Ashlee Cassity is hoping her newest venture will be sweeter than the last.
The former co-owner of The Pearl, the lesbian bar that closed in the spring to much fanfare, is back months later with another restaurant and nightclub.
Cassity will open Peach & Jack’s Bar & Grill at 776 Lincoln, the former home of Denver Sweet, the LGBTQ bar that closed last summer after six years in business.
“We’re not exclusive to one group of people,” Cassity told BusinessDen of her new spot. “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 said that it’ll be a neighborhood Asian-fusion restaurant during the day that turns into a nightclub starting at 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Peach & Jack’s plans to have mostly DJ sets during that time, but Cassity also is working on getting live bands, trivia and karaoke lined up for the space, which has an upstairs, fully-winterized patio.
The menu is being designed and carried out by local Devarius Taylor, better known in town as Chef Bama. He’s been cooking at nightlife spots like Foreplay, the Nativ Hotel and Sky Lounge for the last several years and is pursuing his masters of hospitality at Metro State University.
He said his signature items will be lamb chops and a raw bar featuring oysters paired with a “soul butter.” Cassity mentioned the smoked turkey fried rice and beef cheek banh mi as favorites.
The pair also will serve wings with a peach bourbon hot honey sauce in honor of the name and have desserts like sweet potato cheesecake and the custard-like lemon posset. His concept will operate under the branding Soul & Wok inside Peach & Jack’s.
Taylor, an Alabama native, served in the military and has split years between Denver and elsewhere across the globe, mostly in the Middle East, since 2009.
“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,” he said.
The spot was originally going to be owned and operated by the same group that ran The Pearl, which includes Cassity; her co-founder Dom Garcia; husband-and-wife duo Benjamin Oakes and Christy Riviera; and Jonathan Mora.
They signed a five-year lease for the space in January. But that was before the sapphic spot at 2199 California St. closed after a dramatic see-saw between ownership and staff.
In April, The Pearl, which opened in early 2025 at the former Mercury Cafe space, announced it was closing at the end of the month after financial struggles. But days later, Garcia, who had the largest stake in the business, launched a GoFundMe to keep it afloat.
That quickly raised $83,000, but then staff posted on Instagram saying Garcia acted independently and they had no plans to return if The Pearl reopened. They urged people to report the fundraiser as fraudulent to get the money refunded, which eventually happened.
Days later, the property was seized by the city of Denver for $56,000 in unpaid taxes, something Cassity said was Garcia’s responsibility.
Oakes and Rivera still run the local Puerto Rican spot Aguanile while Mora owns vegan pizza joint Mora Pizza. Garcia moved to Florida, Cassity said.
“We’re all cordial, but I don’t think any of us speak with Dom,” Cassity added. “When things go the way they did at The Pearl, there’s not really a way of saving friendships like that.”
Cassity personally guaranteed the five lease on 8th and Lincoln and would’ve been on the hook for rent if she let it sit idle. Shortly after The Pearl collapsed, Cassity said the other owners gave up their stake in what became Peach & Jack’s and she brought on a new partner.
She declined to name them but said they’ve been in Denver for “a really long time” and are “really good at setting up DJs and promoting parties.”
“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,” she said when asked if there should be concern about her opening another spot so soon after The Pearl’s demise. She also runs a salon and a restoration business, she said.
“Dom did not pay the taxes,” she continued. “That was their job, and a lot of messy things happened between them and our employees at The Pearl.”
But that doesn’t mean Cassity’s troubles with The Pearl are over.
The business is being sued by New York lender Byzfunder for not paying $56,000 of a $97,000 loan The Pearl took out in December 2025, according to court filings. Cassity, Mora and Rivera are also named in the suit. Cassity declined to discuss specifics, saying she hasn’t been served.
“I had no news that they were suing us,” Cassity said. “But I do know that there was a lender out of New York that we talked to and let them know that we were going to be filing for bankruptcy.”
Cassidy said the back taxes have been paid. But a city spokeswoman said that’s not the case.
“We haven’t heard anything, but also keep in mind Dom was the main owner of The Pearl. So if the city is going to reach out, they’re going to reach out to Dom,” Cassity clarified. “I’m just referring to the fact that I do know personally that taxes were paid and keys were returned.”
Danny Newman, the local entrepreneur who was the Pearl’s landlord, says he and his partners are owed “well over 100,000 in missed payments” from The Pearl. Cassity denies that too.
“The better she does, the quicker she can pay us back,” Newman told BusinessDen, referring to the new spot. “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.”
