The Pearl’s Turbulent Departure from Your Mom’s House

The Pearl, a vibrant and increasingly popular queer bar previously called Pearl Divers and located inside local Denver staple Your Mom’s House, has recently made a significant move, taking over the revered space formerly known as The Mercury Cafe. While the initial partnership held promise and excitement, the relationship ultimately soured, leading to a difficult departure.

When The Pearl first began operating at Your Mom’s House, the atmosphere was one of optimism and collaboration. The founders, Dom Garcia and Ashlee Cassity, poured their energy and resources into the space, fostering a community and building a dedicated following. Initially, the arrangement with the venue’s new owner who took over this year, Jillian Marie, seemed promising.

However, the initial positive outlook began to shift due to several key issues. One of the most significant was the matter of the liquor license. Pearl Divers was operating under a sublease agreement, and the owners allege they were led to believe that their LLC would be added to the existing liquor license under Jill’s ownership. This was crucial for their legal operation. According to Dom, this assurance was a primary reason for their continued presence in the space.

“Keep in mind that when we’re in this space, this is what we’re being told. This is what’s gonna happen. This is why we’re staying in the space, and we weren’t leaving,” Dom explains.

This understanding changed when Jill allegedly went back on her word and did not include The Pearl’s LLC in the liquor license transfer. As Ashlee explains, “We refuse to work illegally, and we’ve built something that we’re really proud of, and so it’s our time to move to a different space. So to be honest, because we weren’t being put on the liquor license, is one of the reasons why we started searching in the first place.”

Jill, on the other hand, claims there was never an offer to make Pearl Divers part owner or put them on the liquor license, but rather, she asked them to turn their bank accounts and info over to her, as they were just renters in the space and she was running the business. 

“Pearl Divers had already been at Your Mom’s House when I acquired ownership on January 5,” she tells OFM. “They had been there under the previous owner since around December 1. Initially, I tried to be accommodating. However, after auditing everything, I sent them a text on January 10 stating that the current structure wasn’t appropriate and needed to be properly structured, especially concerning the liquor license. The liability felt fully on me if I owned the business while they operated under my liquor license without a proper agreement.

“Things took a turn when they didn’t take steps to formalize the arrangement, constantly saying they needed to talk to their lawyer but never following through. Over time, I felt they were taking advantage of the situation, using the space without the legal framework. We were splitting costs 50/50 on everything, but they were using most of the supplies. When I communicated these concerns, I was met with anger and threats of being ‘canceled’ in the queer community.”

The Pearl, on the other hand, allege that they never made threats, only stood up for themselves when Jill became confrontational. 

Beyond the liquor license issue, the operational dynamics within the space also became problematic. As The Pearl grew in popularity, attracting crowds of 300-400 people, tensions reportedly arose.

Dom shares, “It became like, ‘Oh, we’re not making any money. Y’all are making all the money, and you’re taking this much money from us that we could be making.'” This sentiment, coupled with alleged attempts to control The Pearl’s staff and operations, created a strained environment.

Allegedly, there were several instances of what Pearl Divers perceived as overreach and unprofessional behavior. One incident involved a bartender reportedly closing a door between the two spaces while mopping, which resulted in an alleged immediate and aggressive reaction from Jill, including threats of termination of Pearl Diver’s employee. This incident, according to Ashlee, was a clear indication that the working relationship had deteriorated.

Ashlee says, “I was like, ‘Why can’t we have a normal adult conversation?’”

As the situation escalated, The Pearl made the difficult decision to seek a new venue. Their search led them to the Mercury Cafe, a historic space with a lot of potential. 

The final days at Your Mom’s House were marked by further conflict. The owners of The Pearl produced increasingly hostile text messages exchanged between Jill and themselves, culminating in a demand to remove their belongings immediately. 

“She told us to come and get our fucking shit out the bar, or she was keeping all of it,” Ashlee says. 

Adding to the distress, The Pearl’s founders expressed concerns about the safety and inclusivity of the environment at Your Mom’s House. They noted instances where patrons allegedly made queer individuals feel unwelcome in the bathrooms, which had all-gender signage. This lack of control over the environment and the perceived lack of respect for their community further solidified their desire to leave.

“We also wanted to get out of there, too, because that didn’t really mesh well with our crowd,” Ashlee explains. 

“We have always aimed to be an inclusive space,” counters Jill, claiming that she didn’t witness any issues with bathroom use outside of Pearl Divers trying to allegedly limit bathroom use to only their own patrons. “While I can’t control the actions of every patron, I have made it clear that disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. I even told Ashlee  that if I heard anyone being disrespectful, I would address it, even if they were with Pearl Divers. 

“It’s come to my attention that Pearl Divers may have been creating an unwelcoming environment regarding bathroom use on their side of the venue, even preventing patrons from our regular events from using them. This is not how I want my business to operate. My shop has always been a safe space, and I intend for Your Mom’s House to be the same for everyone, regardless of who they love or their gender identity.”

Shortly after their move to what was previously The Mercury, a fire broke out in the trash can right outside the space while it was open. Allegedly, a note inside the trash can read, “Revenge: a dish best served ‘cold.’” Following statements online and over text that The Pearl’s owners feel have a threatening tone, they expressed concern about Your Mom’s House having something to do with it. 

Jill alleges she has no knowledge of the fire. “I have no knowledge of this note, or the fire, beyond what they have posted. I certainly had no involvement in it.” 

The experience at Your Mom’s House ultimately became unsustainable for The Pearl. The perceived lack of a safe and inclusive space for their community led them to seek a fresh start. Their move to The Pearl signifies a new chapter, one they hope will be characterized by a more supportive and positive partnership.

Even though Pearl Divers is no longer inside of Your Mom’s House, and The Pearl are alleging that Your Mom’s House is not a safe space, Jill wants to highlight that the bar is and always has been a safe space ever since she took over, according to her own accounts. 

“We actually have some drag shows coming up, and all of our events are inclusive to the entire community,” Jill says. “We made some connections while The Pearl was here, and there are folks in the community we still plan to work with. We will definitely still be a safe space.”

Ultimately, it is not up to Jill, Dom and Ashlee, or myself and OFM to determine if both bars are safe spaces, but the community. Both spaces continue to operate, and time will tell where the community feels safe, included, and embraced. 

Photo courtesy of social media