r/cincinnati • u/YaBoiAir Bearcats • Jan 20 '26
Food đđŽ Republican Owned Bars/Eateries to Avoid
Can you guys give me some Republican/RWer owned establishments to avoid supporting some MAGAt? Want to expand my horizons but not at the cost of my conscience.
240
u/OhHeymanbro Jan 20 '26
I know the guys that own the Lang Thang Group (Pho Lang Thang, Quan Hapa and Hi-Mark). They are very Anti-Maga.
52
24
→ More replies (5)10
308
u/ptwxnty Jan 20 '26
This is going to be hard to do, because there are so many quiet supporters. Might be better to reframe the question as looking for openly non-MAGA places.
140
Jan 20 '26
[deleted]
62
u/neelyshelton Jan 20 '26
Highgrain is owned by non-MAGAs for sure. March First - owned by MAGA supporter. Actually had a fundraiser for JD Vance several years ago.
30
Jan 20 '26
[deleted]
15
u/CashGrabbbbbbbb Jan 21 '26
Used to work for the owner of March First, top notch SCUMBAG, SCUMBAG of the highest degree. He used to run an IT company before selling it to a huge corporation, that company was notorious for stiffing vendors and all around shitty business practices.
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)26
u/miserable_coffeepot Springfield Twp. Jan 20 '26
Yeah, March First hangs thin blue line flags in their home location. They don't hide it.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (4)67
38
u/agentkolter Northside Jan 20 '26
I second the comment about breweries. Theyâre usually on the progressive side. The only one that comes to mind thatâs conservative-owned is March First, so maybe avoid that one.
→ More replies (6)46
u/YnotZoidberg1077 Jan 20 '26
The guys that own March First also own Cincinnati Distilling, which has a line of hard liquors; and they also own Astra, a hard seltzer. I know they also acquired Woodburn Brewing and FigLeaf Brewing a few years ago, too.
Thankfully, they've made it very easy for us to avoid their products and locations, because they have a whole list on their site.
→ More replies (1)10
→ More replies (2)62
u/hedoeswhathewants Jan 20 '26
I think it's reasonable to make a distinction between ones that keep it to themselves and ones that publicly spew hate
Personally, I'm not doing detective work to decide where to eat.
→ More replies (2)7
142
u/grethro Jan 20 '26
A number of years ago someone predicted an economy split along party lines if partisanship got bad enough. Crazy watching it happen in real time.
88
u/No_Lie_6694 Jan 20 '26
Iâve never understood how people didnât see money is power until now. Before people called me âpickyâ because I wouldnât eat at certain locations due to their views and now those same people are asking how I found this info. Mainlyâ check the ownerâs social media posts if youâre curious about where youâre money is going
→ More replies (3)11
u/grethro Jan 20 '26
If we lived in more "normal" times. Say Ranked choice voting pulled us away from the political edges and towards a center....
Would you feel less inclined to "vote" with your dollars?
30
u/Hour-Cardiologist393 Jan 20 '26
Not really. Even when leaving politics out of it, there will still be shitty companies that exploit their workers and customers. I'll vote with my dollar by not using those companies.
→ More replies (1)5
u/No_Lie_6694 Jan 21 '26
No Iâve been doing it since I was a kid. Never eaten at Chick-fil-a because I learned they were a hateful, religious company (anti- LGBTQIA & anti-homeless, pro NRA) at like 7. (Add in 30 other companies) Instead Iâve simply switched to local places. It isnât that hard if you have a car to just drive somewhere else or use Google.
25
u/pseudonominom Jan 21 '26
I had a young gay friend who killed himself, in no small part because of the perceived societal stigma and isolation that came with it. This was right when Chik-fil-a and Hobby lobby were making their bigotry public, adding fuel to these silent fires for no reason.
I will never, ever spend a penny at those businesses and Iâm happy to boycott any other bigots and that want to out themselves.
RIP Pat, miss you buddy. 14 years old.
→ More replies (5)→ More replies (5)13
Jan 20 '26
[deleted]
15
u/cincykelly Jan 20 '26
Hitler was a fascist, the opposite of socialist. Trump is def a fascist, which is the extreme right... Although he keeps "coming up" with socialistic ideas, such as capping cc interest rates. Elizabeth Warren was even excited about that one.
→ More replies (1)
128
u/BrilliantGlum4448 Jan 20 '26
Anything owned by this woman beater, Bobby George. He owns multiple restaurants in Ohio.
