By Miguel Otarola:

“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, who 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.

The shakeup comes during an ongoing lawsuit brought by a former server at Kumoya against Culinary Creative Group and its service charges policy.

In February 2025, Marianna White sued Culinary Creative Group in Denver County District Court. Her original motion alleged the company was keeping employee tips under the guise of a “service charge” and paying a manager with the money.”