December 12th 2023.
Shaun Mykals and Brandon Burke, the co-owners of Thurst Lounge, strive to inspire their community by reclaiming passions and embracing the talents of Black queer individuals. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., Thurst Lounge is making history as the newest and only Black-owned lounge dedicated to LGBTQIIA+ nightlife. They envision a safe haven of unity and queer joy, and have already made a name for themselves by hosting the popular queer talent show Thursday Bliss: An Open Mic Experience.
Mykals and Burke spoke to BLACK ENTERPRISE about their mission, the entrepreneurial journey, and what it means to bring safe spaces to the main stage. They talked about the story of Thurst, how they got it up and running, and how they have been leaning into their audience.
The co-owners discussed the need to better protect Black LGBTQIIA+ communities in D.C. and nationwide. They plan on promoting advocacy and social upliftment by connecting with community-based organizations and creating a familial atmosphere for their beloved customers. In addition, Thurst Lounge is looking to expand on the rich legacy they cultivated with Thursday Bliss: An Open Mic experience by offering their audience a permanent space to experience the artists as they express themselves.
Finally, Mykals and Burke spoke about how partnering with Zooza Restaurant & Lounge owners, Mosab Salih and Doaa Aloori, was instrumental in helping them open Thurst Lounge. The partnership provided the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of finding a location, financial aspects, and gaining inside knowledge to open a lounge.
Shaun Mykals and Brandon Burke are the co-owners of Thurst Lounge, a Black-owned lounge dedicated to LGBTQIIA+ nightlife in the heart of Washington, D.C. As the sole lounge currently operating, Thurst Lounge seeks to be a safe haven and a place of unity, upliftment, and queer joy. The pair have already made a name for themselves by the success of their queer talent show, Thursday Bliss: An Open Mic Experience.
When speaking about their mission and entrepreneurial journey, Shaun Mykals and Brandon Burke shared with BLACK ENTERPRISE that their journey began with Thursday Bliss: An Open Mic Experience. They wanted to create a safe space for musicians and singers, which began as a one-time event. With Brandon handling the marketing, the event started to gain traction and people traveled to experience their event. After years of success, and people in the city asking for their own space, the pair decided to take the leap and open Thurst Lounge.
The duo also spoke about the importance of collaboration with fellow Black entrepreneurs, even if not part of the LGBT community. When they initially decided to open the lounge, they met with Mosab Salih and Doaa Aloori, owners of Zooza Restaurant & Lounge, and decided to partner up in order to open Thurst Lounge. This partnership was instrumental in the opening of the lounge and gave them the knowledge needed to open.
When asked about what was needed in D.C. and nationwide to better protect Black LGBTQIIA+ communities, Brandon Burke told BLACK ENTERPRISE that venues have to be cognizant of who they hire in order to create a familial atmosphere. They also spoke of connecting with community-based organizations to help those in the community with mental health and relationships. Shaun Mykals shared that creating more spaces, including Thurst Lounge, helps to educate people and create a model for other people of color to create LGBTQIIA+ spaces.
Overall, Mykals and Burke hope to inspire the reclaiming of passions within their community. They want Thurst Lounge to be a safe space for expression and a place for people to come together, have fun, and learn something new. The groundbreaking owners have already made a name for themselves in this capacity and are determined to foster a place of unity, upliftment, and queer joy.
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