This week marks the beginning of Pride Month, which honors lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people through parades, parties, campaigns and other events. June is recognized nationally as a time to celebrate the achievements of LGBTQ+ individuals and the community as a whole. Phoenix is home to a slew of small businesses owned by LGBTQ+ and allies. Here are seven you can support.
Window Coffee Bar
Located in the recently constructed Royale community complex in the Melrose District, Arizona’s infamous “gayborhood,” Window Coffee Bar offers a variety of unique drinks including a cookie-flavored macchiato, ube latte and mushroom mocha. Voted as one of the best coffee shops in the country by Yelp, Window Coffee Bar is owned by married couple Homero Medrano and Marcus Sanchez, who brought their passion for coffee and community to Downtown Phoenix in 2021.
903 W. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, 480-307-4405, windowcoffeebar.com
Brick Road Coffee
Gabe Hagen and Jesse Shank, who have been married for 14 years, opened Brick Road Coffee in 2021 to provide a queer community space in Tempe. The shop regularly hosts drag story hours, queer meetups, HIV testing and other community-oriented events. Its name alludes to the yellow brick road featured in The Wizard of Oz and serves a variety of themed drinks like the Flying Monkey, plus unique blends like a cinnamon roll latte.
4415 S. Rural Rd., Tempe, 480-590-7246, brickroadtempe.com
FEZ
FEZ is an LGBTQ+-owned restaurant in Roosevelt Row that prides itself on catering to Phoenix’s diverse community. It’s known for its contemporary takes on classic Mediterranean cuisine.
105 W. Portland St., Phoenix, 602-287-8700, fezoncentral.com
Phoenix Coqui
Known for its authentic Puerto Rican dishes, Phoenix Coqui’s origins lie within a love story between owners Alexis Carbajal and Juan Ayala, whose shared cultural roots and love for the culinary arts brought them to opening this small restaurant with big flavor.
4041 N. 15th Ave., Phoenix, 602-768-7894, phoenixcoqui.com
Stem Swag
Stem Swag offers a unique plant-shopping experience, from personalized drag queen bouquet deliveries to an array of non-plant goods, including novelty items, self-care gifts, sweet treats and more. Stem Swag has also shown open support for the LGBTQ+ community, making unique floral arrangements and gifts during Pride Month.
635 W. Glenrosa Ave., Phoenix, 602-562-1211, stemswag.co
Copper Star Coffee
Copper Star Coffee is known for its support of Downtown Phoenix’s LGBTQ+ community, with a large Pride flag adorning its exterior. Owners Bill and Ginger Sandweg opened the traditional, warm coffee shop boasting house-made syrups and freshly baked pastries and bagels in the Melrose District in 2006.
4220 N. Seventh Ave, Phoenix, 602)-266-2136, copperstarcoffee.com
Phoenix General
A modern shopping collective inspired by the diversity of the city, Phoenix General was founded by Kenny Barrett and Joshua Hahn, two creatives based in Phoenix and former operators of urban farm, Growhouse. The store sells a variety of locally made goodies and supports many community initiatives, including a previous series of Pride merchandise.
214 E. Roosevelt St., Phoenix, 623-248-8686, phxgeneral.com
