Tillie's Lounge is named for a larger than life beloved Cincinnati entertainer, Tillie the Elephant. As one of the most famous of many exotic animals in John Robinson’s Circus, she traveled the country and paraded the streets of Northside in the early 20th century. In 1932, the Enquirer’s front page news lauded her for a career “marked with records of heroic deeds, service to humanity and outstanding achievements in her role as an entertainer…”
In the heart of Northside, you’ll find us located at 4042 Hamilton Ave. Originally built in 1881 as Droege Shoes, the building remained a Cobbler for over 77 years among other businesses before becoming an anchor for the Cincinnati LGBTQIA Community. Over the past three decades, our location has served the Northside, LGBTQIA, and Ally Communities as the home of Colors and The Serpent prior to transforming into Tillie's Lounge.