Pride month is only 30 days long, but you can celebrate pride all year long by supporting local businesses run by LGBTQ+ people. Come take a pride month tour through Cleveland with some of the spots below.
Start Your Day Right
Need your early morning caffeine fix? You’ve got some options. You can try LGBTQ+-owned Brewella’s, where coffee, crepes and collectibles beckon along with friendly “Brewistas.” At Brewella’s, themed menu items and decor change with the seasons, but year-round menu staples include the French Toast crepe and Cafe Au Lait. Get ready to take a selfie with their “Oh, How Marvelous” neon sign and signature black-and-white wall.
If you’re in the mood for exquisite pastries and artisan coffee, check out Sophie La Gourmande, nestled in Cleveland Heights. Owner Bob Sferra not only knows how to make your taste buds dance, but he has also been a tremendous influence in the local LGBTQ+ community, raising over $350,000 for LGBTQ+ causes and even serving as the LGBT Community Center's longtime Board of Directors president before stepping down in 2019. His mini Basque cheesecake makes our mouths water just typing it.
Out to Eat
Don’t stop at cold brew when you can also enjoy a hot meal. You should hit up Opal on Pearl, a fine dining lounge with familiar small plates and locally sourced cheese plates.
If you're heading to the East Side and miss the long-time Larchmere standby Felice Urban Cafe, hit up two-time James Beard Award nominee Jill Vedaa' new restaurant Poppy, housed in the very same location.
Hit the Shops
After dinner, you’ll probably want to relax. What better way to do so than through essential oils and aromatherapy — both of which you can get with the handmade soaps at Stem in Lakewood or Shaker Heights. Started in the basement of owners Dave and Steve’s house, the handmade soap business grew into two thriving locations.
But maybe you’re more the bath bomb or shower steamer type? Try Soothing Sloth Soap Co.’s wares, which are both vegan and never tested on animals. This online shop uses locally sourced ingredients, too. The first bath bomb the owner made was as a gift for his partner.