Denver’s Lesbian Speakeasy Is Moving To A New, Permanent Space
Pearl Divers is taking over a new building, with a brand new name.
Pearl Divers, Denver’s sapphic speakeasy with a tiki twist, is officially graduating to its own building!
The bar and cafe opened in December inside Denver’s longstanding music venue, Your Mom’s House, at 608 East 13th Ave. In the past few months, owners Dom Garcia and Ashlee Cassity have been overwhelmed by the rush of support from local lesbians, who have been vying for an LGBTQ-dedicated space.
“Our community is the best community; we all have each other’s backs, (and) we all just stand strong together. It’s not a safe space just for our clients and for my staff, but also for myself,” Garcia told Out Front Magazine. “I want it to be a queer takeover, and I plan to be at the forefront of that any way that I can.”
Just three months after their grand opening, Pearl Divers is ready to expand and bring the “queer takeover” to a new spot. The bar announced Tuesday they will be moving to the Mercury Cafe, which will officially cease operations at the end of March. The Merc, a Denver landmark of 50 years, was known for hosting community groups, jazz nights, and open mics. In 2021, the Merc was sold to Danny Newman, who also owns My Brother’s Bar. After the space came under fire for union-busting and bad workplace conditions, Newman listed the building for sale, and Garcia and Cassity swooped in.
“We initially bought this place to make sure that it survived,” Newman told Westworld. “Obviously, things were really rough during COVID, and we knew it was going to be tough. We were just stewards, you know, kind of momentarily, to make sure that we kept it going. And so I feel really good about that.”
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In the bar’s announcement, the owners thanked patrons for their “continued support and passion” for the space. They went on to assure both Pearl Divers lovers and Mercury Cafe lovers that they plan to revitalize the space’s legacy…while keeping their sapphic roots of course.
“We want to give fresh life to this space, honoring its rich history as a treasured gathering spot for Denver’s LGBTQIA+ community and beyond,” the owners wrote.
The new venture will be named “The Pearl,” in tribute to the original location. The Pearl will consist of four partners: Pearl Divers (Cassity and Garcia), Jonathan Mora, and Sapphic Collective. Mora, who owns and operates Tua Mamas/Mora’s Pizza, will run a vegan-friendly kitchen in the bar. Sapphic Collective, which organizes and promotes sapphic and FLINTA-centered events in Denver, will oversee The Peal’s events and social media. Newman will continue to act as the building’s landlord unless Garcia and Cassity decide to buy the space.
The Pearl will keep Mercury Cafe’s staff on board, Cassity told The Denver Post. “We’re booked with shows and events through the first of the year already, so we didn’t want the transition to (interrupt) all that hard work.”
Newman is confident that Cassity and Garcia have found their permanent home within the former Mercury Cafe, and believe the two owners will preserve the history in the space.
“I’m just ecstatic,” Newman told the Post. “This group is so perfect for this space and I’m excited that we found each other. They have the true operating experience to make it happen and are going to just absolutely excel at this.”
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The Pearl will kick off with a women and non-binary DJ showcase party on March 29, in collaboration with Sapphic Collective and Support Women DJs Denver. According to The Peal’s Instagram comments, owners also plan to “remove anti homeless rocks” outside the venue and place a food donation fridge outside. Owners are also looking into “legal options for donating leftover food to the shelter.”
Owners also responded to comments, saying they plan to continue Mercury Cafe’s schedule of Friday night poetry open mics and Wednesday night swing dancing and will keep the space open to all ages. They have also responded to questions about the Mercury Cafe Union, which the previous owner refused to bargain with, and the unionized employees who were fired. “We want to meet [with former staff] and will be contacting,” the bar wrote.
“This journey will not be without its challenges,” The Pearl wrote. “But with transparency, dedication, and the support of our cherished customers and employees, we know we can create a place that continues to bring joy and nostalgia to the community!”
