Tenant-rep strategy turns a scarce restaurant-space search into a long-term home for two of Colorado’s established craft beer brands on Denver’s Historic South Pearl Street
-- Innovate Commercial Real Estate today announced that Founder and Managing Broker Charlie Cummings represented Left Hand Brewing Company and Dry Dock Brewing Company in securing a new, shared brewpub home at 1101–1115 S Pearl St in Denver’s Historic South Pearl Street neighborhood. The former Pub on Pearl building traded for $2,550,000, resolving a difficult site search and clearing the way for the newly opened Dry Dock Pub.
The assignment began with a defined problem and a fixed deadline. Following the merger of Left Hand Brewing and Dry Dock Brewing under a single independent craft platform, the lease on Dry Dock’s longtime Aurora location was expiring, and the team needed one space capable of carrying both brands forward. The initial goal was to stay in Aurora — but a structural shortage of second-generation restaurant space across the South Denver metro left few viable options, with most alternatives consisting of newer, higher-cost construction in unproven trade areas.
When the former Pub on Pearl space surfaced — a corner location with established neighborhood traffic following the prior 35-year operator’s closure — it met the functional requirements of a taproom. Because the building was only 59% leased, the vacant pub space represented a clear value-add component, drawing multiple investor and redevelopment offers. That competition reframed the decision: rather than chase a lease in a market of rising rates, the parties evaluated ownership on its merits, weighing cost certainty, long-term control of a hard-to-replace location, and equity accrual against in-place income from the building’s existing tenants.
The transaction carried real complexity, including coordination among multiple decision-makers across both brands and a liquor license transfer that moved the closing date more than once. With the deal closed, Dry Dock Pub has opened on South Pearl Street, serving Dry Dock and Left Hand beer alongside pub food, with live music and private event space.
“This was a needle-in-a-haystack search in one of Denver’s tightest restaurant submarkets,” said Charlie Cummings, Founder and Managing Broker of Innovate Commercial Real Estate. “The win wasn’t just finding the space — it was helping the client evaluate lease versus ownership on the actual numbers and then managing every moving part, from multiple decision-makers to the liquor license transfer, through to closing.”
Michelle Reding, an owner of Dry Dock Pub, credited Cummings with locating and closing the deal under pressure. “With hard work and professionalism, he located a needle in a haystack for us,” Reding said. “Charlie responded quickly whenever I had a concern and helped troubleshoot any issue that arose. His rapport with the other parties always got us a quick resolution that worked for everyone. I highly recommend Charlie and hope to work with him again one day.”
The Historic South Pearl Street corridor in West Washington Park is one of Denver’s most walkable neighborhood retail districts, anchored by a year-round farmers market and a base of independent operators. Turnkey restaurant and bar space in the 80210 submarket rarely comes available, and demand is immediate when it does — conditions that reward early access to opportunities and decisive execution.
About the company: Charlie Cummings is the Founder and Managing Broker of Innovate Commercial Real Estate, a boutique Colorado-based brokerage that helps business owners and investors align real estate with long-term objectives. He brings over a decade of commercial real estate experience and $100M+ in closed transaction volume, specializing in owner-occupier and leasing strategies across the Denver metropolitan area. Innovate Commercial Real Estate serves clients throughout the Front Range of Colorado.
Contact Info:
Name: Charlie Cummings
Email: Send Email
Organization: Innovate Commercial Real Estate
Address: Denver Co
Phone: 720-583-5794
Website: https://innovate-cre.com/
Release ID: 89196421
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