The Mercury Cafe Is Gone. Will The Pearl Live up to Expectations?
Old Denver vs. new Denver. It’s a fight as old as the city. But as the Mile High inevitably changes, can these opposing forces work together to make something great? After a 50 year run, the Mercury Cafe closed its doors and this month, The Pearl opened up in its place. The new owners say they want to honor the legacy of the Merc, but — are they obligated to? New owners Dom Garcia, Ashlee Cassity, and Sheli Gilman sit down with host Bree Davies to talk about changes they are making to the place, why your favorite piece of Mercury Cafe ephemera may have disappeared from its walls, and how they feel about workers unionizing.
Bree mentioned a previous City Cast Denver interview with former Mercury Cafe owner Danny Newman.
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