Exploring Life & Business with Patrick Daffin of Queen City Exchange

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Daffin.  

Patrick, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It was a simpler time. A time when chiming street cars and hundreds of locally owned metropolitan establishments filled the bustling streets of Cincinnatus. Local breweries littered the landscape – becoming as abundant as the facial hair that adorned the faces of the patrons – as they reveled in their premium local libations. It was during this exact time, that a new concept was introduced along the Banks of the Ohio River. Concocted amongst a handful of friends and brothers, the Queen City Exchange opened its doors in the Autumn months of 2016 anno Domini. At its most ambitious, QCE was designed as a warm, welcoming place for community members to come together to share their thoughts, ideas, and inebriated emotions. At a bare minimum, the bar would serve as a much-needed bastion to the broken-hearted and disenfranchised local athletic supporters. 

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
As with any small business, there are ups and downs. QCE has been a fun rollercoaster over the last almost six years. As I am sure is the case for any small business, the last two years have been the most significant of those challenges. I was always told that the bar industry was the most recession-proof of businesses. When things get rough, everyone still needs a local watering hole to get their mind off of their troubles. That has not been the case throughout the pandemic. Fortunately, we are mostly through the hardest part of the pandemic and we are quickly discovering what the “new normal” is. 

As you know, we’re big fans of Queen City Exchange. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We strive to provide a fun, casual environment at QCE. This is expressed through our dynamically priced draft system. Every 5 minutes our draft beer prices fluctuate to reflect the current market inside Queen City Exchange. If you and your friends are all drinking your favorite IPA, that price will increase slightly, while a couple of comparable drafts will dip down. This encourages our patrons to mix it up and try a few different beers. With 41 beers on tap, there are always a few new options for you to try out. 

We also strive to be as accommodating is possible through our special events. When our patrons are celebrating a birthday, happy hour, or anything else, we reserve the back section of the bar free of charge. We love working with our customers to make their celebrations as memorable as possible! 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
We owe it all to our amazing staff over the last 6 years. Many of them were only with us for a season, but every one of them has been a memorable addition to what makes the QCE family what it is. 

Pricing:

• Dynamically priced drafts from $3.5-9
• $4 wells
• $8 Boozy Slushies (5 varieties)

Contact Info:

• Website: http://www.queencityexchange.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/queencityexchange/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/QueenCityExchange
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/queen-city-exchange-cincinnati

Image Credits
Jon Medina