Spark Social Lights Up D.C.’s Queer Nightlife With All The Buzz And None Of The Booze
In the heart of D.C. in an unassuming exterior with a rainbow flag on U Street, Spark (Social) is redefining queer nightlife as the first LGBTQ+ fully sober club.
In a city where drag brunches and rooftop margaritas have defined queer nightlife for decades, a new kind of space has quietly emerged—and it might just change everything. Spark Social House opened on March 8, 2025 in D.C. (right in time for WorldPride) and is the country’s first alcohol-free LGBTQ+ bar and café. Spark isn’t just a bar without booze located at 14th and U Streets in Washington, D.C.; it’s a vision of what queer nightlife can be when it centers presence, connection, and care over consumption.
Co-founders Nick Tsusaki and Shua Goodwin saw a hole in the D.C. queer scene—a city with over 20 gay bars and not one that made room for people who don’t drink. Spark was their solution. Tsusaki had spent years slinging shots after his service in the Navy before he imagined a new daytime/nighttime space like it. Goodwin, a political consultant heavily involved in LGBTQ+ advocacy, shared the same vision. Together, they built a venue that felt intentional and expansive—a space where more people could belong.
By day, Spark functions as a cozy café, offering coffee from local roasters, adaptogen-infused drinks, mushroom elixirs, and zero-proof wines and beers. Patrons are welcome to bring food, plug in, and stay for as long as they like. At night, Spark transforms into a lively, 18+ sober social hub. Since their recent opening, they’ve hosted drag trivia nights, sapphic social hours, rooftop movie screenings, and $10 non-alcoholic wine tastings. It is curated to welcome a wide variety of the community: the sober and sober-curious, LGBTQ+ youth, neurodivergent guests, and anyone seeking joy without alcohol.
Related: Cynthia Erivo Announced As WorldPride Headliner In D.C.
The mocktail menu is another standout. Salina Flores and Maria Bastasch developed the playful and delicious drinks. Two favorites are the “Jalapeño Business” (orange juice, cayenne, Tajín, and zero-proof tequila) and the “Coco Cabana” (coconut milk, honey, and cucumber). Each drink is designed to bring the same sensory satisfaction and care to a non-alcoholic drink as any well-crafted cocktail.
Part of what makes Spark so compelling is its opposition to the unspoken norm of queer nightlife. There’s no pressure to drink or perform and no need to explain. Spark offers a space to exist—whether you’re decompressing after a long day, meeting up for a date, or showing up just to feel connected. The co-founders created an environment that values comfort and access just as much as it does fun.
Spark has a second-floor library featuring queer literature in the works, along with a boutique highlighting LGBTQ+ makers and a quiet “date room” with tea service. They’re also launching “Spark Nights Out,” a nightlife series hosted by local drag performers that will introduce guests to D.C.’s queer history and nightlife culture (beyond drinking).
In a community where alcohol is the social norm, Spark Social House offers a simple alternative. It’s not an anti-bar or a lecture on sobriety—it’s a celebration of queer joy, chosen community, and the radical act of simply being present.
Related: NYC Pride Unveils Full List Of Trailblazing 2025 Grand Marshals
