CINCINNATI — It came up, only briefly, in infrequent conversation.
When Means Cameron mentioned to his landlord – a owners of a building where he operates his branded attire association BlaCkOWned – that he would like to open a coffee emporium one day, it was only tiny talk.
That pronounce became a lot some-more genuine once a sell space subsequent to BlaCkOWned, during 824 Elm St., became vacant. Two years and dual months later, BlaCk Coffee Lounge was born.
The coffee shop, that non-stop in July, is desirous by and celebrates travel and hip-hop culture, a vibe reflected by a song and décor – that plays off all-black walls – and even on a menu.
Cameron wanted it to be a place where everyone, regardless of race, was gentle and could applaud community.
“I’ve been into coffee for years. we got bending on Starbucks by someone else. But we never felt during home sitting in a Starbucks,” Cameron said. “I never felt during home sitting in any coffee emporium in Cincinnati. Cincinnati has unequivocally good coffee. we contend that roughly all a time. We unequivocally do. We’re lucky. But nothing of a shops pronounce to a enlightenment that we grew adult in. We indispensable a space that feels abounding in black culture, though finished right, so that everybody can conclude it. And that’s how we came to this.”
Expectations are high, and Cameron knows it. BlaCk Coffee, that sits during a dilemma of West Ninth Street and Elm, isn’t accurately in a splash desert. Coffee Emporium is only around a corner. And a new Downtown Kroger came finish with a possess Starbucks walk-up window.
But Means
.
He was sold about everything, from a mugs to how his baristas trained. The menu itself is anchored by a tradition residence blend, an African-inspired brew that’s 50% Colombian, 25% Rwandan and 25% Ethiopian. The best seller is a Swirl, a caramel and dim chocolate latte.
Tea, both brewed and bagged, is from Teas With Meaning, combined by an Ohio native.
BlaCk Coffee also sells cold-pressed juices, that can be plucked from a cooler right subsequent to a counter, done by Cincinnati-based Matunda Juicery, and sandwiches like duck salad and veggie. Pastries are also done locally.
“We knew what we were adult against,” pronounced Cameron, a local of a West End and a Miami University graduate. “We knew we had to come in with a best. In a lot of cases, we’re someone’s initial stop. You arise up, we might have a crappy morning, though when we travel in here, we have a event to change things.”
On a village end, BlaCk Coffee hosts events, a register that Cameron hopes to grow. The sold thesis rotates though includes open mics and communication readings and workshops on mental health.
“We wish this to be a protected space,” he said. “That’s something that was indispensable as well.”
He’s deliberation opening on Sundays, a pierce contingent on staffing. Right now, hours are 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday.
So far, trade has met expectations. Cameron believes it’s a initial black-owned coffee emporium Downtown.
“I feel closer to a village that I’m in,” he said. “We indispensable a possess coffee shop.”
But even bigger than that, a village indispensable a space like this, he said.
“We have regulars, and they let us know, ‘I come all a approach from College Hill only to get coffee here.’ And to know someone would pass adult 30 opportunities to get coffee only to get coffee here – it’s special.”
@_LizEngel