LesbiVeggies reopens in Camden as part of downtown revival

CAMDEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- LesbiVeggies, a plant-based restaurant known for its gluten-free menu and devoted following, is opening Thursday in Camden as part of the city's ongoing downtown revival.

Owner Brenna Lambert said the move marks a new chapter for the business, which began in her grandmother's kitchen before becoming a brick-and-mortar restaurant during the pandemic. She outgrew her Audubon location in 2024 and has now relocated to Fourth Street near Market.

"There's no other vegan places here, especially gluten-free," a customer said.

In the kitchen, Lambert demonstrated one of her signature dishes, saying, "I'm going to fry out the oyster mushroom now."

The new Camden menu includes fried oyster mushrooms, zucchini corn fritters and firecracker lettuce wraps.

Lambert said she hopes the restaurant will help draw more people into the city.

"I've heard people say, 'I just come here to work, and then I leave.' And I want to be part of the wave that draws people to come to Camden," she said.

LesbiVeggies also joins a growing number of lesbian-owned establishments opening across the country. The trend includes Marsha's, a queer-owned women's sports bar, and Val's, a lesbian bar, both recently opened in Philadelphia.

According to the Lesbian Bar Project, only about three dozen such establishments exist nationwide.

Lambert said being part of that movement matters to her.

"I'm happy to be a part of that. It's nice to be in that community in that space...obviously that's really important for people to have an inclusive vibe," she said.