Val's Lesbian Bar to Take Over 605 S. Third St., Bringing Much-Needed Space for Queer Community this Spring.
After two years of tireless fundraising and development, Val's Lesbian Bar is set to open its doors at 605 S. Third St. in Queen Village later this spring. The highly anticipated venue will occupy the former space of Reef Restaurant & Lounge, which has been a staple in the Caribbean community for over 22 years.
This new addition is significant as it marks the return of a lesbian bar to Philadelphia, an event that has been long overdue. Since the Toasted Walnut closed its doors nearly five years ago, there was a void left by the lack of a dedicated space catering to the LGBTQ+ community. Val's takes on this responsibility with Julia Harris and Clover Gilfor at the helm.
The couple has been working towards this goal since early 2024, hosting numerous fundraisers and securing a lease after previous locations fell through. To aid in their financial endeavors, $15,000 of crowdfunding has been secured to cover the first month's rent and security deposit.
Val's management expressed gratitude for the support from its followers on Instagram, stating that this amount "is an important chunk" towards covering the costs associated with opening a new bar. As for the Caribbean restaurant departing the location, they shared their appreciation through an emotional farewell message, expressing deep gratitude for every moment spent at 605 S. Third St.
Val's holds special significance as it marks a milestone in the quest to preserve and promote LGBTQ+ spaces across the country. With only 36 lesbian bars nationwide – none of which are located in New Jersey or Pennsylvania until now – Val's is poised to become a beacon for queer individuals seeking community and acceptance.
PhillyVoice will be keeping tabs on this exciting development, as Val's Lesbian Bar promises to bring a vibrant atmosphere filled with love, support, and inclusivity.
After two years of tireless fundraising and development, Val's Lesbian Bar is set to open its doors at 605 S. Third St. in Queen Village later this spring. The highly anticipated venue will occupy the former space of Reef Restaurant & Lounge, which has been a staple in the Caribbean community for over 22 years.
This new addition is significant as it marks the return of a lesbian bar to Philadelphia, an event that has been long overdue. Since the Toasted Walnut closed its doors nearly five years ago, there was a void left by the lack of a dedicated space catering to the LGBTQ+ community. Val's takes on this responsibility with Julia Harris and Clover Gilfor at the helm.
The couple has been working towards this goal since early 2024, hosting numerous fundraisers and securing a lease after previous locations fell through. To aid in their financial endeavors, $15,000 of crowdfunding has been secured to cover the first month's rent and security deposit.
Val's management expressed gratitude for the support from its followers on Instagram, stating that this amount "is an important chunk" towards covering the costs associated with opening a new bar. As for the Caribbean restaurant departing the location, they shared their appreciation through an emotional farewell message, expressing deep gratitude for every moment spent at 605 S. Third St.
Val's holds special significance as it marks a milestone in the quest to preserve and promote LGBTQ+ spaces across the country. With only 36 lesbian bars nationwide – none of which are located in New Jersey or Pennsylvania until now – Val's is poised to become a beacon for queer individuals seeking community and acceptance.
PhillyVoice will be keeping tabs on this exciting development, as Val's Lesbian Bar promises to bring a vibrant atmosphere filled with love, support, and inclusivity.
. two years of hard work by julia & clover has really paid off, and $15k from crowdfunding is amazing 
. i'm so down for val's to bring that vibe of love and acceptance to queen village 
. it's a big deal that this bar is helping fill the void left by toasted walnut 
. and with only 36 lesbian bars in the country, val's is like, super important 
. can't wait to see what the future holds for this place 
Finally, someone is doing something about the lack of spaces for us. I've been going to other cities for events and it's always so much more fun when you have that one safe space to let loose. This place is gonna be lit 
, can't wait to try it out!
. Two years of fundraising is no joke, but it'll be worth it to see all those smiles on people's faces when they walk through that door 
. Julia and Clover are doing an amazing job, and I love how they're involving their followers with crowdfunding – it's a beautiful way to build a community 
. Let's make sure to give Val's the support they need to thrive! 
The fact that Julia and Clover have been working tirelessly to make this happen is really inspiring - all those fundraisers and crowdfunding efforts must've taken a toll on them! 
It's also nice to see the Caribbean community gettin' recognition for their support, even if they're movin' out. I'm def lookin' forward to checkin' out Val's when it opens - should be a real game-changer for queer folks in Philly 
I'm not sure how long it'll last... two years of fundraising is a pretty short timeline for a business like that. And $15k from crowdfunding isn't exactly a lot, considering the costs involved in opening a bar. But I guess it's better than nothing. Still, 36 lesbian bars nationwide? That sounds like a small community to me. Is it just gonna be a bunch of hipsters and queers who feel entitled to this space? And what about the safety aspect? It's not like Philly is exactly known for its LGBTQ+ friendly vibe...
I'm so stoked to hear about the comeback of Val's Lesbian Bar 
. 36 lesbian bars in the US is still super low, btw 
, but I'm hyped that Philly is stepping up to provide a safe haven 
#ValLesbiansBar #LGBTQCommunityFirst #PhillyPride #QueerLove
! And it's about time we had one in Philly, especially since Toasted Walnut closed down... that was a major loss 
. But Val's is gonna bring the vibes and create a safe space for everyone to feel welcome 