Downtown Nightclub Could Lose Licenses After New Year's Shooting

Orchid Denver, a nightclub at 1448 Market Street in downtown Denver, could lose its liquor and cabaret licenses after someone on the street was allegedly shot from inside the venue after it had closed on New Year's Day.

According to a show-cause order issued by the Denver Department of Excise & Licenses on February 28, Orchid is accused of violating seven state or local laws, largely related to the operation of establishments that serve alcohol. The alleged violations were discovered by the Denver Police Department on the night of the shooting.

Video footage from that night shows a gun being fired from within the club into the chest of Jacion Pope, who was fleeing the scene of a reported attempted robbery; Pope is currently being held at the Downtown Detention Center, according to the Denver Sheriff Department Inmate Search.

The DPD investigation began in the area of 14th and Market streets, where someone reported an individual had been shot in the chest on January 1. Using HALO footage and business cameras, DPD located Pope, who had been shot, and an alleged accomplice, Joe Alexander, outside the nearby P.F. Chang’s with a third person.

Pope and Alexander had allegedly attempted to rob the third person of a chain necklace, placing a gun to his head and hitting him with the gun. After he was struck, the man with the chain is seen on cameras running toward Orchid with Pope and Alexander in pursuit, according to police.

“On camera, as Mr. Pope is standing in the front of the Club, the door is opened and a muzzle flash from a gun is seen,” the city's show-cause order states. “Someone inside the Club had fired a gun and shot Mr. Pope in the chest.”

Only Pope has been arrested. Whoever shot Pope has not been discovered, according to the show-cause order, which says that Orchid managers and employees haven’t cooperated with the DPD investigation.

Officers on the scene reported that club manager Elston “Ricky” Haley said the doors were locked when the shooting occurred, and only staffers were inside drinking — but police don't believe Haley’s account holds up.

“Haley’s statements that the doors were locked and that one was downstairs are untrue based upon the surveillance footage as the third man is seen entering the Club through an unlocked front door and it is clear that someone shot Mr. Pope from inside the Club,” the show-cause order describes. “The Club has also failed to provide a list of employees who were working on January 1, 2025, as requested by DPD.”

Allowing staff to drink on the premises at 2:30 a.m., after Denver's last call at 2 a.m., is another alleged infraction. Allowing disorderly behavior and unlawfulness are among Orchid's other alleged violations, according to Excise & Licences.

Neighbors in the area expressed concern about the club and event venue before it opened, citing issues with the building’s previous tenant, Dorchester Social. The city eventually revoked Dorchester’s license after several unlawful incidents at the venue, including multiple aggravated assaults and alleged gang activity, in 2019.

A city hearing officer determined that the proposed business plan submitted by Orchid's ownership was different from Dorchester’s, but Excise & Licenses still imposed restrictions on when dancing and music could occur, with notice required beforehand. But that venue wasn't supposed to be called Orchid, and the original business model is long gone.

Orchid was supposed to open in 2022 as a high-end jazz venue called LIV Denver; the owner told the city that he expected most patrons to be over 55. Now the space goes by Orchid Denver, advertising events like “Lit Wednesday” and “Circus Saturdays,” as well as bottle service and hookah options on Instagram. No one appearing over 55 is pictured on company social media accounts, and the company’s website only mentions jazz once.

The bar opened in 2023 as the Orchid without ever being called LIV publicly. At the time, owners still billed the venue as a 1920s-style jazz supper club.

The venue was only to allow patrons to dance during events with advance notice to the city, but Orchid's social media currently shows packed dance nights on the regular with music ranging far beyond blues and jazz.

The change in business name has not been registered by the city, either, according to the show-cause order. To change the trade name without going through official city channels is a breach of local law, Excise & Licenses adds.

Orchid ownership will have the chance to avoid license revocation at an April 24 license hearing. Orchid did not reply to a request for comment.