Think Globally - But Shop Locally! Support Gay Businesses

So I was walking home from a pretty good day... I was walking down U St headed down to my hood and I decided it was too chilly to keep walking. Plus I'd just finish an ice cold diet pepsi (it was on sale - normally I prefer diet coke) and so I stopped by a new little shop on my street. I'd been in a couple of times - but usually I'm always in a rush and practically running down U to get to the gym, work etc.

G Books - this is a new gay-owned business. The little shop in the basement under Meeps used clothing opened in July 2005 and what a cute shop it is. It's not huge - but a nice local spot where you can pick up the latest Advocate, Out, a gay travel guide or some more exotic items if you prefer. Actually let's be adults here - his prices on personal products (to be slightly pc we'll describe them 'ID' them as 'slippery' and 'wet' personal products - *wink, wink*) are really good. The books are reasonable too - plus he has used and new and videos, dvds etc (again of both more mainstream and 'funner' types). But I guess the best thing is that it is locally owned, by a hardworking member of our collective gay family.

It's not secret I like to chit-chat with people anytime or anywhere (ask my boyfriend or my friends - I am NOT the person you want to walk down the street with if you want to get there in silence or in decent time). Tonight was no different. I had a nice chat with the owner, Jun Yang. He's a friendly and outgoing guy who knows a LOT about his products. But he's got that entrepreneurial spark in his eye, a gift for gab and he ain't shy about what he is selling nor should he be. I was asking about how he's marketing the place and like most small businesses he's relying on word-of-mouth to get customers. He seems to be doing a goodt job - but we all now how hard and fickle small businesses can be.

Somehow I got on the topic of blogs and suggested he try setting one up to create some buzz. I mean if anything, blogs depend and capitalize on word-of-mouth & viral marketing. I told him how addicting it was and how local it could be. It's funny, the more I read blogs the more I see the bloggers themselves out... (speaking of which, I think I saw a local bearded blogger riding his bike wearing a yellow jacket on P street btw 18th and 17th today - kindof looked like Jimbo - was it?)

Anyhow I'm a big fan of supporting t local businesses. They make our neighborhoods better, add character and insulate us from the corporate "ram it down their throats with low prices" tactics that those tacky, slave-wage driving stores from Bentonville, AR are trying to entrench in our brains. I'm an even bigger fan of local, gay-owned and gay-oriented businesses. We in the community need to support them - our brothers and sisters not only understand our experience but their presence adds another piece of credibility to the fight for gay rights and acceptance. GLBT businesses and employees are everywhere and the majority are NOT in SE Washington (for you non-residents - this would be where the 'salacious' clubs are - though they serve their purpose and have a right to exist too! I just don't think they bridge the gap as well as say a bookstore, Internet Cafe, Doggie Boardinghouse and Garden Shop do...)

So will you do me a favor GLBT (and those who love them) citizens of DC? Go down to:

G Books
1520 U St NW BSMT
Washington, DC 20009
202-986-9697
Jun Yang, owner - his slogan "Top Items, Bottom Prices" - He buys & trades too.
Hours: 12 noon - 10PM and open until 11PM for those rockin' Friday & Saturday nights

I mean really - stop buying your lube on the net (like I was doing - over it!) and drop by his shop. It's about time U street got gayer. Tell him TOS sent you will you? Show him the power of the local blog - then buy that 1 gallon jug of ID, you know you want to :-P

*Btw - I gain nothing from you stopping by save the pride that I'm helping to support an independent gay business that provides relief from the corporate crap being slung out there :-)