As Pride Month shines its rainbow-hued spotlight on LGBTQ+ events in New York City, Ridgewood‘s roster of small businesses shows that inclusivity is a year-round commitment. From speed-dating sessions to pride trinkets, these neighborhood spots have hosted welcoming spaces where people across the gender and sexuality spectrum can feel at home.
Whether you’re an ally or an LGBTQ+ identifying individual, Ridgewood is helping ensure your well-earned money supports programming and spaces that empower the queer community beyond June. So raise your flags for this colorful list of LGBTQ+ friendly establishments on a street near you.
8-18 Woodward Ave.
Founded by Michelle Delgado and Lisa Jee, the Ridgewood mother duo sought to celebrate diversity through locally made products from BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artisans. Their collection consists of creative home and lifestyle products, including fragrance candles, self-care bath soaks, bilingual books and novelty figurines. The LGBTQ+ inventory features Happy Pride cards, Queer AF keychains and Love is Love headbands.
The founders of Stay Forever, a boutique gift shop in Ridgewood. Photo via Stay Forever website
6-12 Woodward Ave.
Founded by Vanessa America, the artistic mecca recently relocated in response to an increased inventory of art supplies and workshops. As a hub that contributed to the growing Ridgewood arts scene, America also aimed to make it a neighborhood gathering spot for those with a shared love of local arts. For Pride Month, Tiny Arts Supply is hosting two speed dating sessions for queer women on Thursday, June 11, at Willows Tavern, located at 64-18 Fresh Pond Rd. The first session will be held for those over 35 at 6:30 p.m., followed by the 21 to 40s group at 8:15 p.m. Interested attendees can register for the first and second sessions.
The interior of Tiny Arts Supply in Ridgewood. Photo by Paulina Albarracin
6-56 Woodward Ave.
Founded by Andrew Hurtado, the LGBTQ+-owned record shop showcases curated collections based on underground and queer culture — black metal, punk rock, hip-hop, industrial and other specialty genres are commonly found in their archives. Alongside his partner Anddy, he has run a queer improv show called “Fruit Basket Comedy” twice a month, as reported by Epicenter NYC.
7-88 Woodward Ave./59-22 Myrtle Ave.
Co-founded by Cosmo Bjorkenheim, Benjamin Friedman and Anny Oberlink, Topos Bookstore Cafe is one of the best-known LGBTQ+ spaces in Ridgewood. Along with its sister bookstore Topos Too, its collections include feminist theory, queer studies and gender-nonconforming stories. The no-frills cafe has also hosted book readings that feature queer and transgender authors.
The interior of Topos Too, the sister of Topos Bookstore Cafe in Ridgewood. Photo by Paulina Albarracin
8-85 Woodward Ave.
Co-founded by Christine Costello, Jane Herships and Pat Noecker, the secondhand shop is a highly inclusive LGBTQ+ space all year-round. Local fashionistas can peruse an abundance of pre-owned outfits that span decades — a trove where customers can find the perfect ensemble for Pride gatherings. Other locations include Bushwick, Williamsburg and Union Square.
The exterior of Other People’s Clothes in Ridgewood.Photo via Other People’s Clothes on Facebook
7-78 Seneca Ave.
Founded by Joe and Angela Austin, the Black-owned cafe is renowned for its tranquil, queer-friendly atmosphere. Milk & Pull is also laptop-friendly, providing a stress-free environment for those who need to get work done. Their beverage menu includes cold brew, espresso, dirty chai latte and organic assortments from Bushwick Tea. You can also check out their original space at Bedford-Stuyvesant.
A cold brew at Milk & Pull in Ridgewood. Photo by Paulina Albarracin
57-34 Catalpa Ave.
Founded by Andrzej Kinczyk and Krzysztof Poluchowicz, the Polish restaurant and market is proudly LGBTQ+ owned with a delectable assortment of homemade pierogi, filled with classic flavors like potato and cheese and mushroom and sauerkraut, and other meals (e.g., schnitzel, potato pancakes). The neighborhood spot offers a casual dining experience for those with a penchant for Eastern European cuisine.
The interior of Pierogi Boys in Ridgewood. Photo via Culinary Agents website
8-01 Seneca Ave.
Founded by an artist collective, the two-level neighborhood bar is widely considered a safe space for the LGBTQ+ community. The bar’s mantra denounces all forms of discrimination, encouraging patrons from all backgrounds to unwind past their doors. Bar Freda has also hosted queer competitions and soirees, preserving itself as a mecca for those on the LGBTQ+ spectrum.
The interior of Bar Freda in Ridgewood. Photo by Paulina Albarracin
16-47 Weirfield St.
Founded by various music industry veterans, including Michael Swier and Todd Abramson, TV Eye has long been described as a “funhaus” — that is, a multifaceted nightclub that functions as an art gallery, bar, cinema, community center and dance floor. A slew of punk rock and indie bands have graced (and moshed) the stage, further cementing it as an underground venue with the likes of Bar Freda and The Keep. As a highly regarded LGBTQ+ friendly space, it has hosted a variety of queer-friendly gatherings, including the upcoming NYC Pride Indie Horror Book Fair on Saturday, June 20, an event that celebrates queer authors in the horror genre.
The exterior of TV Eye in Ridgewood. Photo via Google Images
10-80 Wyckoff Ave.
Founded by Jorge Mdahuar and Jon Gneezy, The Deep End has been described as an anchor of the neighborhood’s LGBTQ+ community, regularly hosting queer dance parties, performance art pieces and drag shows. At the bar, a kitchen menu — from tacos to sweet potato fries — awaits hungry patrons. As the LGBTQ+ scene grows, a demand for queer-friendly destinations complements it.
The interior of The Deep End in Ridgewood. Photo via TagVenue
Editor’s note: This roundup features a small selection of venues curated by the reporter. It is not intended to be a comprehensive list.