In honor of Pride Month, Oakwood Management Company would like to celebrate and highlight a few LGBTQ-owned businesses that you can check out in the Columbus area. According to Gallup, Columbus is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the nation for the percentage of adults who identify as LGTBQ. Diversity makes our community thrive, and we are very thankful for all of these outstanding businesses and their hardworking owners. Check out our list below:
Bake Me Happy is an entirely gluten-free bakery that got started with a personal intolerance to gluten within the owner’s family that necessitated a change in diet. They are committed to making sure that people without a “not-quite-mainstream” diet can enjoy food just as delicious as every other food. For them, it’s not enough to make food that is just passable as gluten-free substitutes. They strive to ensure their food is something that everyone will enjoy. “We love spreading the love, and we’ll always go the extra mile to bring people together and make them feel special.”
106 E Moler St Columbus, OH 43207
Barcelona is a premier Spanish restaurant and bar located in a building that is over 100 years old. The owners strive to maintain the tradition and history of the building itself, for they believe “the building is so visual, it is part of the dining experience.” In addition, Barcelona also has won the vote for “Best Patio in Columbus” and has been named a “Top Ten Restaurant” by the Columbus Dispatch. The Executive Chef and his staff serve a weekly changing lineup of the best in meats, seafood, and produce. Barcelona consistently brings both outstanding and memorable cuisine, service, and atmosphere to its patrons.
263 E Whittier St Columbus, OH 43206
Heartfelt Yoga Studio is located in the heart of the Short North district and is centered around the idea of “inclusion being the norm as opposed to the exception.” They offer a wide variety of yoga teachings, honoring all limbs of yoga and recognizing the importance of appreciating the roots of this practice back in India, South Asia, and Africa. Between the diversity of their classes and their amazing cast of instructors, Heartfelt has created a space where you can practice yoga that’s authentically you!
29 E 5th Ave Suite 100 Columbus, OH 43201
The Kitchen is not a traditional restaurant; you don’t just walk in and order a meal. Instead, they offer a “Participatory Dining Experience” that you can reserve. You can think of it kind of like a cooking class…but much, much more! This is an opportunity to create memories as you engage in a collaborative and memorable evening of creating a beautiful meal with your party. It is perfect for team building, birthdays, parties, or simply a fun night out with friends! They also feature a weekly Taco Tuesday public dining pop-up, which features rotating partners and menu themes.
231 E Livingston Ave Columbus, OH 43215
Out of the Closet is a thrift store located in the Short North district selling clothing, books & housewares. When you shop here, you are directly helping people living with HIV and AIDS. 96 cents of every dollar collected at the store directly funds AIDS Healthcare Foundation's HIV/AIDS programs and their new housing services. In addition, you are helping to fund an on-site pharmacy that offers free HIV testing. They are always accepting donations, so think of Out of the Closet next time you have a few items to donate!
1230 N High St Columbus, OH 43201
Plenty O’Cookies is owned by Alex, a self-taught baker and decorator living in Columbus. The name actually stems from Alex’s drag queen name—“You can call me Alex by day and Plenty ‘O Smiles by night.” Alex was nothing but a boy with a rolling pin, a mouth full of raw cookie dough, and a dream. Now, that dream is coming true with Plenty O’Cookies! “Join me for this cookie revolution. They may look great, but they taste even better.”
Derived from the Spanish word "querencia", which is a place where one feels safe and is able to be their most authentic self, Queerencia is an LGBTQ+ lifestyle brand that aims to be that for the queer community by empowering all people within it to embrace their true identity and express themselves boldly and proudly. By selling items like shirts, blankets, phone cases, mugs, and more, Queerencia strives to better educate, influence, and encourage all types of queer people and allies of the community.
1391 W 5th Ave Suite 388 Columbus, OH 43212
Last, but certainly not least, Union Cafe is by far one of Columbus’ most popular neighborhood cafes and cocktail lounges. Serving the community since 1996, it features an amazing patio, friendly staff, extensive cocktail menu, and modern American cuisine. Union Cafe is also a full video cafe, so you can enjoy your favorite music videos, sports game, and more while you drink and dine. If you’re lucky, you may even catch one of their famous drag performances!
782 N High St Columbus, OH 43215
*All information gathered from company websites. If you have any other businesses that can be added to our list, please shoot an email to [email protected]