Pearl Diver, the tropical-inspired cocktail bar and restaurant at 1008 Gallatin Ave. in East Nashville, has officially changed hands. Working Man Ventures now operates the business, and the new ownership group is adding football programming.
According to Nashville Scene, founders Ben Clemons and Corey Ladd reportedly sold their remaining interest in Pearl Diver, capping a transition that began in March 2026. That's when Working Man Ventures partners Jacob Forth, Steve Perdue and Edward Lipnickas were first brought on as co-owners of Pearl Diver and its sister bar, Tiger Bar, following a brief five-day operational pause, per Visit Music City. That March arrangement began the ownership transition.
A New Kitchen, A New Direction
Financial terms of the sale were not disclosed, according to WhatNow. What has changed is visible on the menu: chef John Humphries is now Pearl Diver's chef, and the bar serves a tropical barbecue menu, per the same account. That's a shift from the kitchen's most recent chapter, when chef Jesse Valencia of Secret Bodega prepared food at Pearl Diver and added island dishes like guava chicken, pork belly and spam fried rice following the March 2026 refresh, the Nashville Scene reports. Before that, Pearl Diver's original food program traced back to its 2018 opening, when Treehouse executive chef Jason Zygmont designed the bar's first menu.
Steve Perdue said the ownership changes extend beyond the food and drink programs, a signal that this is more than a menu refresh. Pearl Diver continues its immersive tropical atmosphere and has a refreshed cocktail list alongside new management and staff, and the bar has added fresh cocktails to go with the new barbecue offerings.
A Pool Table, Darts and Football Enter the Picture
The most notable change for regulars may be entertainment. Pearl Diver added a pool table and darts and other games, and the bar will lean into football in fall 2026 — a deliberate strategy shift, since the venue had not previously featured sports, according to WhatNow. Pearl Diver still focuses on large parties and events on its patio, and the bar has updated happy hour information on its website for anyone planning a visit.
The timing coincides with Pearl Diver's updated operating schedule. Under the updated operating schedule, Pearl Diver opens at 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 2 p.m. on weekends, with kitchen service running nightly until 10 p.m., per the Nashville Scene.
A Growing East Nashville Portfolio
Jacob Forth, Steve Perdue and Edward Lipnickas each have ownership interests in One Consulting Group, Maggie's Place, Perfectly Fine and Tiger Bar, and Working Man Ventures now includes all three partners. Tiger Bar, the group's other East Nashville venue, opened in fall 2023 at 2909 Gallatin Pike as a 1930s circus sideshow-themed spot built around gin cocktails, martinis and vintage decor, according to StyleBlueprint.
The partners have also built out a presence in The Nations. Perdue, Forth and Lipnickas opened neighborhood bar and restaurant Maggie's Place in November 2025 at 905 51st Ave. N., featuring a 4,500-square-foot outdoor yard, lawn games and a walk-up tiki bar, according to Davidson County Source. Perdue and Forth also have ownership interests in Perfectly Fine.
The buyout arrives as the Gallatin Avenue corridor sees continued development pressure. Southern Land Company spent $1.85 million in February 2026 to acquire two parcels near 1300 Gallatin Ave., expanding a 16-acre mixed-use development site, as previously reported by Hoodline. For now, Pearl Diver remains at 1008 Gallatin Ave. in East Nashville, with its retro-tropical look intact even as its ownership, kitchen and entertainment lineup all shift under new management.
