Journal

6 LGBTQ-Owned Local Businesses to Check Out

June 17, 2021

As San Francisco celebrates pride and inclusivity this month, we recommend making it a part of your routine to connect with your neighborhood’s queer-owned businesses to not only show out for them following the pandemic, but to have a tremendously fun time while you’re at it. There’s a growing sentiment in our society to align our spending power with our ethical voice, so here our some of our favorites for shopping local, sustainable and queer.

1. Pentacle Coffee & Oros Gallery

Right here in our very own neighborhood of SoMa is Pentacle Coffee — a queer owned coffee company that also doubles as an art gallery. Serving Four Barrel coffees and vegan-friendly bites Monday through Friday, this charming spot currently has a open coffee window and courier delivery — and when its indoor reopens, sip your brew among bright murals.

2. Sui Generis Designer Consignment

“Make great luxury affordable” is the mantra of this award-winning fashion resale store. Started by owners and partners Miguel Lopez and Gabriel Yanez, Sui Generis Designer Consignment on Market Street is recognized as one of the finest consignment stores in the nation, offering pieces from European Classics like Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, to Japanese Fashion houses like Comme des Garcons and so forth. Sui Generis also hosts a dedicated team of stylists to grant patrons a personal shopping experience.

3. Bolerium Books

Bolerium Books is quite legendary in San Francisco for carrying rare titles on social movements as well as political memorabilia such as historical pamphlets. Describing themselves as “purveyors of rare and out-of-print books, posters, and ephemera on social movements,” the folks behind Bolerium Books make it their mission to collect and curate knowledge surrounding internal and international social movements, radical in all directions.

4. Alexander Nurseries

Another LGBTQ-owned business that may be found right in our neighborhood is Alexander Nursuries — a planting design business that specializes in vertical garden design and landscaping. Owners John Alexander and his partner Jai Alltizer grow everything at a local, private propagation nursery, and sell at local farmer’s markets, as well as at the new wellness space Kapwa Gardens right here in SoMa. An online store is in the works for them, so keep out an eye for that as well!

5. Hella Bay Clothing

Placing full emphasis on colorful and bold Bay Area Pride, Hella Bay Clothing is a local brand that mixes street culture with a spirit of inclusion and social justice. Unique and iconic, Hella Bay celebrates a type of pride that comes from our local community. We especially are fans of their bold Summer Tie-dye collection for this month in particular. Hella Bay clothing can be ordered online and from retailers in the city and around the Bay.

6. Lion Dance Cafe

While this business is located over in Oakland, we still had to place it on this list. Next time you’re in East Bay, drop by Lion Dance Cafe for plant-based Singaporean cuisine. Beloved by locals for its weekly new menu reveals of fare ranging from nostalgic family recipes to Eurasian-Californian fusions, Lion Dance Cafe is a gem owned and operated by queer immigrant woman of color C.Y. Marie Chia, who previously has worked in Michelin-starred kitchen in Paris. Celebrate pride and dining by scoping our their Instagram for menu reveals!

Our site is best viewed in portrait mode.
Please rotate your device.

Top