During the height of the pandemic in 2020, an Edinburgh pair launched a crowdfunder to help them create the city's first "queer cafe."
After taking over what had been known as Greenwoods cafe, Oskar and Zak, both 26, reached out to the community to help them turn the site into a 'safe and sober' space.
Having been met with a flood of donations, the pair met their target within weeks, which allowed them to complete a series of works to transform the cafe into their dream space.
Edinburgh Live recently caught up with the pair to see how their project has progressed from coffees to cabaret shows in the last year.
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Working as a DJ and drag queen before the venture, Zak and Oskar had hoped to create a space where the queer community could come together that didn't have to be a nightclub or bar.
Opening 'Kafe Kweer' in September 2020, the space has now become a hub not only as a cafe, but an events space used for a host of social activities.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Oskar said: "Apart from the money, what we received through that campaign were numerous messages from people expressing how excited they were for a sober queer space.
"So often queer spaces are exclusively bars and nightclubs, which offer an important space for community and connection, but it became clear that there was a desire for an all-ages space that didn't centre alcohol.
"We have stayed open through various restrictions and lockdowns, selling food, drinks, eco friendly groceries, and art by local
creatives.
"We are open every day, and just when things become hard to handle, we receive even more support from the community which reminds us of why we do it."
Giving the cafe a bright red frontage interior and hanging pride flags throughout, the pair have brought a bold and exciting staple to Fountainbridge.
Sharing the overwhelmingly positive feedback they have received from both inside and out of the LGBT+ community, Oskar explained that they also hope the cafe is making a deeper statement, and working to 'build bridges' in Edinburgh.
He added: "I think having a public business that is visibly queer but that welcomes all ages, while also supporting local creatives, has garnered lots of good will from people.
"One of our core missions has always been to build bridges between the queer community and those outside it. We have many customers who are not a part of the queer community who have learned new things through us, or have been able to come to us
with questions or stories about things they're trying to understand.
"A crucial part of understanding those unlike us is seeing them in person, humanising an otherwise abstract concept.
"Every day I fear some confrontation from homophobes or transphobes, but all we have received is curiosity and generosity from everyone in the neighbourhood, the city, and beyond."
Now a thriving part of the city, Kafe Kweer has seen bustling business seven days a week, with Oskar and Zak hoping they can continue to build on their dream in Edinburgh.
They said: "We hope that we can continue to be a space to learn, to reconnect after these troubled times, and to support local queer creatives.
"To be visibly queer is to choose your happiness over your safety, and platforming queer joy, all while selling delicious treats, will be our goal for as long as I can foresee."
Kafe Kweer is open seven days a week from 8am-4pm, with the site also hosting varied events on Thursday evenings.
