Free DC Pride Business Guide
Procott: alternatives to the businesses we’re boycotting
Free D.C. urges our community to use our collective power as consumers to boycott Amazon/Jeff Bezos and Target for their complicity with racialized authoritarianism, and instead support DC small businesses that love and support our community in return!
This is a PRIDE guide to small, local businesses in Washington, D.C. (and surrounding areas) that have signed Free DC’s business pledge to stand with us in solidarity for D.C. autonomy and been approved by their wards. These businesses are queer-owned and/or queer-centered/focused.
To view Free DC’s full business guide, check out the Free DC Where to Shop page. You can also check out Free DC’s Ward 1/5+ business map for a visual guide. Free DC business partners can also be identified with our business decal on their storefront or website.
Retail
FOXP2 Games
Where: Online (coming to DC shops soon!) or directly from creator
Socials: Bluesky, Mastodon, FB, IG
What you’ll find: Innovative card games that help you learn various languages.
Why we love them:Sapphic/gaysian-owned. Owner is an active member of Free DC.
Little District Books
Where: 631 Pennsylvania Ave SE
When to visit: Tuesday-Friday 11am-7pm, Saturday-Sunday 11am-6pm
What you’ll find: An LGBTQIA+ Specialty Independent Bookshop
Why we love them: D.C.’s only queer bookstore as of April 2026.
Image from @loyaltybooks on Instagram
Loyalty Bookstores
Where: 4203 9th St NW
When to visit: Tuesday–Friday 11am–7pm, Saturday 10am–7pm, Sunday 10am–6pm
What you’ll find: Loyalty Bookstores centers diverse voices across literature for all ages as well as gifts and programming centered on our community!
Why we love them: They are Black, queer, and Asian-owned. Through the 2025 holidays, they’ve also partnered with The DC Pop Up at Walter Reed for an additional location. More recently, they participated in a sapphic pop-up market outside of Femme Fatale.
Food & Drink
Image from As You Are website
As You Are
Where: 500 8th St SE
When to visit: Tuesday–Thursday 12pm–12am, Friday–Saturday 12pm–3am, Sunday 12pm–12pm
What you’ll find: Queer cafe & bar serving all genders.
Why we love them: They pride themselves on being a safe space, have a full menu, and host great events.
metrobar
Where: 640 Rhode Island Ave NE
When to visit: Wednesday 5–10pm, Thursday 5–11pm, Friday 5pm–1am, Saturday 12pm–1am, Sunday 12–10pm
What you’ll find: A chill, metro-accessible, mostly outdoor bar with staff who strongly support local causes. Often hosting live music, local sports teams, queer events, or trivia.
Why we love them: Obviously gay - just look at the place. It’s a great space for happy hours and other group events. Plus, you can drink in a decommissioned Metro train car.
Republic Restoratives Distillery
Where: 1369 New York Ave NE
When to visit: Monday-Friday 11am-5pm
What you’ll find: A women- and LGBTQ-owned distillery and craft cocktail bar.
Why we love them: They are the largest crowdfunded distillery in the world and often use their business for good, whether it’s hosting fundraisers for LGBTQ+ inclusive organizations during Pride Month or releasing themed spirits with a portion of the proceeds going to nonprofits.
Spark Social House
Where: 2009 14th St NW
When to visit: Monday–Wednesday 8am–10pm, Thursday 8am–11pm, Friday 8am–1am, Saturday 9am–1am, Sunday 9am–10pm
What you’ll find: Coffee, cocktails, mocktails, & snacks in a space for the LGBTQ+ community
Why we love them: There’s always something going on at Spark Social! Check out their events such as pop-up markets, movie nights, open mics, and more. Originally a sober bar, so they have a wide variety of non-alcoholic options.
Beauty & Wellness
Dandelion Collective
Where: 14th St.
When to visit: Tours of the space by appointment
What you’ll find: Rentable office spaces for psychotherapy, massage therapy, etc, plus a gym downstairs
Why we love them: Queer-owned. Affordable. Community event space.
District Wrestling Club
Where: 702B L’Enfant Plaza SW
When to visit: See website for practice times and details
What you’ll find: Folkstyle and freestyle wrestling instruction, practice, and competition for adults of all ages and backgrounds.
Why we love them: LGBTQ+ founded and operated to provide a safe and welcoming space for individuals of all skill levels to learn and participate.
Lucky Pup Yoga
Where: 2469 18th St NW, 2nd Floor
When to visit: Varies, see class schedule
What you’ll find: A traditional yoga studio with vinyasa, yin, and kirta. They also have puppy yoga on Saturdays and work with local breeders, rescues, and training dog facilities as part of a dog socialization program.
Why we love them: They’re DC-native, queer, and veteran-owned, and they’re dedicated to a free DC across the board.
Image from @scottybodywork on Instagram
Scotty Bodywork
Where: 621 Upshur St NW
When to visit: Monday and Thursday 11am–8pm; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 11am–6:30pm
What you’ll find: 60- and 90-minute massages at a sliding-scale cost, incorporating Swedish, deep tissue, hot stones, cupping, and more. For the holidays, they are also selling massage gift cards—buy two, get a third 50% off!
Why we love them: Scotty is a licensed massage therapist and self-described “glittery being” who focuses on providing accessible and affordable bodywork to queer, trans, Black, Brown, disabled, fat, and low-income communities in DC. They are especially focused on community organizers, workers, and others who sacrifice their bodies for others but don’t always have a place for their bodies to be cared for in return.
Art & Music
CHALK RIOT
Where: pop-up events, and by appointment
When to visit: By appointment. You can also see instagram.com/chalkriot for events, or email them at glassclassDC@gmail.com to get on their monthly event roundups.
What you’ll find: A pavement mural business that creates beautiful art throughout the District and beyond.
Why we love them: Led by women and non-binary artists, they believe “the ground is the world’s greatest canvas for art that unites, protects, and energizes the cities we love.”
Glass Class Club
Where: 52 O St NW, Studio 204B
When to visit: See their studio calendar on Instagram for upcoming events.
What you’ll find: Stained glass studio with events to teach anyone to craft beautiful pieces.
Why we love them: They are strong supporters of the trans community (check out their ongoing Eon’s Crane project) as well as Black and queer communities, and host frequent events that raise money for mutual aid.
Pink businesses are also known to be owned by women, trans folks, or POC.
