Cavan Irish Pub
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| Address | 1409 South High Street |
|---|---|
| Location | Merion Village, Columbus, Ohio, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 39°55′59″N 82°59′46″W / 39.933114°N 82.996038°WCoordinates: 39°55′59″N 82°59′46″W / 39.933114°N 82.996038°W Fatal error: The format of the coordinate could not be determined. Parsing failed. |
| Owner | Matt Mefferd |
| Type | Gay bar, Irish pub |
| Opened | 2009 |
| Website | |
| cavanirishpub | |
Cavan Irish Pub is an LGBTQ Irish pub and gay bar in the Merion Village neighborhood of Columbus, Ohio. Established in 2009 by Matt Mefferd, Carolyn Frey, Jason Medlock and Heather Lashaway, the pub was conceived as an inclusive neighborhood bar combining elements of a traditional Irish pub with Columbus's LGBTQ nightlife culture.[1]
Cavan is associated with AWOL Bar, another Columbus gay bar operated by Mefferd. Mefferd said his experience with AWOL influenced the neighborhood-bar concept developed for Cavan.[1] The pub has remained part of Columbus's LGBTQ nightlife scene through the 2020s and was included by The Columbus Dispatch among the city's LGBTQ bars in 2026.[2]
History
Founding
Cavan Irish Pub was developed in 2009 by Matt Mefferd, Carolyn Frey, Jason Medlock and Heather Lashaway.[1] Before Cavan opened, Mefferd had operated bars in Columbus for approximately a decade and was involved with AWOL Bar on Parsons Avenue.[1]
In a November 2009 interview with Columbus Underground, Mefferd said the founders intentionally structured Cavan's ownership and concept around inclusivity. He said LGBTQ bars were sometimes perceived as catering primarily to men or women depending on their ownership and that the founders wanted a venue where a broader mix of patrons would feel comfortable.[1]
Mefferd also credited his experience at AWOL with demonstrating the role a neighborhood bar could play in creating a local community. That experience influenced the decision to establish Cavan in Merion Village rather than one of Columbus's more established LGBTQ nightlife districts.[1]
The Irish pub concept was inspired in part by a trip to Ireland taken by Mefferd and Medlock. Mefferd said the pair had enjoyed visiting small-town Irish pubs and wanted to recreate their conversational, neighborhood-oriented atmosphere in Columbus.[1] The venue was named for County Cavan in Ireland.[3]
Cavan was scheduled to open at 1409 South High Street in late November 2009, with a formal grand-opening weekend planned for December 11 and 12.[1] Business records maintained by the Better Business Bureau list the business as beginning in 2009 and identify Mefferd as its owner.[4]
Design and concept
Before the opening, the building underwent a full interior renovation designed with Jaime Ward of Ward Design Group.[1] Mefferd described the intended design as reminiscent of a Victorian-era Irish pub, incorporating mahogany, brick walls, a fireplace and a black-granite bar.[1]
At opening, the venue contained a large rectangular bar, several dartboards and an outdoor patio.[1] The patio was subsequently expanded and has remained a prominent feature of the venue. In 2026, The Columbus Dispatch described Cavan as a laid-back bar with a large rear patio.[2]
The founders said in 2009 that they expected much of the clientele to come from the gay community but did not intend the venue to be exclusively gay, lesbian or heterosexual.[1] Mefferd described the original concept as a neighborhood establishment intended to be welcoming to a mixed clientele.[1]
Relationship with AWOL
Cavan has long been associated with AWOL Bar, which Mefferd operated before Cavan's establishment.[1] Mefferd said in 2009 that the sense of camaraderie he observed at AWOL directly influenced his decision to develop Cavan as a neighborhood-oriented LGBTQ venue.[1]
Later business listings have described Cavan as AWOL's sister bar.[5] Cavan's official website also links to AWOL and lists its management contact through an `@awolbar.com` email address.[6] The Better Business Bureau identifies Mefferd as the owner of Cavan.[4]
Programming
Cavan has hosted recurring entertainment including karaoke, trivia, drag performances, show-tune nights, bingo and male revues.[6]
Karaoke has been a longstanding part of the venue's programming. In its 2026 guide to Columbus LGBTQ nightlife, The Columbus Dispatch noted Cavan's recurring Wednesday and Friday karaoke nights.[2] The venue's current schedule also advertises karaoke on Wednesdays and Fridays, show-tune programming on Mondays and trivia on Thursdays.[6]
LGBTQ travel writer Lawrence Ferber included Cavan in a 2020 TripSavvy guide to Columbus, describing its combination of an Irish pub atmosphere with karaoke, drag and male go-go entertainment.[7]
Columbus Navigator included Cavan in its 2024 roundup of notable Irish pubs in the Columbus area, highlighting its covered patio and drag entertainment.[3]
Irish and LGBTQ identity
Cavan combines an Irish pub theme with its identity as an LGBTQ nightlife establishment. At its opening, the bar offered twelve draft beers ranging from European beers to local craft selections, along with Irish whiskey, wine and liquor.[1] The founders said the concept was inspired by the community atmosphere they experienced in Irish pubs during travel in Ireland.[1]
In 2026, Columbus's official tourism organization, Experience Columbus, described Cavan as "Ohio's only LGBTQ+ Irish Pub" in its guide to St. Patrick's Day events and Irish establishments in the city.[8] The pub itself similarly markets the venue as an LGBTQ Irish pub.[6]
Columbus Navigator likewise described Cavan in 2024 as a gay Irish pub and included it alongside more traditional Irish pubs in its citywide guide.[3]
Role in Columbus LGBTQ nightlife
Cavan was established during a period when Columbus's LGBTQ nightlife was distributed among several neighborhoods and catered to a variety of communities. Its founders said they wanted to reduce divisions they perceived among gay and lesbian nightlife establishments and create a neighborhood pub where different groups could socialize together.[1]
The venue has continued to appear in LGBTQ travel coverage of Columbus. TripSavvy included Cavan among the city's notable LGBTQ bars and clubs in 2020,[7] and The Columbus Dispatch included it in its 2026 overview of LGBTQ nightlife prepared for visitors attending the Gay Softball World Series.[2]
The pub is also listed in longstanding LGBTQ community directories alongside other Columbus bars and clubs.[9]
See also
- AWOL Bar
- Axis Nightclub
- District West
- Slammers
- Union Cafe
- Gay bar
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.13 1.14 1.15 1.16 1.17 Evans, Walker (November 19, 2009). "Cavan Irish Pub Opening Soon in Merion Village". Columbus Underground. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Vitale, Bob (August 29, 2026). "Columbus LGBTQ+ bars, restaurants ready for Gay Softball World Series". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved September 12, 2026 – via AOL.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Cavan Irish Pub". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Cavan Irish Pub". Step Out Columbus. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Cavan Irish Pub". Cavan Irish Pub. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ferber, Lawrence (October 15, 2020). "LGBTQ Travel Guide: Columbus Ohio". TripSavvy. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ Experience Columbus Staff (March 2, 2026). "Celebrate St. Patrick's Day in Columbus". Experience Columbus. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "Community Resource listings in the Chronicle". Gay People's Chronicle. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
External links
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