17 Cleveland Businesses Proudly Owned by Members of the LGBTQ+ Community

By on Fri, Oct 5, 2018 at 4:10 pm

In honor of the passing of Cuyahoga County's LGBTQ+ protection ordinance, it's high time we featured the incredible contributions made by the ingenuity and passion of members of our LGBTQ+ community. Whether it's a dance club, brunch spot or even personalized dog training, these businesses and eateries brought by our LGBTQ+ guys, gals and non-binary pals truly enhance the Cleveland experience. Most of the businesses featured are part of Plexus, the official Chamber of Commerce for the LGBTQ+ Community and Allies. Disclaimer: Non-Plexus member businesses featured have gone on public record with Scene as a LGBTQ+ owned business, or have provided their permission to be featured in this slideshow. We're not here to out people without their consent. If you or someone you know are a LGBTQ+ business owner and want to be featured in this list, let us know! There's always more room under the rainbow.

In honor of the passing of Cuyahoga County's LGBTQ+ protection ordinance, it's high time we featured the incredible contributions made by the ingenuity and passion of members of our LGBTQ+ community. Whether it's a dance club, brunch spot or even personalized dog training, these businesses and eateries brought by our LGBTQ+ guys, gals and non-binary pals truly enhance the Cleveland experience.

Most of the businesses featured are part of Plexus, the official Chamber of Commerce for the LGBTQ+ Community and Allies.

Disclaimer: Non-Plexus member businesses featured have gone on public record with Scene as a LGBTQ+ owned business, or have provided their expressed permission to be featured in this slideshow. We're not here to out people without their consent.

If you or someone you know are a LGBTQ+ business owner and want to be featured in this list, let us know! There's always more room under the rainbow.

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Brewella's Coffee, Crepes and Collectibles 16806 Madison Ave. Lakewood, 216-712-4907 Husbands Chris Murphy and Joe Keppler own one of the newest businesses on this list, with their 900-square-foot cafe serving up Phoenix Coffee and a wide range of sweet and savory crepes, with decor heavily inspired by fashion icon, Iris Apfel. Brewella's Coffee, Crepes and Collectibles is part coffee shop, part creperie, part antique shop, but "fully marvelous." Along with their deliciously mindblowing crepes, Brewella's also serves as a shop for local artists to sell their handmade and vintage-inspired wares. Brewella's is an officially registered Plexus business. Photo Courtesy of Brewella's on Facebook

Brewella's Coffee, Crepes and Collectibles

16806 Madison Ave. Lakewood, 216-712-4907

Husbands Chris Murphy and Joe Keppler own one of the newest businesses on this list, with their 900-square-foot cafe serving up Phoenix Coffee and a wide range of sweet and savory crepes, with decor heavily inspired by fashion icon, Iris Apfel. Brewella's Coffee, Crepes and Collectibles is part coffee shop, part creperie, part antique shop, but "fully marvelous." Along with their deliciously mindblowing crepes, Brewella's also serves as a shop for local artists to sell their handmade and vintage-inspired wares. Brewella's is an officially registered Plexus business.

Photo Courtesy of Brewella's on Facebook
Kilted Bros. 530 Euclid Ave #16, 209-800-5458 Nestled in the 5th Street Arcades across from Jack Flaps, Kilted Bros. offers a variety of kilts and kilt accessories with the motto "grab life by the balls." Unique designs include a camouflage, fireman and leather kilt. For more sports-minded folx, there's also a "Pride of Cleveland" tartan, inspired by the Cleveland Browns. This ain't your daddy's kilt store, unless "Daddy" is what you like to be called. Photo Courtesy of Kilted Bros.

Kilted Bros.

530 Euclid Ave #16, 209-800-5458

Nestled in the 5th Street Arcades across from Jack Flaps, Kilted Bros. offers a variety of kilts and kilt accessories with the motto "grab life by the balls." Unique designs include a camouflage, fireman and leather kilt. For more sports-minded folx, there's also a "Pride of Cleveland" tartan, inspired by the Cleveland Browns. This ain't your daddy's kilt store, unless "Daddy" is what you like to be called.

