Selfie Cincy, a selfie museum and creative hub that debuted in 2023, will host its grand reopening on Saturday at 1338 Main Street near Ziegler Park in Over-the-Rhine (OTR), moving from its previous location down the street.
“A picture is worth 1,000 words, but a selfie is worth 1 million,” Selfie Cincy owner Amari Samya said. “Everything is on social media now. I like to say there’s about 92 million people that take selfies each and every day.”
Selfie Cincy’s move from 1316 Main Street came after seeing growth from her business and outgrowing the space during her first year and a half of operations.
The new location will have three different offerings: a private photo suite, a dedicated podcast studio and a content hub filled with themed selfie installations, ranging from a giant lip arch to an oversized bag of Grippo’s potato chips.
“Having three different offerings and being a creative hub for entrepreneurs, small businesses, content creators, families, communities — so being able to have those offerings, is important and very lucrative to us as a small business,” Samya said.
Samaya said the space was a wonderful testing ground for her selfie museum concept.
“It is about the moments that people capture when they first walk through our doors,” the owner said.
The first location was about half the size of the new location. Now, with 2,000 square feet to play with, guests will be able to offer more immersive experiences to discover the art of the selfie.
The space will also introduce upgraded technology, including virtual reality and augmented reality experiences, creating immersive, future-forward storytelling that elevates the concept far beyond a traditional selfie museum.
The new studio in Over-the-Rhine will have a number of colorful sets and installations that make an easy backdrop for everything from casual outings with friends to birthdays, date nights and professional photo shoots.
Photo shoots are bookable in 30-minute increments, while the podcast room can be booked from one to eight hours at a time. Private events and corporate rentals are also available.
The storefront is leased from Cincinnati Center City Development Corp. (3CDC).
“Our relationship with Amari began in 2023 with a short-term lease for one of our smaller spaces,” said Christy Samad, executive vice president of civic & commercial space activation for 3CDC. “Her decision to sign a long-term lease for a much larger location underscores both her commitment and the strength of her concept. It’s inspiring to see how much Selfie Cincy has grown and evolved in just a few years.”
Samya is a Cincinnati native who said she was honored to join the city’s creative neighborhoods. She said she appreciates the murals and the developing art scene.
“I just really want to reiterate our excitement for where Cincinnati is headed,” she said.
Selfie Cincy’s grand reopening celebration will take place Saturday from 3-6 p.m., featuring DJ Evan Almighty, light bites from Taste of Boujie Cincy, McCormick & Schmick’s and Macaron Bar. There will also be giveaways from Alani Nutrition and King Me Water. Guests are invited to explore the new studio and photo sets. The first 25 attendees will also receive an exclusive swag bag.
Tickets for the event are available through the Selfie Cincy website.