Courtney Mabeus over at The Examiner says that Capitol Lounge should reopen today after getting the go ahead from health inspectors. The bar suffered its second fire in two years on Wednesday, but damage this time, estimated at about $15,000, looks to have been largely limited to the back patio. The Trover Gift Shop on the 200 block of Pennsylvania Ave. SE was also damaged in the blaze, which started in a dumpster behind the bar. It’s great news for Lounge regulars to be able to return so soon after the fire.

Also, since he responded in our tip line instead of in the comments of the previous post, we thought we’d republish Capitol Lounge owner Joe Englert’s response to the jerky anonymous commenters we had who accused him of setting the fire himself to collect insurance money. You tell ’em, Joe.

Hi, this is Joe Englert responding to the dipshits who think me or any of my employees would torch a business that does 40-50,000 a week in business for some phantom insurance money. In 2005 we had a fire that cost us more than $750,000 in income. As if we would just joyfully start ANOTHER blaze to cost us all this money again. My employees probably lost $15,000 a piece in tip money as well. As of this writing, Llyod’s of London has not coughed up a penny for our major loss. Use your heads people. What a wreckless thing to do, accusing someone of arson. Just plain nasty. I hope no one kicks you when major trajedy hits your lives. Life is just too short for this pointless hostility.

Stop by Capitol Lounge tonight to show them your support, and be sure to tip your bartender well.