The co-founder of an influential restaurant group with more than a dozen concepts in metro Denver is stepping down as chief executive officer, a spokesperson for the group said Wednesday.
Juan Padro helped build the company, Culinary Creative Group, into a chef-driven powerhouse featuring concepts like Tap & Burger, Magna Kainan, Kumoya, Señor Bear, Mister Oso, A5 Steakhouse and Bar Dough.
“We’re excited to grow our team as we continue to grow our company,” Padro said in a statement acknowledging his successor, Richard Flaherty, whose last job was as CEO of Punch Bowl Social.
The change is “designed to position the Culinary Creative Group for thoughtful national expansion while preserving its founding ethos,” the company said.
Padro is staying on at Culinary Creative Group as a consultant and still holds equity in the company. He didn’t respond directly to questions from The Denver Post about the change in leadership on Wednesday because he was traveling.
The changes come as an ongoing lawsuit brought by a former server at Kumoya against Culinary Creative Group may be nearing an end. In February 2025, Marianna White sued Culinary Creative in Denver County District Court.
Her original complaint alleged the company was keeping employee tips under the guise of a “service charge” and paying a manager with the money.
White amended her complaint in December, dropping the tip theft allegations but keeping some of her other allegations. The case now revolves around the language restaurants use to differentiate between tips and service charges.
This week, White’s attorneys filed a motion stating that both parties in the case wanted the court to clarify the definition of “service charges” and to draw a distinction between fixed fees and customer tips. One of White’s attorneys, Adam Harrison, did not respond to a request for comment.
District court Judge Sarah Block Wallace responded to the motion on Wednesday, saying that she would still schedule a trial date and decide on the pending question over service charges at an upcoming case management conference.
“From what the Court can tell, the parties agree there is a legal issue the Court needs to decide that may resolve the case,” Wallace’s order read. “That is not a reason for the case to not proceed in the interim.”
Padro and co-founder Katie O’Shea launched Culinary Creative Group in 2010 with their first concept, Highland Tap & Burger, now just called Tap & Burger. His statement on Wednesday referred to the change in executive leadership as a “purposeful evolution” whose planning began three years ago.
Two others are ascending at the Culinary Creative group along with Flaherty. Blake Edmunds, the executive chef of Señor Bear and Mister Oso, is now the group’s chief culinary director. The company also announced its first vice president of marketing, Lauren Barash. Chef Carrie Baird remains with the company.
Culinary Creative Group’s portfolio also includes Ash’Kara, Ay Papi, Sorry Gorgeous, Forget Me Not, Fox and the Hen and the Guest. Several of its restaurants have gone on to be recognized by the James Beard Awards and Michelin Guide. Notable chefs at the company have included Max Mackissock, Carrie Baird and Edmunds.
This story was updated at 7:49 p.m. to include more information.
