couchdate, a hub for Black and brown creatives to enjoy events, needs your help

couchdate is a hub for black and brown creatives to enjoy events like live shows and vinyl listening parties. The lease with the current owner ends in three months leaving the business in limbo. Leaders of ‘couchdate’ have started a GoFundMe to find a new space.

“This fundraising effort is not just about growing our business but stabilizing downtown Oakland. It’s about showing that brown and black businesses have a chance,” the fundraiser reads.

About couchdate

couchdate is a restoration project of building community and culture. Through rethinking on how they use space, music, and art, couchdate has been centering brown and black creatives in Oakland for the last 4 years.

This reshaping has taken the form of intentional events like vinyl listening parties (styled after Japanese jazz kissas [cafes]), artist pop-ups, and intimate live shows. This curation has been a rare opportunity for local artists and our diverse community to connect.

Funding the initiative

The cost of doing business in the Bay Area is one of the highest in the nation. Keeping their events affordable and accessible while fairly paying employees has been a delicate balancing act.

With over 10,000 followers on Instagram and many sold-out events, they’ve been able to connect people from all walks within their diverse Bay Area community.

While couchdate is designed to center brown and black people and their art, it is not about keeping anyone out. They are inclusive and intentional, not exclusive, redesigning spaces with social injustices, inclusivity, and wellness in mind.

“With this philosophy couchdate has built deep ties within our local community. It’s the same community that has bolstered us through the many transitions, pivots, and hard times that brown and black business owners are far too familiar with,” the GoFundMe reads.

They are now looking to reach out beyond the community that has been supporting them throughout their entire existence.

couchdate is moving from pop-ups to a hopefully permanent restaurant/bar space in the heart of downtown Oakland. They are looking to raise $300,000. $160k for the purchase of Slug Bar LLC and $140k of operating costs for the next 3 years. They plan to use the space as a Hifi Bar + Community Space.

For more information about couchdate and to donate to their cause, please visit the GoFundMe.