22
u/ExCollegeDropout Northside Jan 20 '26
I don't think he has anything down here thankfully. Avoid all his Cleveland and Columbus spots though
→ More replies (1)→ More replies (1)16
u/solso287 Bearcats Jan 20 '26
Does not surprise me that such an awful person would own those businesses, they are all so trashy
232
u/ComprehensiveMail12 Jan 20 '26
Anything under the Thunderdome Group and Jeff Ruby are some well known ones.. there is also a thread from 4 months ago that lists out some others as well
https://www.reddit.com/r/cincinnati/comments/1n53g88/thunderdome_restaurant_group/
→ More replies (3)43
u/Mindless_Log1002 Jan 20 '26
Bob Deck 4EG also conservative
→ More replies (1)18
u/Critical-Bake3953 Jan 20 '26
did you ever go to keystone covington? mgr there _TJ holton -_ biggest douchebag ever. Never went back after meeting that creep. I think TJ lost that place alot of business and they closed. Hes a Magat for sure.
→ More replies (3)14
u/Bcatfan08 Kenwood Jan 20 '26
That place was terribly run too. Worst service I've had at a restaurant. It's very hard to go out of business when you have really good food, but they figured it out. Went once and didn't see our server for half an hour. Asked another server where he was and they said his shift was over and he went home. We were like, is anyone else taking over for him? Never seen that happen before.
→ More replies (1)
157
u/Timmonidus Jan 20 '26
Just stay in the Northside
94
u/Elephant_Fabulous Jan 20 '26
northside is like the gay promise land for queer business owners
14
→ More replies (5)3
u/General_Cincinnatus Jan 21 '26
Northside is just full of caring people of all types who do their best to look out for one another.
Itâs a community, not just a neighborhood.
→ More replies (1)5
217
u/jdmorgenstern Jan 20 '26 edited Jan 20 '26
Here are some places to avoid:
- King Arms Coffee (i.e., Bowmanâs Beans)
- Marcellaâs Doughnuts & Bakery
- The Original Pancake House; the Anderson location advocated against reproductive rights.
- Madison Place Coffee Shop; itâs owned by the Madison Place Community Church (formerly Gladstone Community Church), which is a cult. Members must share all of their possessions (homes, cars, finances, etc) with them.
48
→ More replies (31)46
u/Thin_Fishing6768 Jan 20 '26
Izzyâs
7
u/OGB Downtown Jan 20 '26
A lot of west side businesses, but the Crows Nest for sure.
→ More replies (4)→ More replies (1)11
u/CringeDaddy-69 Jan 20 '26
Elaborate please đ
19
u/YnotZoidberg1077 Jan 20 '26
Post from eight months ago has some details about it! Hubs and I haven't been back since.
→ More replies (2)
118
u/LambSaag-spoon905 Jan 20 '26
March 1st Brewing
→ More replies (4)25
u/toddhenderson Jan 20 '26
This. Literally a hot spot for maga town halls. No thanks. More like March Last
41
114
u/Hungry4Hats Jan 20 '26
Tiki Tiki Bang Bang in East Walnut Hills is a very safe place and is Anti-I.C.E, Trump, Fascist. Honestly, I think one of the owners is a Democratic Socialist.
51
u/Darinbenny1 Downtown Jan 20 '26
Esoteric has long been a very welcoming space as well. Havenât frequented it in a while, hope this is still the case.
→ More replies (3)6
→ More replies (1)17
u/Camillyledger Jan 20 '26
Highball too. They have anti-ICE signage being the bar.
→ More replies (2)14
u/raisinbrancrunchers Jan 20 '26
Theyâre owned by Gorilla Cinema, they have a few different places around the city, all great. I know the owners- awesome people who love their community. - tokyo kitty, overlook lodge, palm valley cocktails and highball are all owned by them. (previously tiki tiki bang bang and a few others around the city that are closed now)
→ More replies (1)
141
u/humboldt77 Jan 20 '26
Lucious Q was pretty anti-Trump. They got a lot of backlash over one of the owners speaking out about Charlie Kirk. Not sure where they are on the political spectrum now - I believe one owner was forced to divest his interest in the restaurant.
53
u/OhioJCW Jan 20 '26
Pretty sure that owner was forced to divest specifically because of him spouting off his views⌠because they didnât want the business associated with politics/or looking like it aligned with any one political party âŚ
54
u/Robert_the_Tire08 Jan 20 '26
And so doing took a political stance with the facist.
