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.
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 FacebookKilted 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 SceneThe 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 QuestTwist 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/FacebookPet-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/FacebookPraxis 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 WorkshopThe 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 FacebookSweetlime 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 FacebookFelice Urban Cafe
12502 Larchmere Blvd., 216-791-0918
In 2008, 79-year-old Margaret Mueller opened her first restaurant, Felice Urban Café, and successfully ran the business until 2017, when she was almost 90. Afraid she’d have to sell the property and the business to outside forces, her grandson Jack Mueller and his husband Paul Neundorfer stepped in to save the restaurant, and have continued to run the Larchmere cafe ever since.
Known for their locally-sourced produce (including ingredients from its own garden), Felice also features one of the best patios in Cleveland, a cozy first floor dining experience, a hip second story bar and a third floor available for private events.
The food contains staples from Margaret Mueller’s original menu, but has now expanded to provide vegan and gluten-free options as well. Be sure to try the veggie kofta tacos, they’ll kick your tastebuds in the face.
Photo Provided By Scene ArchivesCoven
1384 Bonnieview Ave. Lakewood, 216-767-5800
Coven is a place where someone can come to dip their toe into the world of witchcraft, as well as to see if it’s a path they would like to explore. Witchy supplies like herbs, candles, sage, anointing oils and healing crystals adorn the shelves of the shop, but if legitimate witchcraft isn’t your thing, aesthetically witchy items are also available, such as a Beyoncé worship candle or a T-shirt with a phrase like “Cunty Vibes.”
Coven also offers artisan skincare, teas, bath salts, room sprays and jewelry handcrafted by women, in addition to the fabulous Lake Witch’s Spellkits, authentic witch kits made by an actual witch, not something mass produced and sold next to lip plumper in the middle of a JC Penny.
More than just a store, Coven can also supply visitors with a supernatural experience. Candle carving, anointing and blessing are available in-store, along with the chance to make your own mojo bag with the help of Coven’s staff.
Photo by Emmanuel Wallace for Cleveland SceneFood For Thought Catering
7574 St Clair Ave. Mentor, 440-946-0383
Whether you need to feed a conference meeting or a full-blown convention, Food For Thought Catering is one of Northeast Ohio’s staple catering services with delicious food and fabulous service. As one of northeast Ohio’s largest full-service catering companies, Food For Thought offers packages for any party size, flavor palate, dietary restriction or budget.
Food For Thought Catering is an officially registered Plexus business.
Photo Courtesy of Food For Thought on FacebookPura Vida by Brandt
170 Euclid Ave., 216-987-0100
Noted Cleveland chef, Brandt Evans, opened Pura Vida in 2011 in the old May Company Building right off Public Square. This downtown spot offers gourmet breakfasts, lunches and dinner featuring contemporary reinterpretations of classic American dishes.
All of the food is farm fresh, and Pura Vida may boast one of the best restaurant views in the entire city. A meal at Pura Vida is second to none, as chef Brandt Evans represented Cleveland on the Food Network and Celebrity Cooking Stage of the Fabulous Food Show in 2008.
Pura Vida by Brandt is an officially registered Plexus business.
Photo by Elaine Cicora for Cleveland ScenePop Life Universe
15619 Waterloo Road, hello@poplifeuniverse.com
The second business owned by Jack Mueller featured on this list, Pop Life is a gallery, juice bar and donation-based yoga and wellness studio.
While the building itself is scheduled to open later this year, Mueller has already made a massive impact on the Waterloo arts district, after artist Camille Walala completely redesigned the former Key Bank building with her signature color pop style.
Photo Credit: Nolan Beck for Pop Life UniverseSits ‘n Wiggles Pet Care & Training
info@sitsnwigglescle.com, 216-910-7487
For the very best in pet care and training, Valarie and Hannah Ross-Smith’s company, Sits ‘n Wiggles, has been helping owners with their furry friends since 2015.
The couple, along with their staff, offer dog walking, pet sitting, owner training and positive reinforcement training for dogs of all breeds and sizes. Because Sits ‘n Wiggles is a force-free service, your pups will be trained without the use prong or pinch training, choke, radio, or shock collars. They truly emphasize training dogs in the safest and most welcoming environment possible.
Not restricted to four legged friends, Sits ‘n Wiggles also offers pet sitting opportunities for more exotic pets like fish, snakes, bunnies, birds, guinea pigs and hedgehogs to name a few.
Photo Courtesy of Sits ‘n Wiggles Pet Care & Training
