A new cafe to grab a sandwich, and maybe start a revolution, is opening in Camp Washington later this summer.
SWELL is an art cafe from the neighboring art center, Wave Pool. The cafe, to be located in a historic storefront at 2936 Colerain Ave., will serve as a third space and social club where guests can enjoy drinks, books, performances and conversation, all while helping the cafe raise funds to support the local art community.
“In our current social and political climate, there is a deep need for people to connect in real time and space, with live music, tactile reading materials and co-conspirators in a space that is lounge-like, but bursting with activity, and open to all. SWELL will be that space, the space that holds and nurtures our better selves in search of a better world,” the cafe said in a press release. “…the offerings will be accessible and comfortable, inviting to both the most radical creatives of our city and the blue-collar factory workers that are the soul of the neighborhood.”
SWELL says it will offer a small, rotating menu featuring simple, well-crafted and affordable food, as well as iced and hot coffee drinks; drafts, bottles and cans of beer; classic cocktails; and to-go food like salads and sandwiches. There will also be a curated selection of used books.
The space will be more than a cafe, however, as SWELL is planning regular programming and performances, like live music, art salons, conversational lectures, spoken word, poetry circles, burlesque and other “weird and wonderful artistic events and happenings.” It will also host “Book-ish,” a membership-based book club presented by Good Discovery(s) and aimed at igniting writers, readers and creatives around Cincinnati’s publishing and storytelling history and current culture, says the cafe.
SWELL will open to the public at the beginning of September, with a grand opening party planned for Saturday, Sept. 13 from 6-11 p.m. Once open, the cafe’s operating hours will be from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday.
SWELL, opening soon at 2936 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington. More info: swellartcafe.com.
This article appears in Jul 23 – Aug 5, 2025.
