Months after the high-profile closure of The Pearl, former co-owner Ashlee Cassity is stepping back into Denver’s nightlife scene with a fresh concept in Capitol Hill. Located at 776 Lincoln St.—the former footprint of LGBTQ staple Denver Sweet, which closed last summer after six years—the new venue, named Peach & Jack’s Bar & Grill, aims to blend daytime dining with late-night entertainment.
Cassity envisions the space as more of a general neighborhood gathering spot rather than one catering strictly to a single demographic. “We’re not exclusive to one group of people,” she says in response to queries about the space being a lesbian bar. “I’m obviously a part of that community, but it’s a bar where anyone can come and hang out. We’re just here to bring good vibes and good food, good drinks,” she tells Business Den.
By day, Peach & Jack’s will operate as a neighborhood Asian-fusion restaurant before transitioning into a nightclub Thursday through Sunday starting at 10 p.m. In addition to DJ sets, the multi-level venue—which features a fully winterized upstairs patio—plans to host live music, trivia, and karaoke.
The cook behind the venture is local culinary talent Devarius Taylor, widely known as Chef Bama. Operating under the food concept title Soul & Wok, Taylor brings years of experience cooking across local nightlife venues like Foreplay, the Nativ Hotel, and Sky Lounge, alongside international culinary influences gained during his military service overseas.
Taylor’s menu pairs signature dishes like lamb chops and a raw bar with oysters and “soul butter” alongside items like smoked turkey fried rice, beef cheek banh mi, and wings tossed in a peach bourbon hot honey sauce. Describing his broader vision for the kitchen and the atmosphere, Taylor says: “I’ve been all over the world, and there’s an element of unity that’s missing in our city. I wanna be able to create experiences for everyone.”
The path to opening Peach & Jack’s follows a turbulent chapter for its owner. The five-year lease on Lincoln Street was initially signed in January by the full ownership team behind The Pearl, including Cassity, Dom Garcia, Benjamin Oakes, Christy Rivera, and Jonathan Mora. However, the sapphic venue at 2199 California St. shuttered in April following mounting financial strain, unpaid taxes, and internal disputes.
Reflecting on the breakdown among the original team, Cassity says: “We’re all cordial, but I don’t think any of us speak with Dom. When things go the way they did at The Pearl, there’s not really a way of saving friendships like that.”
Because Cassity personally guaranteed the lease for the Lincoln Street location, she opted to move forward rather than leave the property idle, bringing on an undisclosed local nightlife partner while the other original co-owners departed the project. Addressing skepticism surrounding her quick turnaround following The Pearl’s collapse, Cassity expresses full confidence in her operational track record: “Do I think that anybody should worry about me having another spot? No, I mean, this is my third business. My other businesses by myself are perfect.”
In addition to unresolved legal disputes and claims from former landlord Danny Newman regarding unpaid rent from The Pearl, locals are questioning many things, such as why the AIDS memorial mural on the side of the former Denver Sweet was painted over, why the space will not be specifically queer, and why Cassity is opening a space at all when there is still animosity from the community regarding unpaid wages and the messy ending of The Pearl.
However, Newman is hopeful that this new venture will help him get paid back. “The better she does, the quicker she can pay us back. If it’s a success, then paying us back is a success. And I truly do want it to be a success so they can fast track the repayment.” Whether anyone else involved with The Pearl will see any money from the venture remains to be seen.
Photo courtesy of social media
