Help Lover's Lair Keep Their Doors Open

Lovers lair go fund me

[WHO and WHAT we are]

For over 20 years Lover's Lair has been a notable and steadfast organization and facility, playing a key role in creating a safespace founded on inclusivity by conveying respect for and sensitivity to the differences among people. With the dedication and loyalty of the facility's owner and staff, Lover's Lair has created a safe haven where all feel welcome. This concept is centered around respecting the diversity of the community, using gender-neutral language, prioritizing person-first mentality and addressing a community member's questions or providing them with information, the owner took great pride in highlighting the fact that there is more to a person than their descriptors. Instead of proclaiming to 'provide services for marginalized members of the community', she instead created a space for members of the community who have been marginalized. With the large influx of constant and everchanging new people joining the community, Lover's Lair identified the need for updated and current information to be made available. The owner has been at the helm of the facility; providing instruction, mentorship, guidance, counseling and education to all who inquired or entered it's doors. Lover's Lair has hosted a milieu of workshops, classes and tutorials in an effort to better inform and educate the community at large.

[WHAT we've done]

Lover's Lair has been there in support of the community and its members since its inception, recognizing and ensuring that as times changed, so did the information and services available change. The facility stays informed about current events, ensuring that the information and experience of their two decades of service, remains accessible to all. Despite multiple financial and medical hardships throughout the years, they have continued to offer services, provide a safespace, and ensure that the doors never closed. Even amidst the recent pandemic, the owner of Lover's Lair never closed their doors. Any time that someone or another facility or organization inquired about support, Lover's Lair was quick to offer their time and energy, financial and material donations in support of their cause. So many people over the years have turned to Lover's Lair for help and have reaped the benefits of doing so. Lover's Lair consistently held events on a monthly basis, notably the only venue doing so without requiring a cover charge.

[WHAT has happened]

After over two decades of residing in the same building, maintaining a successful business and being accepted by its neighbors and the public at large, Lover's Lair was recently given 30 days' notice that their building was being demolished and they would have to move. With the new lightrail being constructed, the facility was aware that the property owners were contemplating selling, but at no time were they given a timeline. Given the nature of business that Lover's Lair is in, there have been many roadblocks to this move. The majority of surrounding communities do not understand the lifestyle, or the delicate nature of public opinion and it's weight when determining a new rental space. While they weren't given a timeline, the owner was still doing their due diligence in researching and surveying alternate locations but were hard-pressed to identify anything comparable to the tenure they enjoyed having been tenants for over 20 years. Many prospective property management companies learned of the nature of the business and refused tenancy to Lover's Lair. Despite the hardships, and all the roadblocks, especially the extremely limited timeline of 30 days, the facility has successfully located an alternate location for the business to move to, but is in dire need of the community's help. This comes at a time when the facility is still recovering from the substantial financial loss credited to the pandemic. Like most businesses, the facility struggled and came close to closing its doors as a result. In the end, the owner and staff rallied together, along with supporters, and persevered through the re-entry into society following the end of the pandemic.

[WHY we need help]

At this time, Lover's Lair and facility are looking for support from their community. While this move is putting undue stress and financial hardship on its owner, staff and supporters, they are insistent that the business remain open and operational. A combination between stubbornness and/ or pride, has kept the facility from asking for help in the past; they have maintained successful operation of the business independent of public or personal assistance from others. At this time, Lover's Lair is currently seeking financial assistance to facilitate this move. The costs include but are not limited to the following: paying first, last and deposit for the new space, while still maintaining rental costs for the space the store is currently in (basically paying rent on two spaces for the same period of time), utilities costs, rental costs for a moving truck, permit costs, advertisement (signs/ banners etc.) costs, promotional/ marketing costs, expansion costs, expanding product line costs, materials and labors costs and last but not least, offset of covering the loss of income during store closure during the move. This will be the first time Lover's Lair has closed its doors.

Lover's Lair is one of a kind; they have been tending to the needs and desires of the community, for more than 20 years. They are now in desperate need of your help. Please give what you can, to help keep the lights on.