Photo Courtesy of Kilted Bros.
Chill Pop Shop PO BOX 19092 The unofficial "Ice Queens" of Cleveland, Elizabeth and Maggie Pryor, are the minds behind Chill Pop Shop frozen novelties. Their frozen fruit pops are made with only clean, quality ingredients and are crafted in a fair, equitable, and sustainable manner, using fair-trade and organic ingredients whenever possible, and remaining accessible to those seeking allergen-friendly and vegan products. Since their inception, Chill Pop Shop has exploded into stores across Cleveland and can be found in local Target, Heinen's and Whole Foods stores in addition to Earth Fare and Nature's Oasis as well as online. Chill Pop Shop is an officially registered Plexus business. Photo by Frank J. Lanza for Cleveland Scene

Chill Pop Shop

PO BOX 19092

The unofficial "Ice Queens" of Cleveland, Elizabeth and Maggie Pryor, are the minds behind Chill Pop Shop frozen novelties. Their frozen fruit pops are made with only clean, quality ingredients and are crafted in a fair, equitable, and sustainable manner, using fair-trade and organic ingredients whenever possible, and remaining accessible to those seeking allergen-friendly and vegan products. Since their inception, Chill Pop Shop has exploded into stores across Cleveland and can be found in local Target, Heinen's and Whole Foods stores in addition to Earth Fare and Nature's Oasis as well as online. Chill Pop Shop is an officially registered Plexus business.

Photo by Frank J. Lanza for Cleveland Scene
The Soothing Sloth Soap Co. Ships locally out of Cleveland For high quality soaps, lotions, beard oil, bath bombs and sugar scrubs, look no further than the Soothing Sloth Soap Co. Sean Hirsch co-owns and operate the business with his partner Zach Wise, and create the vegan-friendly and locally sourced bath products that ship all over the world. With product names like "YAS QUEEN" and "Lumberjack Fantasy," Soothing Sloth completely embraces the queer community and the cultural staples that go along with it. Best part? All of their products smell like a slice of heaven and make your skin feel baby soft. Photo Courtesy of Soothing Sloth Soap Co.

The Soothing Sloth Soap Co.

Ships locally out of Cleveland

For high quality soaps, lotions, beard oil, bath bombs and sugar scrubs, look no further than the Soothing Sloth Soap Co. Sean Hirsch co-owns and operate the business with his partner Zach Wise, and create the vegan-friendly and locally sourced bath products that ship all over the world. With product names like "YAS QUEEN" and "Lumberjack Fantasy," Soothing Sloth completely embraces the queer community and the cultural staples that go along with it. Best part? All of their products smell like a slice of heaven and make your skin feel baby soft.

Photo Courtesy of Soothing Sloth Soap Co.
The Side Quest 17900 Detroit Ave. Lakewood, 216-228-1212 Primarily known as a geek bar, The Side Quest is one of the most inclusive and gay friendly joints in town. Advertised as a safe space, The Side Quest frequently hosts gay-centric events like speed dating, Drag Race trivia and celebration parties on the anniversaries of iconic gay staples, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. More importantly, The Side Quest is also operated by visibly queer and gender non-conforming employees, with a staff covering just about every letter of the LGBTQ+ alphabet. Photo Courtesy of The Side Quest

The Side Quest

17900 Detroit Ave. Lakewood, 216-228-1212

Primarily known as a geek bar, The Side Quest is one of the most inclusive and gay friendly joints in town. Advertised as a safe space, The Side Quest frequently hosts gay-centric events like speed dating, Drag Race trivia and celebration parties on the anniversaries of iconic gay staples, like The Rocky Horror Picture Show. More importantly, The Side Quest is also operated by visibly queer and gender non-conforming employees, with a staff covering just about every letter of the LGBTQ+ alphabet.

Photo Courtesy of The Side Quest
Twist Social Club 11633 Clifton Blvd., 216-221-2333 On any given night, Twist Social Club on Cleveland's west side is packed with a colorful array of customers looking to live it up free of judgement and without fear. As gay bars go the way of the Dodo, Twist's incomparable entertainment schedule, monthly themed parties and DJ nights have kept them alive and stronger than ever. Each day of the week has its own unique activity or theme from Taco Tuesdays to Karaoke. The drinks are killer, the food is delicious (the smoked pork tacos are tongue-kissing perfection) and depending on the night, the likelihood that you'll meet a drag queen while waiting in line for the bathroom is pretty much a guarantee. Photo Courtesy of Twist Social Club/Facebook

Twist Social Club

11633 Clifton Blvd., 216-221-2333

On any given night, Twist Social Club on Cleveland's west side is packed with a colorful array of customers looking to live it up free of judgement and without fear. As gay bars go the way of the Dodo, Twist's incomparable entertainment schedule, monthly themed parties and DJ nights have kept them alive and stronger than ever. Each day of the week has its own unique activity or theme from Taco Tuesdays to Karaoke. The drinks are killer, the food is delicious (the smoked pork tacos are tongue-kissing perfection) and depending on the night, the likelihood that you'll meet a drag queen while waiting in line for the bathroom is pretty much a guarantee.

