A traditional Mexican family restaurant, and a welcoming LGBTQ hub

Café Ollín in New York's Harlem neighborhood has become a social media and community presence after a family member took the small restaurant in a new direction.

Nestled tightly in an unassuming street in New York City’s East Harlem, a small, family-owned Mexican restaurant and bakery has become known for its authentic dishes, but also as a welcoming community hub, especially for the LGBTQ community and for its outsize social media presence. 

“I noticed that my family had already created a very welcoming environment for the Latino community, the Mexican community, the immigrant community,” said Café Ollín co-owner Jonathan Perez, whose parents opened the restaurant. “But it was also very important for me to show my identity.”

Perez runs the marketing and business strategy for his family’s restaurant. He’s worked to create social media content that caters to both queer and Latinx communities. 

“I’m a queer business owner, and it was always really important for me to, like, showcase that through my social media,” Perez said. 

Jonathan Perez helping with orders by the register during the lunch rush at Ollín.NBC NewsThe restaurant has hosted queer singles’ nights, LGBTQ paint and sips and drag shows, providing a safe community space for all who enter. Perez said these events and the restaurant’s pride-filled social media presence has led to more LGBTQ customers coming to the restaurant, where they can feel a sense of belonging. 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/cafe-ollin-nyc-mexican-lgbtq-community-rcna175575

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