Events . SAVE BANTHA Benefit

SAVE BANTHA Benefit

Bantha Tea Bar will be having a SAVE BANTHA Benefit Event on Monday, September 1st, 12-8 PM. Bantha Tea Bar has been a café and beloved community space in Bloomfield-Garfield for almost 10 years. The fundraiser, which will take place on Bantha’s 10th Anniversary, will be in light of Bantha’s recent financial struggles due to new tariffs on their products and prolonged construction on Penn Avenue.

The SAVE BANTHA Benefit will feature a variety of fun and interesting activities that give attendees the opportunity to donate and help save the small business. The fundraiser will take place at both Bantha Tea Bar and The Irma Freeman Center next door (5006 Penn Ave., 15224). There will be live music in both venues starting at 3 PM. Performing in Bantha: Gibson (from Posterchild), Madeline Jo & Friends, Jakers, and John Morris. In Irma Freeman: DJ Don, Heading North, and a bagpipe performance from Bantha co-owner, Brett Alexander Boye. The event is BYOB, and Bantha will be open and serving tea, kava, and more for the entirety of the event.

The fun will go on all day in Bantha with a Super Smash Bros Melee Tournament from 12-3 PM, free tamales with any Bantha purchase, and tarot card readings by Rosebush Tarot from 5-7 PM. Simultaneously, in Irma Freeman there will be chair massages from 12-7 PM, flash tattoos from 3-7 PM, gift baskets from several local businesses for raffle, a live spray paint mural with audience participation included, and a cookie pop-up sale. There will be art for silent auction in both venues for the duration of the benefit, with proceeds going directly to Bantha and local Pittsburgh artists! Check out the flyer for more details.

Bantha is not only a café, but an inclusive space for any and everyone in the local community. It has served as a hub for LGBTQ+, immigrants, and other marginalized people. It is also a venue that hosts a variety of events, like live music, comedy nights, poetry readings, performance art, and several clubs. With no rental fee, Bantha provides a space for anyone wanting to host any event. Through social media, many have been very vocal about Bantha being an important part of their community.

It is Bantha Tea Bar’s hope that with the SAVE BANTHA benefit, plus the Gofundme page, this important community space will not go under. Owners Jack and Brett have been in Bloomfield-Garfield for over 15 years, and want to continue to serve the neighborhood for years to come.

Related Entities: Bantha Tea Bar Irma Freeman Center
Tags: Art Benefit Food Live Music Live Sets Music Tea