Photo Courtesy of Twist Social Club/Facebook
Pet-Tique 10906 Clifton Blvd., 216-631-2050 Clevelanders are straight up obsessed with their pets, and the 2006 winner of "Best Petstore" for Scene's Best-Of issue, Pet-Tique, is a guaranteed way to ensure your favorite furry friend is strutting the streets in style. This "pet boutique" strives to offer fun, functional, and fashionable necessities with unique gifts for pet owners as well as offering healthy dog and cat treat and food lines that provide a longer, healthier life for our furry companions. Pet-Tique is an officially registered Plexus business. Photo Courtesy of Pet-Tique/Facebook

Pet-Tique

10906 Clifton Blvd., 216-631-2050

Clevelanders are straight up obsessed with their pets, and the 2006 winner of "Best Petstore" for Scene's Best-Of issue, Pet-Tique, is a guaranteed way to ensure your favorite furry friend is strutting the streets in style. This "pet boutique" strives to offer fun, functional, and fashionable necessities with unique gifts for pet owners as well as offering healthy dog and cat treat and food lines that provide a longer, healthier life for our furry companions. Pet-Tique is an officially registered Plexus business.

Photo Courtesy of Pet-Tique/Facebook
Praxis Fiber Workshop 15301 Waterloo Rd., 216-644-8661 After the Cleveland Institute of Art announced they would be downsizing their fiber arts programs, Jessica Pinsky founded the Praxis Fiber Workshop, a non-profit fiber art center available to the CIA community and greater Cleveland. Praxis lives in the heart of the Waterloo arts district, and continues to teach fiber arts classes and workshops, as well as offering studio spaces for local fiber artists and a gallery to promote the field of contemporary fiber art. Photo Courtesy of Praxis Fiber Workshop

Praxis Fiber Workshop

15301 Waterloo Rd., 216-644-8661

After the Cleveland Institute of Art announced they would be downsizing their fiber arts programs, Jessica Pinsky founded the Praxis Fiber Workshop, a non-profit fiber art center available to the CIA community and greater Cleveland. Praxis lives in the heart of the Waterloo arts district, and continues to teach fiber arts classes and workshops, as well as offering studio spaces for local fiber artists and a gallery to promote the field of contemporary fiber art.

Photo Courtesy of Praxis Fiber Workshop
The Urban Orchid Hingetown and Little Italy, 216-785-3618 If you've seen a breathtakingly beautiful floral arrangement at an event in town or if you couldn't stop staring at the stunning one-of-a-kind bouquet at your friend's wedding, you've more than likely already experienced the incomparable talent of The Urban Orchid. The full service floral boutique has been featured in our "Best Of" lists multiple times, and it's understandable given the fact The Urban Orchid's arrangements are downright awe-inspiring. The shop offers floral arrangements for every need, whether it be a wedding, funeral, celebration, prom, gift basket or whatever else your heart desires. Photo Courtesy of The Urban Orchid on Facebook

The Urban Orchid

Hingetown and Little Italy, 216-785-3618

If you've seen a breathtakingly beautiful floral arrangement at an event in town or if you couldn't stop staring at the stunning one-of-a-kind bouquet at your friend's wedding, you've more than likely already experienced the incomparable talent of The Urban Orchid. The full service floral boutique has been featured in our "Best Of" lists multiple times, and it's understandable given the fact The Urban Orchid's arrangements are downright awe-inspiring. The shop offers floral arrangements for every need, whether it be a wedding, funeral, celebration, prom, gift basket or whatever else your heart desires.

Photo Courtesy of The Urban Orchid on Facebook
Sweetlime Alterations 2671 W 14th St., 216-258-4055 The fashion industry is notoriously gendered in the way garments are manufactured, which can make finding clothing to comfortably fit queer, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people an extremely difficult experience. Luckily, Cleveland is fortunate to have Sweetlime Alterations at their disposal, a tailor specializing in clothing alterations for queer and trans clients. Sweetlime Alterations' founder, Gabi Mirelez, has 12 years of experience working in the fashion industry and understands that celebrating, embracing and affirming individual expression as a queer person is extremely important, and how a garment fits and feels plays a major part in that expression. Photo Courtesy of Sweetlime Alterations's on Facebook

Sweetlime Alterations

2671 W 14th St., 216-258-4055

The fashion industry is notoriously gendered in the way garments are manufactured, which can make finding clothing to comfortably fit queer, trans, non-binary and gender non-conforming people an extremely difficult experience. Luckily, Cleveland is fortunate to have Sweetlime Alterations at their disposal, a tailor specializing in clothing alterations for queer and trans clients. Sweetlime Alterations' founder, Gabi Mirelez, has 12 years of experience working in the fashion industry and understands that celebrating, embracing and affirming individual expression as a queer person is extremely important, and how a garment fits and feels plays a major part in that expression.

Photo Courtesy of Sweetlime Alterations's on Facebook
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