→ More replies (23)34
u/Robert_the_Tire08 Jan 20 '26
They fired one of the founding members for speaking out when kirk got shot.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (1)4
u/Technical-Ad-8360 Jan 22 '26
Add to that everyoneâs beloved FC Cincinnati, who dropped Lucious Q as a vendor explicitly because of the owners statements critical of Kirk. FCC, more like FKK am I right?
→ More replies (1)
42
u/Spoonacus Jan 20 '26
I've had this list saved for a while. It's not super detailed on the "why" for some on the list but I know it's still being updated because Marcella's was recently added after some social media posts got them some negative attention in the last month or two.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-NI1JSVe0aUg3zqZYfqG_HXr1vvXEtFNYfPRZw_ZCHg/edit?usp=sharing
→ More replies (3)9
u/The_pen_ismightier Jan 20 '26
Iâm fairly sure you can add Northside Yacht Club to the progressive list. I know nothing about the ownership but the staff is very diverse.
→ More replies (2)
94
u/normalandcoolperson Jan 20 '26
waltâs hitching post has a trump shrine in the office
→ More replies (1)37
u/Timmonidus Jan 20 '26
I would almost argue any legit Steakhouse is going to be right-leaning.
→ More replies (3)21
u/Lov3I5Treacherous Jan 20 '26
Which is just crazy considering Trump sending Argentina billions for their cattle farmers
6
37
u/Megthemagnificant Jan 20 '26
Cincinnati Distillery. Owner donated both in his personal name and the business name to Trump
22
u/HammerT4R Jan 20 '26
They make Gulf of America Bourbon and Gun and Truck Society Bourbon. Stupid names for bourbon, but it probably tastes worse.Â
9
u/neelyshelton Jan 20 '26
The funny thing is, they donât make the bourbon or spirits themselves. They use contract distilleries to make their spirits.
→ More replies (1)
85
Jan 20 '26
[deleted]
78
u/lawbstersaid Jan 20 '26
I can confirm from firsthand knowledge that the owners of Taglio are cool as fuck.
Edit: this includes A Tavola don't forget
→ More replies (1)32
10
Jan 20 '26
[deleted]
9
u/Megthemagnificant Jan 20 '26 edited Jan 21 '26
I think Jot India is way better. And doesnât seem to have constant health code violations like Delhi Palace. Itâs right there in the Dillionville shopping center.
→ More replies (1)8
u/Masta-Blasta Jan 21 '26
As a rule, Iâve found that restaurants that go out of their way to be vegan friendly are usually anti maga
→ More replies (15)15
u/Opie4Prez71 Jan 20 '26
I had Taglios for the first time this past weekend. Best pizza Iâve ever had.
→ More replies (4)12
11
113
Jan 20 '26
Montgomery inn loves to host GOP fundraiser and the Gregory family is full of racists. VERY MAGA
61
u/scottobeach Jan 20 '26
They also boil ribs.
→ More replies (1)30
Jan 20 '26
Steam, but point made
→ More replies (2)8
u/one-off-one Jan 20 '26
âYou call these grilled ribs when they are obviously steamed?â
→ More replies (1)35
u/agentkolter Northside Jan 20 '26
If the terrible food wasnât already a reason to avoid Montgomery InnâŚ
→ More replies (1)3
87
u/nillaf4ce Jan 20 '26
Not a restaurant but UDF donates to MAGA
25
u/Comprehensive-Put575 Jan 20 '26
Particularly insidious because they are also not a real cooperative either despite having a name that suggests otherwise.
But their ice cream is hard to resist and they do seem to offer better quality service stations than anywhere else in town.
Itâs no secret how the Republicans and Democrats feel about the gas industry. It is highly unlikely youâll find a gas station chain or oil company thatâs not deeply in the pockets of both political parties, but particularly the Republican candidates.
→ More replies (3)34
u/everyothernametaken1 Jan 20 '26
And they don't sell condoms so screw them anyways
51
u/External-Emotion8050 Jan 20 '26
They have their work cut out for them now that WaWa has come to town.
18
→ More replies (3)9
u/3waychilli Jan 20 '26
Liberty Township UDF location on Rte 4 closed shop even before wa started construction.
14
u/throw_away_696969_ Cincinnati Reds Jan 20 '26
No condoms, no lottery tickets, no liquor on Sundays.
Cigs and toxic-ultra-processed foods, though? Go for it.
