Your Mom’s House Is Going to Auction

Your Mom’s House could be your house.

The controversial Capitol Hill club, which was seized by the city in December for non-payment of taxes, is now up for auction. The Denver Manager of Finance posted a public notice today, February 3, announcing that The Pearl Stop LLC dba Your Mom’s House has been scheduled for auction on February 13. The notice cites an outstanding amount of $9,177.21 “to satisfy the claim of said Treasurer for delinquent taxes,” along with interest.

After the December 17 seizure of Your Mom’s House, majority owner Jillian Johnson posted a notice on Facebook: “Importantly, this does not involve allegations of fraud, misconduct, or irresponsible operation by our current team. We have been working in good faith to reconcile the account and expect this to be clarified shortly. We’ll be back in a week and can’t wait to see you all.”

The club never reopened.

It’s been a tough fifteen months for the venue at 608 East 13th Avenue, a space that’s held a lot of legendary clubs over the years, from the Mercury Cafe to Malfunction Junction to the Snake Pit to Beauty Bar. Your Mom’s House moved in back in 2017 and went through some ownership changes in late 2024 that saw Jillian Johnson buying The Pearl Stop LLC from Joseph Hite, whose company was the majority owner of the club. But he’d had a falling out with another partner and decided to sell his portion.

Then Johnson stopped making the payments they’d agreed upon, according to Hite. “It’s heartbreaking,” Hite said last month after the seizure of Your Mom’s House. “I put my blood, sweat and tears and lots of money into that place over an eight-year period.”

Another Your Mom’s House part-owner, James Bedwell, filed suit against Johnson last April, claiming that “without proper corporate authority or consent,” Johnson began operating YMH under a new entity, and “subsequently removed Bedwell’s access to the premises, operations, and finances of the business.” The suit also accuses Johnson of making “a series of false and defamatory public statements about Bedwell.”

Johnson filed a response denying all claims.

After the seizure, Johnson filed a suit against the city. She also said she was filing suit against Westword, but that lawsuit has never been served. In the meantime, others have filed claims against Johnson, including several employees who say they were not paid. Performers, too, say they are owed money, as do some suppliers.

And, of course, there’s the city, which is looking for its $9,177.21. Here’s the auction notice: