With few lesbian bars left in the country, a group of Cincinnati friends is looking to increase that number by one

Lesbians seeking connection in Greater Cincinnati will undoubtedly find a strong and tight-knit community.

What they won’t find: a dedicated space to gather socially.

There is a notable absence of lesbian bars in Ohio, as well as a broader shortage across the country. According to Newsweek, there are only 32 remaining lesbian bars in the United States.

A small group of friends is on a mission to change this narrative in Cincinnati, hoping to fill this void on a local scale by opening Blended Café & Club – a sapphic safe space for coffee, cocktails, & community.

According to Claudia Reith, one of Blended Café & Club’s founders, “a lot of queer spaces aren’t necessarily catered towards sapphic specifically, and we’ve gotten messages where people have expressed that they don’t necessarily go out anymore because they don’t feel safe…that’s a big driving factor and a huge concern for us.” 

Blended Café & Club intends to provide a warm and inviting atmosphere for social connection in Greater Cincinnati’s lesbian community. A welcoming coffee shop that seamlessly transforms into a spirited nighttime cocktail bar, Blended is designed to provide a comfortable space for relaxation, connection, and self-expression in the lesbian community. 

The founders of Blended Café & Club are long-standing friends with diverse personal and professional backgrounds. Claudia Reith, who has experience in graphic design, is leading the marketing and brand development efforts, while Julia Smith, who possesses prior experience in the bar industry, will be assuming the role of bar and beverage director. The additional founders – Meg and Dani – are focusing their efforts on community engagement, content creation and hospitality. They hope that their friendships and diverse experiences will serve as a solid foundation for a thriving business. 

The work to get Blended Café & Club up and running does not stop at a well-developed business model and the formation of strategic goals. The team is in need of funding to acquire a physical space for the business, proper espresso and cocktail equipment, and additional staff. 

They have organized a Kickstarter campaign to raise necessary funds, aiming to acquire $40,000 by July 3. Kickstarter is an all-or-nothing platform, meaning that the $40,000 goal must be met by the deadline in order for the Blended Café & Club team to receive funds. 

Reith feels optimistic about the fundraising efforts, stating that they will need to raise slightly more than $1,000 dollars per day in June to reach their $40,000 target. The campaign has been pledged over $8,600 from 154 backers to date. 

Additional revenue streams including private events and membership programs are also being actively pursued. 

They continue to promote the business concept on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok, where they have cultivated a supportive following. 

Reflecting on the encouragement they’ve received from the community thus far, Julia Smith says “I knew that the sapphic community was pretty large in Cincinnati, but actually seeing the amount of people commenting, liking and sharing… it’s like wow, this is something that should have been done years ago!”

The founding team aims to host a soft opening in a newly acquired physical space funded by the Kickstarter this November, specifically for early supporters and Kickstarter backers.

Upon opening, the founders also intend to form more intimate social groups within the Blended Café & Club community. For example, Smith mentioned the possibility of an organized run club that explores Greater Cincinnati and indulges in Blended’s coffee as an energy-boosting recovery method. 

There is hope that relationships built between individuals in these smaller social groups will carry over into Blended’s nightlife scene, where the founders plan to host frequent theme nights consisting of games, karaoke, bingo, and lively music leading to energetic dance floors.

With strong continued support, Reith states that Blended Café & Club will ideally become “a home base for the sapphic community in Cincinnati.” 🔥

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IGNITE ACTION

• Check out the crowdsource fundraising campaign for Blended Café & Club here.