Only two blocks northeast of U Street, Thurst Lounge made history as D.C.’s first Black-owned LGBTQ+ cafe.
Thurst, which opened in December 2023, is owned by lifelong friends Shaun Mykals and Brandon Burke, who are the proud proprietors.
The couple revealed that the concept for setting up the space began over ten years ago when they hosted a Thursday Bliss Open Mic Night at the now-defunct Bohemian Caverns.
Burke and Mykals said they had to figure out what to do after moving around a few times and then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
“Our primary supporters have been the LGBT community,” Burke said. “So we thought, why not lean into that and create D.C.’s Black-owned gay space?”
Burke emphasized that Washington, D.C., of all places, deserves to have a Black LGBTQ+ venue.
“It doesn’t make sense for us not to have this in D.C., Chocolate City of all places,” he said. “So it’s been about two and a half years of trying to figure out what we wanted to do, how to get funding, and who to partner with.”
The two connected with their business partners when they found the location in spring 2023, agreed to the lease in October, and immediately began renovations.
Described as “intimate,” the two-story establishment features a variety of artistic touches, such as a mural that reads “Love Who You Are,” adorned with the names of LGBTQ+ icons and portraits of famous artists like Beyoncé and Rihanna, lining the walls of the cozy lounge.
Burke contends that Thurst underscores the necessity and importance of LGBTQ+ spaces.
“I believe that we have a power and we have a place of our own where we can foster and love and respect, and we see that a lot with many of the patrons who have come through who are just so proud that we created it,” he said.
The owners say that Thurst’s clientele spans generations. Burke recalled a 71-year-old patron thanking him for the space.
Jesiah Allen, a young health sciences major and current chair of the annual Lavender Committee, says that Black-owned LGBTQ+ spaces are “vital.”
“It really does provide comfort and having that space where you don’t have to feel like, ‘Oh, I have to be someone else,'” Allen said. “Being able to truly be your authentic self around people who love and accept you for it is really critical to understanding who you want to be in the world.”
Mykals says that Thurst offers an ideal space to begin one’s nightlife journey, especially for Howard students.
“We created Thurst with all of that in mind, like what our experiences were, what were the good vibes that we got when we went out, why did we enjoy ourselves, why didn’t we enjoy ourselves. In creating this space, we took all of that into account,” he said. “And I believe that the patrons are feeling that intention that was set from the beginning.”
Allen praised Thurst as a welcoming and accepting establishment.
He said, “I’ve gone there with my other friends before, and they’ve always felt comfortable there with me because of how accepting everyone is.” “The music is always good. I like that there are primarily Black people there because there is just something about it that makes it feel more homey and welcoming.”
Thurst Lounge opens at 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and at 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with a new daily happy hour from 5-8 p.m. and free entry.
“We encourage people to come and take advantage of the discounted prices for both the food and drinks,” Mykals said. “We specifically did that so that, you know, people could come and not have to break the bank when they were trying to have fun.”
