Thurst Lounge to honor Black, queer experience
In a plurality Black city, Washington, D.C. in 2023 has zero Black-owned-and-operated queer bars – until now. Thurst Lounge is set to open in early December, “our love letter to D.C.’s Black queer community,” say co-owners Brandon Burke and Shaun Mykals. “We wanted to create a space that represents and honors the unique and culturally rich Black gay experience,” they say (both are gay).
Thurst Lounge, located on 14th Street in the old Sakerum restaurant just north of U Street, will be a two-story establishment serving food, drinks, music, and vibes.
They note that there hasn’t been a Black-owned space for D.C.’s queer community since The Bachelor’s Mill closed in 2021. Burke and Mykals got their start in the nightlife scene more than a decade ago when they started Thursday Bliss: An Open Mic Experience.
Initially launched as a one-time occasion for their musician friends, they realized the potential of the event, and turned it into a weekly thing.
