Daytime hub brings coffee, queer literature, and connection to the Short North
Columbus, OH — September 2025 — Stonewall Columbus has launched a new daytime gathering space at its Community Center (1160 N. High St.), welcoming Queer Beans Coffee & Tea and Little Gay Bookstore into an on-site cafe-bookshop designed for community, comfort, and visibility. The partners celebrated their grand opening on September 2, with weekday hours from 7:00AM – 3:00PM to start.
Co-owners Lauren Branch and Reese Steiner grew Little Gay Bookstore from a 2023 pop-up concept into a brick-and-mortar destination, while Queer Beans serves locally roasted coffee in collaboration with nonprofit Roosevelt Coffeehouse. Weekend hours are planned as the space scales.
“Creating daytime, sober, and welcoming space in the heart of the Short North is about more than coffee and books—it’s about belonging,” said Densil Porteous, Executive Director of Stonewall Columbus. “Partnering with Queer Beans and Little Gay Bookstore advances our mission and supports building community, visibility, and joy under one roof.”
“This partnership finally activates our cafe build-out into a vibrant community asset and lifts up local queer entrepreneurship,” said CJ Martin, Business Development Director at Stonewall Columbus. “It’s a win for our neighborhood, our partners, and the many folks who asked for a place to gather that wasn’t a bar.”
During opening day, co-owner Reese Steiner underscored the need for daytime, alcohol-free places: “Obviously there’s amazing queer bars in this area, but there’s really nowhere to hang out during the day.”
Patron Cory Strauss—a longtime supporter of the pop-ups—captured the excitement: “We’ve been waiting all summer for this to come open… Today’s actually my birthday. This is what I wanted to do.” WOSU Public Media
What’s inside
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Stonewall Cafe powered by Queer Beans: espresso, cold brew, teas and more; beans sourced via Roosevelt Coffeehouse. Columbus Underground
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Little Gay Bookstore: curated LGBTQ+ titles, gifts, and author-driven programming, evolving from a beloved pop-up to a permanent home.
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Hours: Monday – Friday, 7:00AM – 3:00PM; weekend expansion planned as operations grow.
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Workforce pathway: Partners plan to collaborate with Stonewall Columbus on workforce development opportunities for formerly incarcerated queer community members—aligning with Stonewall’s InsideOUT reentry support.
Follow: @StonewallColumbus · @LittleGayBookstore · @QueerBeansCoffee
About Stonewall Columbus
Founded in 1981, Stonewall Columbus is a 501(c)(3) organization advancing the well-being of LGBTQ+ people across Central Ohio through programs, services, community events, and the annual Stonewall Columbus Pride Festival & March. Learn more at stonewallcolumbus.org.