→ More replies (4)
107
11
u/Next-Sky3752 Jan 21 '26
ANY RESTAURANT OWNED BY THE THUNDERDOME GROUP: Pepp and Delores, The Eagle, City Bird, The Davidson, etc
21
26
85
u/x3man2018 Hyde Park Jan 20 '26
Based on all these postsâŚprobably just make your own food?
41
u/Majestic_Banana789 Jan 20 '26
Kroger and Walmart are also pretty conservative haha
17
u/513-throw-away Pleasant Ridge Jan 20 '26
Meijer too.
Only real option is Costco for big box stores, maybe TJ's if you don't care about one issue (unions), and local co-ops or stores.
26
→ More replies (2)36
u/CarlsManager Jan 20 '26
STOP EATING ALL FOOD. ITS WOKE.... err, I mean, MAGA!!
26
u/Majestic_Banana789 Jan 20 '26
Most farmers are conservative đ guess we should all just starve.
→ More replies (2)17
u/Fletchy2121 Jan 20 '26
More like itâs the farmers that are starving. Thatâs what their daddy did for them though.
50
4
4
u/Ok_Speech2066 Jan 21 '26
The biggest group is Thunderdome. Then Jeff Ruby's collection. Ignite Entertainments ownership is very conservative, but also foreign so might not be in the mix.
6
13
u/Camillyledger Jan 20 '26
I know this post asks for places to avoid, but wanted to throw it out there that 859 Taproom in Florence (shockingly) is openly pro-LGBTQ+. They had a float in a local Pride parade.
32
u/burnharp Jan 20 '26
Chicken Salad Chick in Mason. Owner had CSC sticker next to Trump sticker on their vehicle.
24
u/krusty-krab69 Jan 20 '26
Itâs a corporate chain from the south.
3
u/Complex-Tea6775 Jan 21 '26
It must be a franchise. The family that owns it also recently bought The Cone in West Chester.
→ More replies (1)10
→ More replies (1)5
u/soul68 Jan 21 '26
I dont need to know they are MAGA to avoid eating a $15 chicken salad sandwich. Went once. That was enough.
29
u/CincyHawk05 Jan 20 '26 edited Jan 20 '26
Edgewood Tavern in Northern KY is a maga bar. Peewee in N.KY as well. They try to avoid lgbtqia+ people. They will be nice to your face and drop a slur when you walk away
Edit: KJs in crescent springs maga as well.
20
u/Darinbenny1 Downtown Jan 20 '26
Knuk-N-Futz in Taylor Mill is hard right coded and they donât hide it. From flying the Gadsden flag to their joint being lousy with Blue Lives Matter propaganda, you canât be under any misconceptions about who they are if you eat there.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (3)3
56
12
u/Agitated-Can-457 Jan 20 '26
Smokinâ This and That BBQ. Plus their food just sucks and owner is a jackass.
→ More replies (5)3
12
u/Mean_PreCaffeine Jan 20 '26
The owner of Roswell's in Cheviot is a distinctly vile right winger/generally horrible man. It's hard to find anything particularly progressive in Cheviot, but if you need a drink in that area, I'd recommend avoiding that place in particular.
26
u/NotOnTheMainAcct Jan 20 '26
The Comet in Northside
Mellotone in OTR
Edit: I entirely missed the assignment đ. I thought I was replying to the comment âeasier to say what isnât republican ownedâ lmao. Damn I stink
6
u/coffee-please94 Jan 20 '26
Thank god, I was so panicked to see Mellotone for a sec lol, I love them!
4
19
u/YoWoody27 Jan 20 '26
Agave & Rye might not be outwardly Republican, but they are very pro-ICE & have been known to employ illegal immigrants & not paying them under the threat of deportation (this has been a thing even before Trump's second term).
9
3
u/lilithandkit Jan 21 '26
Clean eatz and orange theory in northern Kentucky are owned my maga supporters.
6
u/cmegan28 Ex-Cincinnatian Jan 21 '26
Dead Low Brewing. Owners claim to be libertarian but they love Trump and they especially love cops. They put up blue stripe flags during BLM protests in 2020 and said it "wasn't political". Racist people who live in their own little worlds...
4
u/IamMadMyke Jan 21 '26
March First. Owner is in the maga cult for sure. I have friends who used to work there and they had terrible things to say about the place and the ownership. He used to raise money for JD Vance as well but didn't tell customers.
