IT'S NATIONAL COFFEE DAY!! Coffee Shops and Cafes have been my sanctuary for years. As a self-described coffee lover, and someone who loves to people watch and create stories, Coffee Shops have been my go-to places for inspiration and to create an office away from home. But what does it take to run one of these places. While I was in Palm Springs over the summer, I found "Play." It's a great example of a business doing it right and I picked the brain of lgbtq entrepreneurs who had recommendations to make something like this happen in YOUR neighborhood. @playloungeps
In recent years, there has been a growing movement to create more inclusive and community-oriented spaces for the LGBTQ+ community. While gay bars have long been a staple of queer nightlife, many are now seeking social environments beyond alcohol-centered venues. Enter the queer-friendly café, a welcoming space for people to gather, work, sip coffee, and connect in a more laid-back atmosphere. However, starting a queer-friendly café comes with its unique challenges, particularly when it comes to navigating the fine line between creating a socially conscious space and running a successful business. This blog will delve into five years of brutally honest advice based on the experiences of café owners and community advocates who have embraced this mission.
Let's look at the core of what it takes to start a queer-friendly café, the hurdles to overcome, and the rewarding impact such a business can have on the LGBTQ+ community.
1. Understand the Purpose of Your Space
The first thing to clarify when planning a queer-friendly café is your purpose. Are you opening a café simply as a business venture, or do you have a broader mission to serve and uplift the LGBTQ+ community? Your answer to this will shape how you approach everything from branding to day-to-day operations.
Queer-friendly cafés often serve as community hubs where LGBTQ+ people can feel safe, supported, and understood. This means that the traditional business model of “open for profit” may need to be rethought. The goal here isn’t just to sell coffee; it’s to create a safe space that fosters connection, creativity, and even activism. With this in mind, you should ask yourself tough questions: Are you prepared to organize events, showcase LGBTQ+ artists, or engage in advocacy work? These additional elements, while they come with costs, are crucial to building trust and loyalty within the community.
For instance, in some cities, queer cafés have become safe spaces for sober meetups, poetry readings, or LGBTQ+ youth support groups. These activities can enhance your café’s reputation but require both passion and commitment. Consider what role you want your café to play in the larger LGBTQ+ ecosystem[1].
2. Location Matters More Than You Think
One of the most overlooked aspects of opening a café is location. And when it comes to queer-friendly cafés, the importance of location is magnified. Ideally, you want to open your café in a neighborhood that is accessible and welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community. This might mean choosing an area already known for its queer-friendly venues, or it might mean working to create that kind of atmosphere in a more up-and-coming area.
However, your café should also be located in an area where it can sustain itself financially. Many would-be café owners mistakenly assume that opening in a trendy, LGBTQ+-centric neighborhood guarantees success. The truth is, over-saturation can be a real issue, and rent in these areas tends to be sky-high.
Additionally, consider visibility. Your café needs to be accessible to a diverse range of people within the community. Not everyone feels safe or welcome in all neighborhoods, so think about the demographics and the atmosphere. Is there adequate foot traffic? Are there other queer-friendly businesses nearby? Is public transportation easily accessible? These factors all play into how inviting your café will be.
3. Hire and Train Staff with Your Mission in Mind
A café can only be as good as its staff, and hiring people who understand and align with your mission is crucial. In the case of a queer-friendly café, this means prioritizing inclusivity in your hiring process.
Consider these key points when building your team:
Representation matters. If your café is aiming to be a safe space for LGBTQ+ people, it’s important that your staff reflects that diversity. Make a conscious effort to hire queer people, people of color, and those from other marginalized communities.
Train your staff on inclusivity and safe space practices. This might include teaching them how to properly use gender-neutral language, avoid assumptions about customers’ identities, and intervene in any situations where a customer may be feeling unsafe or unwelcome.
Create a safe space for your staff. Your employees should feel just as welcome and supported as your customers. Foster a workplace culture that values mutual respect, openness, and empowerment.
The queer café movement is as much about social justice and inclusivity as it is about good coffee. By ensuring your staff shares these values, you’ll cultivate an environment that feels genuinely welcoming, rather than performative [2].
4. Community Engagement is Key
Your café’s success will hinge on how well you engage with the local LGBTQ+ community. The best queer-friendly cafés don’t just exist to serve coffee; they exist to serve the people. Community engagement can take many forms, from hosting events to providing resources and opportunities for LGBTQ+ people. Some ideas for engagement include:
Host LGBTQ+ events: Pride month pop-ups, queer trivia nights, drag brunches, and other themed events can be an excellent way to draw in the community. For instance, some LGBTQ-owned coffee shops host Pride pop-ups to highlight local queer-owned businesses, turning the café into a mini-community market [4].
Offer meeting space for local groups: Whether it’s an LGBTQ+ book club or a trans support group, offering your café as a meeting space for queer organizations can deepen your ties to the community.
Partner with queer artists and entrepreneurs: Feature local LGBTQ+ artists’ work in your café or sell products from queer-owned businesses. This not only supports your community but also adds an authentic, local touch to your café.
Community engagement isn’t just about hosting events—it’s about becoming a fixture of the community, a place where people feel comfortable and connected.
5. Prepare for Financial Realities and Sacrifices
Running a café is hard work, and a queer-friendly café, with its added layers of social responsibility, can be even more challenging. The financial realities are often the most brutal.
Margins are thin. Cafés traditionally run on tight margins, meaning that any extra costs—whether it's for higher quality ethically-sourced coffee, or the extra time and effort put into community engagement—will eat into your bottom line. The passion for creating a community space can make it tempting to skimp on profitability, but if you’re not careful, this can lead to unsustainable business practices.
Don’t rely solely on LGBTQ+ customers. It’s important to recognize that while LGBTQ+ customers might be your target audience, your business also needs to appeal to allies and other members of the broader community. A diversified customer base will help ensure that your café is sustainable in the long run.
Plan for lean times. Like any business, your café will likely experience slow periods. Whether it's the off-season or simply a lull in traffic, it’s important to have a financial cushion to keep the business afloat during lean times.
Finally, don’t forget about the importance of self-care. Running a socially-conscious business can be emotionally exhausting, and burnout is real. Make sure you have the personal and professional support you need to keep going.
Starting a queer-friendly café is more than just opening a business; it’s about building a community hub for LGBTQ+ individuals to feel safe, celebrated, and seen. While the process comes with unique challenges—especially balancing community engagement with financial realities—the rewards can be immense. From offering a sober social space to hosting queer events and employing diverse staff, your café can become a pivotal gathering place for those seeking connection in an increasingly divided world.
By following these brutally honest tips, you’ll be prepared to navigate the challenges and joys of opening a queer-friendly café, making your mark as both an entrepreneur and a community leader.
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