The Mercury Cafe, beloved Capitol Hill venue, to be replaced with LGBTQ+ bar
DENVER (KDVR) — The Mercury Cafe is set to close by the end of March, but a new tenant of the renowned location is already lined up and announcing their intent in the space.
The live music venue and eatery at 2199 California St. first opened in 1975, according to the Mercury Cafe website, and became a home for some of Denver's alternative scenes. The venue also touts itself as Denver's oldest venue and has hosted a range of bands — including Green Day, Weezer, Alanis Morissette, Nathanial Rateliff and more.
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By April 1, the location will become 'The Pearl,' operated and owned by the current owners of Pearl Divers, a lesbian speakeasy located within Your Mom's House at 608 E. 13th Ave. The Pearl said that Pearl Divers would be closed and moved into the California Street location.
'We wanted a permanent space and our commitment is to restore the building, ensuring it remains a vibrant part of our community for years to come,' the group said, before clarifying that The Pearl will consist of three partners: Pearl Divers, Jonathan Mora and Sapphic Collective.
'Pearl Divers will be in charge of operations, Jonathan Mora will provide us with a wonderful vegan friendly kitchen, and Sapphic Collective will be in charge of the events and the social media presence,' The Pearl said in its announcement.
The group named four main tenants of its vision, which are employee empowerment, community collaboration, revitalizing the space, and commitment to sustainability. And don't worry: Lindy hop lessons, scheduled shows, the open mic and even the baby rave will be continued in The Pearl.
Some commenters mentioned concerns about the employment concerns that were present under The Mercury Cafe's leadership, and the Sapphic Collective provided more information about the new management's stance on the issues.
'We are aware that the Mercury Cafe has faced some challenges in the past years, including ongoing tensions with previous employees, and we are hoping to give this place a fresh start,' the Sapphic Collective wrote. 'Due to the current owners shutting down The Mercury Cafe not only in business, but in name, it is necessary for us to rename the building.'
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The Pearl also responded in Instagram comments to address the matter.
'I think time will tell with the gentrification concerns, to elaborate on this – we are preserving the space, events, and rather than replacing the community, plan to add to it!' The Pearl wrote in a comment response. 'We want to keep the merc energy alive if that makes sense. The ownership is changing (once again) and I have personally read and heard and seen the concerns with previous ownership. This is something we won't be sweeping under the rug.'
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The Pearl also noted that it will be prioritizing the current staff of Mercury Cafe for any open positions, but will also be bringing the current staff of Pearl Divers to the new location, 'so we won't have space for everyone logistically,' The Pearl clarified on Instagram.
'But they have known since last week and have a month to find different opportunities,' the business added.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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