, according to an Instagram reel posted by gi.okc during a visit to the shop.
The 417 NW 23rd St building also sets aside a dedicated room in the back specifically for local nonprofit organizations to hold meetings and community events, according to an Instagram post from the shop. That space gives civic and nonprofit groups a place to gather in Uptown 23rd beyond the standard cafe seating out front.
Part of a Growing Business Corridor
Cap City Coffee's arrival adds another storefront to NW 23rd Street. NW 23rd has seen a wave of recent openings nearby, including the cannabis-themed sub shop Cheba Hut's flagship location down the block.
