Pride month is only 30 days long, but you can celebrate pride all year long by supporting local businesses run by LGBTQIA+ 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 LGBTQIA+-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 cold brew, check out Scoot! Cold Brew nestled in Lakewood. Owner, Kari Degraff, takes not only her coffee seriously, but how she can impact the community, as well. With a vision to create coffee sustainably, you can enjoy a cold brew latte while knowing you’re making a difference.
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.
Or maybe check out the Larchmere neighborhood’s star restaurant, Felice Urban Cafe. Originally opened by a woman who was 79 at the time, the restaurant passed hands to her grandson and his partner in 2017. Have a drink at the farm-chic bar, or relax in the sun on the patio.
If you’re sticking to the West Side, check out Salt+, a small plates restaurant headed by two-time James Beard Award nominee Jill Vedea. Have a craft cocktail, and don’t miss out on dessert.
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 shop uses locally sourced ingredients, too. The first bath bomb the owner made was as a gift for his partner.
There are plenty of herbs to be found at The New Moon in Lakewood, too. This wiccan shop has wonderful events such as a tarot club, a pagan 12-step meeting, tarot readings by people who work at the shop. Maybe you’ll draw yourself a ritual bath with some herbs and candles made specifically for what you’d like to manifest into your life.