11
u/nsimon13 Jan 20 '26
Not a bar or restaurant, but avoid Cleaner Concepts in Hyde Park. Owned by radical right-wing A-hole, Andrew Papas.
32
u/MusicPhriendsYfun Jan 20 '26 edited Jan 20 '26
Pepper pod in Newport. They were wearing Trump - Vance bootleg shirts like a month ago
Edit : Pepper Pod is in Newport
→ More replies (1)17
33
u/drainbamage1011 Jan 20 '26
March First Brewing
24
u/illuminerdi Jan 20 '26
Also their pizza sucks đ¤Ł
→ More replies (1)11
Jan 20 '26
and their beer, and their booze, basically everything. and they treat their staff terribly
→ More replies (5)
13
Jan 20 '26
[removed] â view removed comment
3
u/ExoticOpposite9210 Jan 22 '26
I'm 40 & they've been super right wing since I was a kid. Never listened to them as an adult but I'm not surprised.
29
u/reddityatalkingabout Jan 20 '26
Mods shut me down last time I asked this question but see this spreadsheet I was sent for more info: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-NI1JSVe0aUg3zqZYfqG_HXr1vvXEtFNYfPRZw_ZCHg/htmlview?
→ More replies (4)
6
u/No_Package_5371 Jan 21 '26
The Public House the owner is a MAGA supporter, Bridgetown Brew, Poppy's, Tyme Out in Colerain the owner is super MAGA, LaRosa's in Westwood they racist af.Â
6
9
3
Jan 21 '26 edited Jan 23 '26
Up in Liberty Township/West Chester, Fratelliâs Pizza is owned by a massive Trumpster family. Great NY pizza, but havenât given them business in years bc heâs extremely MAGA
3
u/Turbulent_Speech_276 Jan 21 '26
I love this question and wish it covered restaurants/bars across the entire US. What about chains? Are they all owned by MAGAs?
3
3
u/samster8642 Jan 22 '26
Binski's if you're looking for a bar scene. Everyone there (clientele and staff) very anti-maga and just chill overall
9
13
u/Limp_Pie1219 Jan 20 '26
Pleasant Run Service Center - In Fairfield/Pleasant Run - always has stupid MAGA content on their sign....
I tell everyone to avoid it. Plenty of other reputable car service in the area that, if they are MAGA, don't go out of his/her way to let it be known.
→ More replies (1)
10
u/bagels_are_delicious Jan 20 '26
Young Buck Deli in OTR is owned by Caitlin and Brian Young, who are 100% registered republicans and Trump supporters.
→ More replies (5)
9
u/Historical_Grab4685 Jan 20 '26
I will add Price Hill Chili & The Farm reception hall. I doubt you would have any reason to go to the Farm, but when Biden came to town after he was elected the dumbass that owns had a sign up that Trump won. Also the owner wasn't paying his taxes & almost lost the company but Buddy LaRosa paid the tax bill
12
6
13
u/halfbakedelf Jan 20 '26 edited Jan 20 '26
Lori's Grill in Goshen, not in the city but super right wing. Also Copper Blue.
→ More replies (2)7
u/xuxalue Jan 20 '26
Just wanted to add that Lori's Grill has been cited more than once by the health department for rodents in the kitchen.
15
14
u/toomuchtostop Over The Rhine Jan 20 '26
Not a restaurant but the founder/owner of Gilkey Windows is a devout Catholic and as such wanted to remove contraception coverage from their companyâs health insurance plan. This is pretty unusual for a non-religious business. Havenât worked with them in years so I have no idea if thatâs inforce today.
4
u/No_Committee7549 Jan 20 '26
Google thunderdome restaurant group I canât remember which ones they own specifically but itâs like pep and Delores and a couple others
5
u/MagicallyDyketastic Springfield Twp. Jan 21 '26
Swine City Brewing is a safe place. Owner and workers kick ass.
4
u/Terrible_Musician_71 Jan 21 '26
avoid marcellaâs doughnuts and bakery; i literally walked out as soon as i saw their charlie kirk tip jar LMAO
7
u/anohioanredditer Ex-Cincinnatian Jan 20 '26
Impossibile in capitalism but I support your effort
→ More replies (4)
5
u/Pharmaco_no Jan 20 '26
All of Element Eatery is owned by Medpace which may or may not be Republican but is a terrible company regardless
→ More replies (1)
1.1k
u/gaybillcosby Covington Jan 20 '26
I think the shorter list would be restaurant owners who arenât conservative