Val’s Lesbian Bar will open its doors this spring after two years of development and fundraising.<\/p>\n
The new venue is moving into 605 S. Third St, just two blocks from the queer-owned women’s sports bar Marsha’s<\/a>. When it opens, it will be the sole lesbian bar in the city, which has not had one since 2021.<\/p>\n MORE:\u00a0Streetscape upgrades on South Broad Street’s Avenue of the Arts set to begin this month<\/a><\/p>\n Val’s owners Julia Harris and Clover Gilfor have been trying to open a lesbian bar since early 2024<\/a>, seeking to fill the void left by the closure of the Toasted Walnut, the city’s first lesbian bar, nearly five years ago.\u00a0<\/p>\n The couple hosted several fundraisers to meet their goal, and now have secured a lease after previous locations fell through.\u00a0Val’s will begin operations with $15,000 in crowdfunding. Its owners say this will cover most of their first month of rent and security deposit.<\/p>\n “The costs of starting a new bar are huge, and this is an important chunk,” the venue’s management wrote on Instagram<\/a>. “Val’s is opening because of you.”<\/p>\n The bar will take over the space from\u00a0Reef Restaurant & Lounge. The Caribbean restaurant had been at that location for the past 22 years.<\/p>\n “As the time comes for us to close our doors, we do so with full hearts and deep gratitude,” its staff wrote on Instagram<\/a>. “Every visit, every conversation and every shared moment has meant more to us than we can express.”<\/p>\n According to the Lesbian Bar Project, there are only 36 lesbian bars<\/a> in the U.S. Val’s will be the only one in Pennsylvania. New Jersey does not have any.<\/p>\n Follow Kristin & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @kristin_hunt
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